As part of our #WomenAndParkinsons campaign, episode five of our Parkinson’s Life podcast brings together three campaigners with the condition for a discussion of motherhood, monthly cycles – and how a gender gap in data has affected their diagnosis, treatment and everyday lives
At least three million women worldwide live with Parkinson’s – yet their needs and experiences are often ignored.
To raise awareness of the ongoing impact of a shocking data gap when it comes to women and Parkinson’s, the latest episode of our Parkinson’s Life podcast brings together three women with the condition to explore how they experience it differently to men.
In a thoughtful and poignant discussion, campaigners Sharon Krischer (US), Omotola Thomas (UK) and Mariette Robijn (the Netherlands), talk about everything from diagnosis and treatment to periods, motherhood and marriage.
The guests acknowledge the unfair misconception of people with Parkinson’s as “old, grey, dusty men”, offer their advice to other women with the condition – and shine a light on how being better informed during diagnosis “would have made a difference” to their personal experience.
From discovering that “everything will be worse during your period” to helping their children answer the question “what’s wrong with your mum?” – they reflect on why “coming to terms with Parkinson’s is really difficult, especially as a woman”.
Listen to the conversation and find out more about the Women and Parkinson’s campaign here.