Documented as early as the 12th Century B.C. in Ancient Egypt, Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 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 Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 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.

Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 disease and its symptoms

Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 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 Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 disease, each individual乌鸦传媒檚 experience varies greatly, with unique symptoms and requirements.

Researchers believe that Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 is likely caused by genetic and environmental factors. However, there乌鸦传媒檚 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 Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚

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 didn乌鸦传媒檛 seem to improve.

乌鸦传媒淚 (went back to my doctor) and by that time I had clear symptoms,乌鸦传媒� Lane said. 乌鸦传媒淲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 乌鸦传媒楾hat doesn乌鸦传媒檛 sound like a sleep problem, it sounds like Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒�

Struggling with various motor and non-motor symptoms, Lane said that some are more apparent than others.

乌鸦传媒淲hen I walk, I stagger around like I乌鸦传媒檓 drunk, but I haven乌鸦传媒檛 had a drink in years,乌鸦传媒� Lane said.

When asked how it was to live with Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 disease, the man explained it was as if somehow, his 乌鸦传媒渕uscles forgot how to do stuff (he乌鸦传媒檚) been doing forever.乌鸦传媒�

Despite living independently, Lane finds that life乌鸦传媒檚 most basic tasks often pose serious challenges daily.

乌鸦传媒淣ormally, you wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 really even think about dressing up because you would just whip your pants on or whatever,乌鸦传媒� said Lane. 乌鸦传媒淏ut when you have Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚, you have much less mobility so I really struggle. That乌鸦传媒檚 one of the reasons I went back to coveralls.乌鸦传媒�

Some things that many might consider trivial, like flipping pancakes or cleaning one乌鸦传媒檚 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 Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 is the isolating nature of this disease. After surrendering his driver乌鸦传媒檚 licence for fear of causing an accident, Lane now feels trapped within the confine of his apartment.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 kind of lonely because I don乌鸦传媒檛 have anybody to talk to about it,乌鸦传媒� said Lane. 乌鸦传媒淓ven though I乌鸦传媒檓 in a support group, we only meet once a month. I can乌鸦传媒檛 walk as far or as quickly as before.乌鸦传媒�

This loneliness is made worse by a lack of prognosis.

乌鸦传媒淭he medical profession will not give me a prognosis and can乌鸦传媒檛 tell me how quickly my disease is going to progress or (when I乌鸦传媒檓 going) to be dead,乌鸦传媒� Lane said. 乌鸦传媒淚 feel a little abandoned.乌鸦传媒�

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 White乌鸦传媒檚 gait.

In the following month, the woman was diagnosed with Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 disease and Lewy body dementia - which is commonly associated with Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 and Alzheimer乌鸦传媒檚.

乌鸦传媒淚 think there were early signs if you knew that you were looking for. I think a lot of people don乌鸦传媒檛 know (about PD乌鸦传媒檚 symptoms,)乌鸦传媒� said White. 乌鸦传媒淚 was trying to learn how to play bridge because it乌鸦传媒檚 supposed to be good for your brain, but for the life of me, I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 (learn) anything beyond the very basics.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been two years now and there乌鸦传媒檚 been a dramatic change, especially on the cognitive side,乌鸦传媒� Atterton said. 乌鸦传媒�(Her symptoms have just) exaggerated over time. The length of the awake day is shortened. Her shuffling is getting more (evident). There乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of muscle stiffness, shortness of steps, loss of speech and overall confusion.乌鸦传媒�

Atterton describes every morning as a 乌鸦传媒渂usiness meeting,乌鸦传媒� during which both review the day乌鸦传媒檚 schedule, ensuring they stay within a 24-hour time cycle to avoid further confusion on White乌鸦传媒檚 part.

Considering herself lucky to be sharing life with her loved one, White recognized the chance she had to have a supportive partner.

乌鸦传媒�(Paul) is a rascal!乌鸦传媒� White said laughing. 乌鸦传媒淏ut he乌鸦传媒檚 been absolutely amazing and incredibly patient in the last couple of years as we乌鸦传媒檝e gone through all this.

乌鸦传媒淗e makes me breakfast, lunch and dinner, and washes the dishes. He乌鸦传媒檚 been very supportive and very patient. I can乌鸦传媒檛 imagine where I would be without him.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 say that selfishly or begrudgingly, but we乌鸦传媒檙e not getting the support we need and I乌鸦传媒檓 basically Bev乌鸦传媒檚 24/7 health care system,乌鸦传媒� Atterton said. 乌鸦传媒淪he is not able to live by herself. If I wasn乌鸦传媒檛 here, she乌鸦传媒檇 be in the hospital today. Bev can乌鸦传媒檛 manage simple things like putting out her medication, knowing what time of day it is or even what house she乌鸦传媒檚 living in.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒�(Everyday is just) like fixing a puzzle,乌鸦传媒� Atterton said. 乌鸦传媒淚 had Bev as a 1,000-piece puzzle and now she乌鸦传媒檚 400 pieces of it. It乌鸦传媒檚 changing dramatically every day more so in the last two months than it was in the last year.乌鸦传媒�

Despite what the disease brings, White, Atterton, and Lane want to spread awareness about this progressive brain disorder.

乌鸦传媒淧eople seem to be afraid to even ask me what乌鸦传媒檚 going on, but I乌鸦传媒檓 not embarrassed by (my condition,)乌鸦传媒� Lane said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just the disease that I happen to have and I乌鸦传媒檓 happy to talk about it. I don乌鸦传媒檛 know if people are not curious or they乌鸦传媒檙e scared to ask me questions, but I would say ask me about it if you乌鸦传媒檙e interested!乌鸦传媒�

For more information about Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 disease and to learn more about services and resources available in B.C., visit .

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