Parkinson’s Awareness: Separating Fact from Fiction

The State of Oral Health

This April, more than 550 Canadians will hear three words that change everything: “You have Parkinson’s.” Here is what everyone should know.

April is Parkinson Awareness Month. Around the world, people wear tulips—the symbol of hope for the Parkinson’s community—to spark conversations about a disease that touches more Canadians than most realize [1].

Every single day in Canada, 18 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. That means in April alone, more than 550 individuals in this country will learn they have this condition. By the end of the year, that number will reach over 6,500 [1].

Yet despite how common it is, misunderstanding about Parkinson’s remains widespread.

Let’s separate the facts from the fiction.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder. That means it affects the brain and worsens over time. There is currently no cure, and no treatment that can slow or halt its progression [1].

But here is what that does not mean: it does not mean life ends with a diagnosis. With proper medical care, a strong support system, and the right information, many people with Parkinson’s live a full, active, and meaningful life [1].

Parkinson Canada describes the disease as complex and highly individual. No two people experience it the same way. In fact, there are as many different kinds of Parkinson’s as people who are living with it [2].

Myth 1: Parkinson’s Only Affects Movement.

This is the most common misconception. Because tremors are visible, many people assume Parkinson’s is “just a movement disorder.”

The truth: Parkinson’s affects far more than movement.

While motor symptoms like tremor, slowness (called bradykinesia), stiffness, and balance problems are certainly part of the disease, many people find their quality of life is actually more affected by what doctors call “non-motor symptoms” [1].

These include:

Not everyone experiences all of these, and symptoms vary greatly from person to person. But awareness of these less-visible symptoms is crucial for early detection and proper care [1].

Myth 2: A Parkinson’s Diagnosis Is a “Death Sentence”.

This myth persists, but it is simply not true.

The truth: Parkinson’s itself is not fatal. Most people with Parkinson’s can maintain a good quality of life for many years with proper management [2].

One neurologist describes it this way: Parkinson’s is not a death sentence, but it is a “life sentence”—meaning it requires ongoing work. There is more effort involved in maintaining wellness: exercise, nutrition, sleep, and taking medications on time all become essential parts of daily life [2].

With that effort, many people continue doing what matters to them for years or even decades after diagnosis.

The Gut-Brain Connection Returns.

Our companion article Gut-Brain Connection reminds us of how spring produce feeds your mood. That same gut-brain connection is playing a major role in Parkinson’s research—right here in Canada.

In fact, Parkinson’s has been consistently linked to changes in the gut microbiome, sometimes appearing years before motor symptoms begin. Canadian researchers are at the forefront of this work [3].

A major 2024 study from the University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary found that people with Parkinson’s show distinct changes in their gut bacteria compared to healthy controls. The study identified seven different bacterial species that were present at different levels in people with Parkinson’s [3].

Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell at UBC’s Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre and Dr. Laura Sycuro at UBC’s Calgary International Microbiome Centre are leading this research, investigating whether these gut changes might help predict or even influence how the disease progresses [3].

Exercise Is Powerful.

If there is one message to take away from current Parkinson’s research, it is this: exercise is medicine.

According to neurologists who specialize in Parkinson’s, exercise does more than just keep muscles strong. It actually helps the brain use dopamine more efficiently, creates new connections between brain cells, and may help reduce the spread of Parkinson’s in the brain [2].

The best approach includes multiple types of movement:

Exercise helps with energy levels, walking, balance, and even voice strength. And the benefits are not just immediate—regular exercise can help people function better for longer [2].

 

Resources for Canadians.

If you or someone you love is navigating Parkinson’s, you are not alone. Parkinson Canada offers a wide range of free resources, including:

How You Can Help.

Parkinson Awareness Month is about more than learning facts. It is about seeing the person behind the diagnosis.

Carlota Lee, who lives with progressive supranuclear palsy (a Parkinson’s-plus condition), puts it beautifully:

“Giving back is no longer optional for me—it is essential. Contributing to something larger than myself reminds me that my life is still rich with purpose” [5].

This April, you can:

Hope for the future.

Parkinson’s is complex. It is different for every person. There is no cure—yet. But there is hope, there is community, and there is meaningful action people can take.

As Professor Bas Bloem writes in the forward to Every Victory Counts:

“Parkinson’s is having its day. We need to find better ways of preventing Parkinson’s from happening in the first place, and we need to find improved solutions to optimally support all of you who have already developed symptoms. This means that we all must raise our voices to secure more funding and raise further awareness” [4].

This April, let’s raise our voices—with facts, compassion, and hope.