Here are 3 myths to bust about Parkinson’s disease

While more than 10 million people are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease globally, many people still don’t know much about it. My grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his 70s, yet I knew very little about its symptoms or treatments until I was also diagnosed with it.

Over the past 12 years, I’ve learned a great deal about Parkinson’s and the misconceptions people have about it. So today I’m going to bust some myths about Parkinson’s.

1. Tremor is the only symptom

I’ll admit that I believed this until I was diagnosed. I knew that my grandpa had been shaky, and that Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali both had tremors when they were seen in public. I had no idea what the other symptoms could be.

A few months before my diagnosis, Linda Ronstadt went public with her own Parkinson’s diagnosis. I vividly remember watching a Sunday news program where they discussed it. Then a doctor came on the program to outline the four major motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: tremor, slowed movement, rigidity, and postural or gait problems.

I had an appointment with a neurologist coming up in a few weeks, and I had a sense that something was wrong. As the doctor on TV listed the symptoms, I said to myself, “Check, check, check, check.” Even though I had some tremors, the major problem that sent me to the doctor was my gait. I’d tried to convince myself it couldn’t be Parkinson’s because my tremor wasn’t that bad. But in combination with my other symptoms, it took an experienced neurologist about 15 seconds to figure out I had Parkinson’s, despite having only minimal tremor.

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2. You have to be an older man

While age is the No. 1 risk factor for Parkinson’s, and men are more likely to develop it than women, young women can have it. I was just 36 when I was diagnosed and am among the estimated 10% to 20% of cases that begin before a person turns 50. While I know several men with young-onset Parkinson’s disease, I am the only female I know with it. This may be because women just don’t get the disease as often as men, or it might be because fewer women seek treatment or discuss their illness with others. However, it can happen to anyone, so please consult a doctor if you notice anything unusual about your health.

3. It’s fatal

It’s often said that you die with Parkinson’s disease, not from it, but that doesn’t make it less scary. It’s a degenerative disease, which means that it’s always getting worse to some degree. Today is as healthy as I will be for the rest of my life. But I can’t think about it that way all the time. It’s why I’m so optimistic. I have to live while I’m here. Plan for the future, yes, but don’t dwell on it.

You have to be careful of all the things everyone else has to watch out for, but just a little bit more. It’s important to eat well, stay hydrated, and avoid falls and infections. It sounds weird, but being a “healthy” Parkinson’s patient is my goal. Parkinson’s won’t kill me, but it does make me more cautious.

I know my disease will progress, and so will the treatment options. In the next 25 years, the number of people living with — and I use that phrase intentionally — Parkinson’s disease is predicted to increase to 25 million. Whether you have Parkinson’s or are a caregiver, researcher, or just a friend, remember that a diagnosis is not the end of the road. Don’t let myths or even statistics prevent you from moving forward. You are so much more than numbers and assumptions.

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.