More than 100,000 Canadians are living with Parkinson’s and incredibly, that number continues to rise every day. Parkinson’s is a lifelong, incurable brain disease and no two journeys are alike.

The reality for people who face a Parkinson’s diagnosis is that many aspects of their lives will be disrupted, including relationships, work, sleep, activity, mental health and more. Parkinson’s not only impacts individuals, but also families, friends and care partners who come together to help manage the realities of the disease.

“Parkinson’s is on the rise globally, with Canada experiencing among the highest rates of prevalence,” says Karen Lee, PhD, president and CEO, Parkinson Canada. “In response to the realities of this complex disease, at Parkinson Canada, we strive to inspire and empower people living with Parkinson’s to thrive through tailored programs, innovative research and raising the voice of Canadians impacted by Parkinson’s through our advocacy efforts.”

Each year, the month of April is dedicated to bringing awareness to Parkinson’s around the world and Parkinson Canada wants Canadians to know that, despite the challenges that can come with each stage of the journey, life with Parkinson’s is still possible.
During Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Parkinson Canada will be increasing their efforts to highlight the stories of Canadians living with Parkinson’s and their care partners, through digital and traditional media, working with elected officials to bring awareness to the far-reaching effects of Parkinson’s and the barriers faced to accessing care and available to support Canadians through local programs and services.

Parkinson Canada encourages Canadians to help raise awareness by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or visiting parkinson.ca, and sharing information and stories within their own networks.

A national registered charity, Parkinson Canada fulfils its mission through the generosity of donors.

Please visit parkinson.ca, call 1-800-565-3000 or email info@parkinson.ca to learn more, find programs and services in your area, or to make a donation.

About Parkinson’s and Parkinson Canada

Currently, more than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s, and that number is expected to increase in the coming years.

Parkinson’s is a lifelong, incurable brain disease that occurs when brain cells involved in mobility and coordination are dying that can impact anyone. As a progressive disease, symptoms slowly worsen, and new ones develop over time. While Parkinson’s is typically known for its movement-related symptoms like tremors and difficulty with mobility, non-movement symptoms such as anxiety and depression, sleep issues, thinking problems, and sometimes even dementia can also occur. In total, there are a long list of potential Parkinson’s symptoms, and they can vary from one person to the next. This makes everyone’s experience with the disease unique. Not all symptoms of Parkinson’s are outwardly visible, and the severity of symptoms can change from day to day and even by the hour.

At Parkinson Canada, people with Parkinson’s are at the centre of everything we do. We empower the Parkinson’s community through tailored programs, innovative research and raising the voice of Canadians impacted by Parkinson’s through our advocacy efforts. A national registered charity, Parkinson Canada fulfils its mission through the generosity of donors.