Documented as early as the 12th Century B.C. in Ancient Egypt, Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 disease (PD) was first extensively medically described in 1817 by English surgeon James Parkinson.
More than two centuries later, this progressive neurological disorder of the brain now affects more than 17,500 people in British Columbia and about 100,000 people across Canada.
As April marks Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 Awareness Month internationally, this time of the year presents a chance to educate the public about this incurable disease, which is projected to double globally by 2040.
Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 disease and its symptoms
Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 occurs when dopamine-producing cells in the brain deteriorate. Dopamine, an important neurotransmitter for nervous system functions, is responsible for regulating movements and emotions. The exact cause for the death of these cells remains unclear.
Individuals diagnosed with PD might exhibit common motor symptoms including tremors (shaking), slowness of movement, muscle stiffness, and impaired balance. Other less visible and non-motor symptoms frequently observed are fatigue, speaking difficulties, sleep disorders, and cognitive changes among other things. Some have also reported losing their sense of smell.
Despite the common symptoms associated with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 disease, each individual含羞草研究社檚 experience varies greatly, with unique symptoms and requirements.
Researchers believe that Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 is likely caused by genetic and environmental factors. However, there含羞草研究社檚 still no clear understanding of what triggers the onset of the neurodegenerative disorder.
Commonly associated with older age, this progressive brain disease typically sees an increased risk of diagnosis as people grow older, with the average age being around 60. However, onset can occur as early as 40.
The risk of developing PD is twice as high in men than women but is known to progress faster and be more lethal to female patients.
Living with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚
Ross Lane, a retired industrial electrician living in Courtenay, was diagnosed last year with the neurodegenerative condition at 76 years old.
Feeling increasingly tired, Lane first met with a sleep doctor who diagnosed him with sleep apnea. After visiting a clinic in Nanaimo, he was given a machine to help him sleep, but after a few months, his condition didn含羞草研究社檛 seem to improve.
含羞草研究社淚 (went back to my doctor) and by that time I had clear symptoms,含羞草研究社� Lane said. 含羞草研究社淲hen I would reach for something, my hand would move very slowly. When I was writing, (everything) would get very tiny. After seeing this, my doctor said 含羞草研究社楾hat doesn含羞草研究社檛 sound like a sleep problem, it sounds like Parkinson含羞草研究社檚.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
Struggling with various motor and non-motor symptoms, Lane said that some are more apparent than others.
含羞草研究社淲hen I walk, I stagger around like I含羞草研究社檓 drunk, but I haven含羞草研究社檛 had a drink in years,含羞草研究社� Lane said.
When asked how it was to live with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 disease, the man explained it was as if somehow, his 含羞草研究社渕uscles forgot how to do stuff (he含羞草研究社檚) been doing forever.含羞草研究社�
Despite living independently, Lane finds that life含羞草研究社檚 most basic tasks often pose serious challenges daily.
含羞草研究社淣ormally, you wouldn含羞草研究社檛 really even think about dressing up because you would just whip your pants on or whatever,含羞草研究社� said Lane. 含羞草研究社淏ut when you have Parkinson含羞草研究社檚, you have much less mobility so I really struggle. That含羞草研究社檚 one of the reasons I went back to coveralls.含羞草研究社�
Some things that many might consider trivial, like flipping pancakes or cleaning one含羞草研究社檚 home, take considerably more time and energy for Lane to accomplish.
Regardless of these physical limitations, the retiree mentioned that one of the most debilitating parts of Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 is the isolating nature of this disease. After surrendering his driver含羞草研究社檚 licence for fear of causing an accident, Lane now feels trapped within the confine of his apartment.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 kind of lonely because I don含羞草研究社檛 have anybody to talk to about it,含羞草研究社� said Lane. 含羞草研究社淓ven though I含羞草研究社檓 in a support group, we only meet once a month. I can含羞草研究社檛 walk as far or as quickly as before.含羞草研究社�
This loneliness is made worse by a lack of prognosis.
