Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, and most of its symptoms remain hidden to the untrained eye.
World Parkinson’s Day is celebrated annually on the 11th of April, in commemoration of the birthday of Dr James Parkinson and his famous works on the disease. Studies have reported prevalence rates of over nine million, and it is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
It is a progressive neurological condition that primarily affects movement. In this disease, brain cells responsible for producing a chemical messenger called ‘dopamine’ die. Dopamine is responsible for smooth and coordinated muscle movements; hence, when its level drops, it leads to irregular brain activity. This accounts for most symptoms people living with Parkinson’s experience, including tremors, stiffness in joints, and slowed movements with imbalance. Norepinephrine, a chemical messenger, has also been implicated in this condition. While dopamine handles movement, the loss of norepinephrine explains why patients face ‘non-motor’ challenges like blood pressure fluctuations and fatigue. Other symptoms people with Parkinson’s present with include:
Reduced facial expressions
Changes in handwriting
Difficulty working
Speech changes
Swallowing difficulties
Sleep disturbances
Depression
Anxiety
Inability to regulate body temperature
Sexual dysfunction
Who can have Parkinson’s?
Muhammad Ali, a world-renowned boxer, brought the disease Parkinson’s to the global spotlight, diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 42. His journey highlights the complex link between repetitive head trauma and Parkinsonian symptoms. Just like Muhammad Ali, risk factors for Parkinson’s include the following:
Male: Men are 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women
Age: The risk increases with increasing age. Early-onset is diagnosed in those before the age of 50 years.
Genetics: Some cases have an inheritance pattern attributed to certain altered genes.
Environmental causes: Studies have shown a link between exposure to certain chemicals used in pesticides and herbicides, metals and organic pollutants, and parkinson’s disease.
Head injury: Repeated trauma to the head also increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease
Fun Corner: How many risk factors can you identify in Muhammad Ali?(Answer: Male, head injury)
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is currently not based on blood or lab tests but on a detailed medical history and examination. Neurologists examine the patients on a holistic basis and make a probable diagnosis. This is majorly based on signs and symptoms the patient presents with, as stated earlier. However, some diseases mimic Parkinson’s disease, including:
Essential tremor: Here, tremors increase when you move and try to use your hands, whereas tremors occur mainly at rest in Parkinson’s disease and reduce with activity.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: Seen in older people, it presents with unsteady gait, problems with memory and thinking, and urinary incontinence.
Dementia with Lewy bodies: a disease that causes problems with mood, thinking and movement and is characterised by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain.
Multiple system atrophy: Involves death of different types of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include slowness of movement, tremor, stiffness, and impaired speech.
Progressive supranuclear palsy damages nerve cells in the brain and can cause loss of balance, eye problems, unexplained falls and stiffness.
Treatment
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, certain medications have been formulated to relieve the symptoms. These medications mimic the chemical messenger, dopamine, and aim to maintain and replenish it. Some of these medications include: Levodopa, Carbidopa, Dopamine agonists, Amantadine, Catechol–O–methyl transferase inhibitors, Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) B Inhibitors, Adenosine Receptor Antagonists. Other non-pharmacological interventions include deep brain stimulation, focused ultrasound, sports and exercise regimens, and physical and occupational therapies.
Research Spotlight
What are the recent advancements in Parkinson’s disease?
The “Brain Pacemaker” (aDBS): Traditional deep brain stimulation is getting a massive upgrade. Adaptive DBS now senses brain signals in real-time, delivering stimulation only when needed—reducing side effects and extending battery life.
Precision Medicine: We are moving away from a “one size fits all” approach. Trials like the GREAT trial (Ambroxol) are targeting specific genetic markers (GBA), while stem cell therapies are finally entering advanced stages to replace lost dopamine neurones.
No-Incision Surgery: Focused Ultrasound (FUS) is changing lives by using sound waves to treat tremors and motor symptoms without a single cut, allowing for faster recovery and immediate results.
The Diagnostic Breakthrough: While diagnosis remains clinical, 2026 marks the rise of biomarker testing. New assays can now detect abnormal proteins (alpha-synuclein) in skin biopsies, making early and accurate diagnosis more accessible than ever.
World Parkinson’s Day 2026
The theme for this year focuses on bridging the care gap by spreading awareness and helping those in need. However, the focus remains ‘early diagnosis, better living and holistic care’. Despite the high rate of prevalence, developing nations like sub-Saharan Africa still face unique challenges in providing adequate care and support for affected individuals. These are attributed to limited access to health care, affordability of medications, stigma and shortage of specialised care providers.
Call to Action—How can you make a difference?
Studies have reported that achievements in managing Parkinson’s disease, particularly in developing countries, include awareness, improved access to medications, establishment of rehabilitation services, and emergence of support groups. As individuals, we can improve awareness about this condition, educating friends, families and the communities about the signs and symptoms of the disease to ensure early presentation and, hence, early diagnosis, creation of support groups for families and friends of patients with Parkinson’s disease and active participation in events of World Parkinson’s Day. By doing these, we can conquer this disease together and improve the lives of patients with this disease, one tremor at a time!!!
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