I thought I was too young, and too female, to have Parkinson’s 

Posted Date : Mar 2, 2026

Before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I mistakenly believed that it primarily affected a much older, more male demographic. I have learned that Parkinson’s can affect anyone, at any age. Women have a unique experience shaped by our biology and hormones, but also by our role as parents and perhaps care partners to others. 

Four years of searching for answers 

I was 43 years old when I first noticed a peculiar and persistent muscle twitch in my right ankle. My doctor deemed it to be a “benign nuisance” that would go away. It didn’t. For the next four years, I endured multiple tests, dozens of appointments, several failed medicine trials, and a mounting list of debilitating symptoms. Tremors, stiffness, mobility issues, speech changes, weakness and anxiety were all severely altering my daily existence. Looking back now, the answer was glaringly obvious, but through those years, Parkinson’s was never suggested as a possible answer – not even by the neurologist I was seeing at the time. In fact, he told me it would be “exceptionally rare” for a woman my age to have it.  Well, my grandmother always told me I was one of a kind – but the reality is, I am not rare at all.  

Once diagnosed, I felt a small amount of relief to finally have answers, but it was short lived as I soon learned that there were no disease modifying drugs available, no cure and very little data about how women experience Parkinson’s. I was sent home with a bottle of pills that could possibly mitigate some of the symptoms I was having but with the strong potential for creating new and equally debilitating ones as a side effect.  I hadn’t been given an immediate death sentence that so many other neurodegenerative conditions include and for that I was deeply grateful. But I was given a life sentence – one with few answers and seemingly little hope.  

When resources don’t reflect women’s reality 

As I sought to become as educated as possible about Parkinson’s I quickly realized how little was known about women’s experiences. It seemed that most of the information found online and available from my providers centered on a much older, and male, individual.  

As with many other conditions, women’s brain health isn’t centered, let alone considered. In the past few decades, we have revolutionized the way we talk about breast, gynecological, and even heart health for women, but we have work to do when it comes to brain health.

Parkinson’s and unexpected support systems 

Telling our two children that I had Parkinson’s was one of the hardest moments I have faced in my life. Moms are hardwired to protect our children, and I felt tremendous guilt about the life of struggle I was inflicting on them. I hoped that they would rise to the challenges, but I could never have imagined how beautiful it would be to see them embrace advocacy and become more empathetic and resilient beings while doing so.  

At the time of my diagnosis, I was a full-time nonprofit consultant for several brain health organizations – oh the irony! While I started to feel physical improvement from the medications, I knew that to be supportive to my family, I needed to also find support for myself.  

I found traditional support groups hard to find and focused on the needs of care partners and those living with Parkinson’s at more advanced stages of progression and not specific to the experience I was having as a younger woman. I turned to social media to find women who were similar in age to me.  That community has grown to include more than 100K across social platforms including my Instagram account, @ImStillAllie. It has been a privilege to connect with women across North America and beyond who are sharing this experience. More options for connection are needed, and I hope to see that someday soon.  

What needs to change for women & what’s next 

The time for changing how the world sees Parkinson’s is now. Our voices are starting to be heard, but this is still just a start. Research and care funding for Parkinson’s lags behind other neurodegenerative conditions, despite Parkinson’s being the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. And existing research often excludes women.  

If we want to move forward, women must be part of the equation.  

It is imperative we understand how Parkinson’s shows up biologically in women, how stress and hormones interact, and what it means to live with Parkinson’s while parenting and working. If we aren’t studying women, we can’t help women.  

“I will continue to work every day to ensure our children live in a world where no one is limited by Parkinson’s.”

Significant progress has been made in the breast cancer and heart condition community, which was achieved by a combination of advocacy, education, and research. I believe we will have similar success against neurodegenerative conditions if we use our voices and share our stories to effect change. That is why I am proud to partner with Parkinson Canada to raise awareness about women living with Parkinson’s. This was not something I ever thought I’d have, especially in the prime of my life, but now that I do, I will continue to work every day to ensure our children live in a world where no one is limited by Parkinson’s. Understanding the full picture of Parkinson’s, including how it manifests in women, will help us achieve this urgent goal.  

This story is shared thanks to the heart and devotion of Allie Signorelli. 

We’re sharing stories like Allie’s to shine a light on women’s experiences with Parkinson’s, as they have been overlooked for too long. Your story deserves to be heard. Share your own story using the hashtag #WomanEnough.  

Parkinson Canada is pushing for change through awareness, research and resources designed with women in mind. Together, we’re working towards a life without limits. Learn more at parkinson.ca/women.

Need someone to talk to? Our support team is here for you. Reach us via phone or email, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET. phone or email, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.