Parkinson’s symptoms differ between men and women, says study report
Parkinson’s symptoms differ between men and women, says study report
Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological disorder, with over 10 million cases worldwide. Up to 150,000 Australians currently live with the disease and 50 new cases are diagnosed each day.
The number of people living with Parkison’s is projected to more than triple between 2020 and 2050.
Yet despite the immense impact on those living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones, and the staggering cost to our economy – at least AUD 10 billion a year – there is still a lot we don’t know about how this disease presents and progresses.
A recent large-scale study of nearly 11,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s disease provides some critical insights into symptoms, risk factors and how these affect men and women differently. Let’s take a look.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s is a progressive disease in which cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine in a part of the brain called the “substantia nigra” begin to die. This is accompanied by multiple other brain changes.
It is usually considered a movement disorder. Common motor symptoms include a resting tremor, slowed movement (bradykinesia), muscle stiffness and balance issues.
But Parkinson’s also involves a variety of lesser known non-motor symptoms. These may include:
• Mood changes
• Difficulties with memory and cognition (including slower thinking, challenges with
• Planning or multitasking and difficulty paying attention or concentrating)
• Sleep disturbances
•Aautonomic dysfunction (such as constipation, low blood pressure and urinary problems).
While these are sometimes referred to as the “invisible” symptoms of Parkinson’s, they often have a greater negative impact on quality of life than motor symptoms.
What does the new research tell us?
The study used data collected as part of the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study led by the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. After a pilot study in 2020, it was launched as an ongoing, nationwide research project in 2022.
Some 10,929 Australians with Parkinson’s were surveyed and provided saliva samples for genetic analysis. This is the largest Parkinson’s cohort studied in Australia and the largest active cohort worldwide. There were several key initial findings.
Non-motor symptoms are common: The study reinforced how common non-motor symptoms are, with loss of smell (52 per cent), changes in memory (65 per cent), pain (66 per cent) and dizziness (66 per cent) all commonly reported.
Notably, 96 per cent of participants experienced sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
A better picture of risk factors: The study also provided insights into what can influence Parkinson’s risk. This is important because we don’t completely understand what causes the dopamine producing cells in the substantia nigra to die in the first place.
Age is the primary risk factor for Parkinson’s. The new study found the average age for symptom onset was 64, and for diagnosis, 68. Genes and environment both play a role: In the recent study, one in four people (25 per cent) had a family history of Parkinson’s.
But only 10–15 per cent of Parkinson’s cases are caused by – or strongly linked to – mutations in specific genes. It’s important to remember that families don’t only share genes but often their environment.
(Author is from Adelaide University)
