Documented as early as the 12th Century B.C. in Ancient Egypt, Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 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 Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 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.
Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 disease and its symptoms
Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 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 Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 disease, each individualsa国际传媒檚 experience varies greatly, with unique symptoms and requirements.
Researchers believe that Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 is likely caused by genetic and environmental factors. However, theresa国际传媒檚 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 Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚
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 didnsa国际传媒檛 seem to improve.
sa国际传媒淚 (went back to my doctor) and by that time I had clear symptoms,sa国际传媒� Lane said. sa国际传媒淲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 sa国际传媒楾hat doesnsa国际传媒檛 sound like a sleep problem, it sounds like Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
Struggling with various motor and non-motor symptoms, Lane said that some are more apparent than others.
sa国际传媒淲hen I walk, I stagger around like Isa国际传媒檓 drunk, but I havensa国际传媒檛 had a drink in years,sa国际传媒� Lane said.
When asked how it was to live with Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 disease, the man explained it was as if somehow, his sa国际传媒渕uscles forgot how to do stuff (hesa国际传媒檚) been doing forever.sa国际传媒�
Despite living independently, Lane finds that lifesa国际传媒檚 most basic tasks often pose serious challenges daily.
sa国际传媒淣ormally, you wouldnsa国际传媒檛 really even think about dressing up because you would just whip your pants on or whatever,sa国际传媒� said Lane. sa国际传媒淏ut when you have Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚, you have much less mobility so I really struggle. Thatsa国际传媒檚 one of the reasons I went back to coveralls.sa国际传媒�
Some things that many might consider trivial, like flipping pancakes or cleaning onesa国际传媒檚 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 Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 is the isolating nature of this disease. After surrendering his driversa国际传媒檚 licence for fear of causing an accident, Lane now feels trapped within the confine of his apartment.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 kind of lonely because I donsa国际传媒檛 have anybody to talk to about it,sa国际传媒� said Lane. sa国际传媒淓ven though Isa国际传媒檓 in a support group, we only meet once a month. I cansa国际传媒檛 walk as far or as quickly as before.sa国际传媒�
This loneliness is made worse by a lack of prognosis.
sa国际传媒淭he medical profession will not give me a prognosis and cansa国际传媒檛 tell me how quickly my disease is going to progress or (when Isa国际传媒檓 going) to be dead,sa国际传媒� Lane said. sa国际传媒淚 feel a little abandoned.sa国际传媒�
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 Whitesa国际传媒檚 gait.
In the following month, the woman was diagnosed with Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 disease and Lewy body dementia - which is commonly associated with Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 and Alzheimersa国际传媒檚.
sa国际传媒淚 think there were early signs if you knew that you were looking for. I think a lot of people donsa国际传媒檛 know (about PDsa国际传媒檚 symptoms,)sa国际传媒� said White. sa国际传媒淚 was trying to learn how to play bridge because itsa国际传媒檚 supposed to be good for your brain, but for the life of me, I couldnsa国际传媒檛 (learn) anything beyond the very basics.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been two years now and theresa国际传媒檚 been a dramatic change, especially on the cognitive side,sa国际传媒� Atterton said. sa国际传媒�(Her symptoms have just) exaggerated over time. The length of the awake day is shortened. Her shuffling is getting more (evident). Theresa国际传媒檚 a lot of muscle stiffness, shortness of steps, loss of speech and overall confusion.sa国际传媒�
Atterton describes every morning as a sa国际传媒渂usiness meeting,sa国际传媒� during which both review the daysa国际传媒檚 schedule, ensuring they stay within a 24-hour time cycle to avoid further confusion on Whitesa国际传媒檚 part.
Considering herself lucky to be sharing life with her loved one, White recognized the chance she had to have a supportive partner.
sa国际传媒�(Paul) is a rascal!sa国际传媒� White said laughing. sa国际传媒淏ut hesa国际传媒檚 been absolutely amazing and incredibly patient in the last couple of years as wesa国际传媒檝e gone through all this.
sa国际传媒淗e makes me breakfast, lunch and dinner, and washes the dishes. Hesa国际传媒檚 been very supportive and very patient. I cansa国际传媒檛 imagine where I would be without him.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 say that selfishly or begrudgingly, but wesa国际传媒檙e not getting the support we need and Isa国际传媒檓 basically Bevsa国际传媒檚 24/7 health care system,sa国际传媒� Atterton said. sa国际传媒淪he is not able to live by herself. If I wasnsa国际传媒檛 here, shesa国际传媒檇 be in the hospital today. Bev cansa国际传媒檛 manage simple things like putting out her medication, knowing what time of day it is or even what house shesa国际传媒檚 living in.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒�(Everyday is just) like fixing a puzzle,sa国际传媒� Atterton said. sa国际传媒淚 had Bev as a 1,000-piece puzzle and now shesa国际传媒檚 400 pieces of it. Itsa国际传媒檚 changing dramatically every day more so in the last two months than it was in the last year.sa国际传媒�
Despite what the disease brings, White, Atterton, and Lane want to spread awareness about this progressive brain disorder.
sa国际传媒淧eople seem to be afraid to even ask me whatsa国际传媒檚 going on, but Isa国际传媒檓 not embarrassed by (my condition,)sa国际传媒� Lane said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just the disease that I happen to have and Isa国际传媒檓 happy to talk about it. I donsa国际传媒檛 know if people are not curious or theysa国际传媒檙e scared to ask me questions, but I would say ask me about it if yousa国际传媒檙e interested!sa国际传媒�
For more information about Parkinsonsa国际传媒檚 disease and to learn more about services and resources available in B.C., visit .
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