Documented as early as the 12th Century B.C. in Ancient Egypt, Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 disease and its symptoms
Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 disease, each individual害羞草研究所檚 experience varies greatly, with unique symptoms and requirements.
Researchers believe that Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 is likely caused by genetic and environmental factors. However, there害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚
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害羞草研究所檛 seem to improve.
害羞草研究所淚 (went back to my doctor) and by that time I had clear symptoms,害羞草研究所� Lane said. 害羞草研究所淲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 害羞草研究所楾hat doesn害羞草研究所檛 sound like a sleep problem, it sounds like Parkinson害羞草研究所檚.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Struggling with various motor and non-motor symptoms, Lane said that some are more apparent than others.
害羞草研究所淲hen I walk, I stagger around like I害羞草研究所檓 drunk, but I haven害羞草研究所檛 had a drink in years,害羞草研究所� Lane said.
When asked how it was to live with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease, the man explained it was as if somehow, his 害羞草研究所渕uscles forgot how to do stuff (he害羞草研究所檚) been doing forever.害羞草研究所�
Despite living independently, Lane finds that life害羞草研究所檚 most basic tasks often pose serious challenges daily.
害羞草研究所淣ormally, you wouldn害羞草研究所檛 really even think about dressing up because you would just whip your pants on or whatever,害羞草研究所� said Lane. 害羞草研究所淏ut when you have Parkinson害羞草研究所檚, you have much less mobility so I really struggle. That害羞草研究所檚 one of the reasons I went back to coveralls.害羞草研究所�
Some things that many might consider trivial, like flipping pancakes or cleaning one害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 is the isolating nature of this disease. After surrendering his driver害羞草研究所檚 licence for fear of causing an accident, Lane now feels trapped within the confine of his apartment.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 kind of lonely because I don害羞草研究所檛 have anybody to talk to about it,害羞草研究所� said Lane. 害羞草研究所淓ven though I害羞草研究所檓 in a support group, we only meet once a month. I can害羞草研究所檛 walk as far or as quickly as before.害羞草研究所�
This loneliness is made worse by a lack of prognosis.
害羞草研究所淭he medical profession will not give me a prognosis and can害羞草研究所檛 tell me how quickly my disease is going to progress or (when I害羞草研究所檓 going) to be dead,害羞草研究所� Lane said. 害羞草研究所淚 feel a little abandoned.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檚 gait.
In the following month, the woman was diagnosed with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease and Lewy body dementia - which is commonly associated with Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 and Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚.
害羞草研究所淚 think there were early signs if you knew that you were looking for. I think a lot of people don害羞草研究所檛 know (about PD害羞草研究所檚 symptoms,)害羞草研究所� said White. 害羞草研究所淚 was trying to learn how to play bridge because it害羞草研究所檚 supposed to be good for your brain, but for the life of me, I couldn害羞草研究所檛 (learn) anything beyond the very basics.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been two years now and there害羞草研究所檚 been a dramatic change, especially on the cognitive side,害羞草研究所� Atterton said. 害羞草研究所�(Her symptoms have just) exaggerated over time. The length of the awake day is shortened. Her shuffling is getting more (evident). There害羞草研究所檚 a lot of muscle stiffness, shortness of steps, loss of speech and overall confusion.害羞草研究所�
Atterton describes every morning as a 害羞草研究所渂usiness meeting,害羞草研究所� during which both review the day害羞草研究所檚 schedule, ensuring they stay within a 24-hour time cycle to avoid further confusion on White害羞草研究所檚 part.
Considering herself lucky to be sharing life with her loved one, White recognized the chance she had to have a supportive partner.
害羞草研究所�(Paul) is a rascal!害羞草研究所� White said laughing. 害羞草研究所淏ut he害羞草研究所檚 been absolutely amazing and incredibly patient in the last couple of years as we害羞草研究所檝e gone through all this.
害羞草研究所淗e makes me breakfast, lunch and dinner, and washes the dishes. He害羞草研究所檚 been very supportive and very patient. I can害羞草研究所檛 imagine where I would be without him.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 say that selfishly or begrudgingly, but we害羞草研究所檙e not getting the support we need and I害羞草研究所檓 basically Bev害羞草研究所檚 24/7 health care system,害羞草研究所� Atterton said. 害羞草研究所淪he is not able to live by herself. If I wasn害羞草研究所檛 here, she害羞草研究所檇 be in the hospital today. Bev can害羞草研究所檛 manage simple things like putting out her medication, knowing what time of day it is or even what house she害羞草研究所檚 living in.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所�(Everyday is just) like fixing a puzzle,害羞草研究所� Atterton said. 害羞草研究所淚 had Bev as a 1,000-piece puzzle and now she害羞草研究所檚 400 pieces of it. It害羞草研究所檚 changing dramatically every day more so in the last two months than it was in the last year.害羞草研究所�
Despite what the disease brings, White, Atterton, and Lane want to spread awareness about this progressive brain disorder.
害羞草研究所淧eople seem to be afraid to even ask me what害羞草研究所檚 going on, but I害羞草研究所檓 not embarrassed by (my condition,)害羞草研究所� Lane said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just the disease that I happen to have and I害羞草研究所檓 happy to talk about it. I don害羞草研究所檛 know if people are not curious or they害羞草研究所檙e scared to ask me questions, but I would say ask me about it if you害羞草研究所檙e interested!害羞草研究所�
For more information about Parkinson害羞草研究所檚 disease and to learn more about services and resources available in B.C., visit .
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