A new report has highlighted the need for a sex-and-gender-specific focus when it comes to Parkinson’s research and care, and has identified a number of ways to improve care for women with Parkinson’s.
Published in Nature Medicine in January 2025, the report — titled “Using a Sex- and Gender-Informed Lens to Enhance Care in Parkinson’s Disease” — was compiled by the Women’s Brain Foundation, and co-authored by a group of ten Parkinson’s researchers from across Europe and North America, including Parkinson’s Europe President, Josefa Domingos.
Clinical differences between men and women with Parkinson’s
The paper highlights evidence of a number of stark contrasts in the symptoms and experience of men and women with Parkinson’s, including:
- A faster progression of Parkinson’s symptoms in women, as well as a later onset of motor symptoms, and a lower mortality rate
- How female-specific hormonal changes, for instance during menstruation and pregnancy, can make Parkinson’s symptoms worse
- Women respond to Parkinson’s treatment differently than men. For instance, when taking levodopa, the most widely used Parkinson’s medication, women have an 80% greater risk of the medication wearing off before their next dose is due.
Social stigma
The report also shines a spotlight on important societal and cultural differences to the way women experience Parkinson’s: for example, they’re more likely to be the primary caregivers for their children, and women with Parkinson’s are less likely to receive care support from their partner or friends.
The paper further argues that women of colour are even more affected: not only do they struggle to come to terms with having a condition which has an incorrect public perception of mainly affecting elderly white men, in the case of black women in the USA, they have “the longest time to diagnosis and the longest time for access to care”.
Recommendations
Several recommendations are listed in the report, including using gender-neutral language (such as “journey partner” rather than caregiver), ensuring more women are included in clinical trials, and promoting workplace policies that take into consideration the additional challenges that many women with Parkinson’s face. The authors also recommend taking urgent measures to regulate neurotoxic substances, which most commonly affect women of colour in low and middle income countries.
The report “highlights the unique perspective of women living with Parkinson’s”, authors say
Doctor Antonella Santuccione-Chadha, President of Women’s Brain Foundation and co-lead author of the report, explains:
“The patient’s voice is a core value and asset at the heart of the work we do at the Women’s Brain Foundation since its inception. This work, supported by Abbvie, highlights the unique perspective of women living with Parkinson’s Disease—addressing their distinct needs related to hormonal cycle fluctuations, specific dosage titration for optimized symptom management, and reducing side effects from treatments. These critical aspects are not yet part of clinical guidelines, but we are relentlessly working to fill this gap, educating stakeholders to meet this urgent unmet need, potentially transforming lives and reducing healthcare costs.”
Doctor Roberta Marongiu, co-lead author, Women’s Brain Foundation board member and Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at New York’s Weill Cornell University, added:
“The innovation of this work lies in its patient-centric approach, and originated from the joint effort of an international team of patients, caregivers, policymakers, scientists, and healthcare professionals to address the unmet needs of women with PD.
This paper underscores the urgent need to strengthen research on sex/gender for understanding disparities in PD, and to provide inclusive and tailored care frameworks that accounts for the interplay between sex/gender and societal factors. Addressing these disparities will improve outcomes and quality of life for all patients, particularly women and underserved groups.”
Parkinson’s Europe President, Josefa Domingos, explains how this report aims to improve quality of life for everyone with Parkinson’s:
“As we uncover the significant disparities in symptoms, treatment responses, and disease progression between men and women with Parkinson’s, it becomes essential to address these critical differences. With this initiative, we aim to raise collective awareness and, through the power of research, help pave the way toward a future where personalized care is not just an aspiration but a reality—ensuring a better quality of life for everyone living with Parkinson’s.”
Read the report in full on Nature Medicine, and find out more about women and Parkinson’s.