含羞草研究社淭he medical profession will not give me a prognosis and can含羞草研究社檛 tell me how quickly my disease is going to progress or (when I含羞草研究社檓 going) to be dead,含羞草研究社� Lane said. 含羞草研究社淚 feel a little abandoned.含羞草研究社�
Comox Valley resident Bev White shares a similar story to Lane.
In 2022, at age 75, she was diagnosed with PD after her partner, Paul Atterton, asked their doctor to take a closer look at White含羞草研究社檚 gait.
In the following month, the woman was diagnosed with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 disease and Lewy body dementia - which is commonly associated with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 and Alzheimer含羞草研究社檚.
含羞草研究社淚 think there were early signs if you knew that you were looking for. I think a lot of people don含羞草研究社檛 know (about PD含羞草研究社檚 symptoms,)含羞草研究社� said White. 含羞草研究社淚 was trying to learn how to play bridge because it含羞草研究社檚 supposed to be good for your brain, but for the life of me, I couldn含羞草研究社檛 (learn) anything beyond the very basics.含羞草研究社�
After sharing his life for the last three decades with White, Atterton has seen the state of his partner decline drastically over the past 12 months.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been two years now and there含羞草研究社檚 been a dramatic change, especially on the cognitive side,含羞草研究社� Atterton said. 含羞草研究社�(Her symptoms have just) exaggerated over time. The length of the awake day is shortened. Her shuffling is getting more (evident). There含羞草研究社檚 a lot of muscle stiffness, shortness of steps, loss of speech and overall confusion.含羞草研究社�
Atterton describes every morning as a 含羞草研究社渂usiness meeting,含羞草研究社� during which both review the day含羞草研究社檚 schedule, ensuring they stay within a 24-hour time cycle to avoid further confusion on White含羞草研究社檚 part.
Considering herself lucky to be sharing life with her loved one, White recognized the chance she had to have a supportive partner.
含羞草研究社�(Paul) is a rascal!含羞草研究社� White said laughing. 含羞草研究社淏ut he含羞草研究社檚 been absolutely amazing and incredibly patient in the last couple of years as we含羞草研究社檝e gone through all this.
含羞草研究社淗e makes me breakfast, lunch and dinner, and washes the dishes. He含羞草研究社檚 been very supportive and very patient. I can含羞草研究社檛 imagine where I would be without him.含羞草研究社�
Yet, underneath this unwavering support, the couple is increasingly feeling the ever-growing weight of this disease. Having to give up his own hobbies and social life, Atterton is now fully dedicated to White.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 say that selfishly or begrudgingly, but we含羞草研究社檙e not getting the support we need and I含羞草研究社檓 basically Bev含羞草研究社檚 24/7 health care system,含羞草研究社� Atterton said. 含羞草研究社淪he is not able to live by herself. If I wasn含羞草研究社檛 here, she含羞草研究社檇 be in the hospital today. Bev can含羞草研究社檛 manage simple things like putting out her medication, knowing what time of day it is or even what house she含羞草研究社檚 living in.含羞草研究社�
The hardest thing for Atterton is to witness the disappearance of his lover, day by day, and watch Bev slowly become a shadow of her former self.
含羞草研究社�(Everyday is just) like fixing a puzzle,含羞草研究社� Atterton said. 含羞草研究社淚 had Bev as a 1,000-piece puzzle and now she含羞草研究社檚 400 pieces of it. It含羞草研究社檚 changing dramatically every day more so in the last two months than it was in the last year.含羞草研究社�
Despite what the disease brings, White, Atterton, and Lane want to spread awareness about this progressive brain disorder.
含羞草研究社淧eople seem to be afraid to even ask me what含羞草研究社檚 going on, but I含羞草研究社檓 not embarrassed by (my condition,)含羞草研究社� Lane said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just the disease that I happen to have and I含羞草研究社檓 happy to talk about it. I don含羞草研究社檛 know if people are not curious or they含羞草研究社檙e scared to ask me questions, but I would say ask me about it if you含羞草研究社檙e interested!含羞草研究社�
For more information about Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 disease and to learn more about services and resources available in B.C., visit .
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