Adriana Silva
Medical writer. MD
Andrea Herrera
Parkinson’s disease is a well-known movement disorder, yet it is often misunderstood and surrounded by myths. Whether you or someone you know has been diagnosed, or you’re seeking to learn more, it’s vital to differentiate fact from fiction. Misunderstandings can lead to unnecessary fear, confusion, and missed opportunities for optimal care.
This blog addresses common myths about Parkinson’s disease.
Myth 1: Only Older Adults Get Parkinson's Disease
Fact: While Parkinson’s disease is commonly associated with older adults, as most diagnoses occur after age 60, it can also affect younger individuals, sometimes as early as their 30s or 40s. This form is known as young-onset Parkinson’s disease.
Young-onset Parkinson’s patients present differences in motor and non-motor features. For example, they are more predisposed to develop levodopa-related motor complications, such as dyskinesia. Also, patients with young-onset parkinson’s have around two times more risk of genetic predisposition.
Takeaway: Parkinson’s disease can affect adults of any age. Youth does not grant immunity.
Myth 2: If You Don't Have a Tremor, You Don't Have Parkinson's
Fact: Tremor is a well-known symptom of Parkinson’s disease, but it is not present in every case. Some individuals experience very mild or no tremor, while 25% of Parkinson’s disease patients do not develop tremor.
A thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional, not just the presence of tremor, is crucial for a diagnosis.
Takeaway: Absence of tremor does not exclude the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms are diverse.
Myth 3: There's Nothing You Can Do About Parkinson's
Fact: Though there is no cure yet, many pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available to manage Parkinson’s symptoms and enhance quality of life.
Medications help control movement symptoms. Other non-pharmacological treatments include rehabilitation care (speech and language pathology/therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy) and regular exercise. Speech therapy can help with communication and swallowing difficulties. Exercise has shown benefit in decreasing the risk of Parkinson’s disease and helping to ameliorate motor and nonmotor symptoms.
Takeaway: Being proactive about care and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key components of disease management.
Myth 4: Parkinson's Only Affects Movement
Fact: Parkinson’s impacts more than just physical motion. Non-motor symptoms are present in most of the patients at different stages of disease, and they can be equally disabling.
Common non-motor symptoms include fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, constipation, and memory changes, sometimes appearing years before movement difficulties.
Recognising and treating non-motor symptoms is crucial for comprehensive Parkinson’s care.
Takeaway: Beyond movement, Parkinson’s might affect emotional and physical well-being
Myth 5: Parkinson's Medications Stop Working After a Few Years
Fact: Parkinson’s treatment changes over time, symptoms may fluctuate, requiring an increase in dose, but it does not imply the treatments completely stop working.
Doctors frequently adjust medication types, doses, and schedules to provide optimal symptom control. Currently, a variety of advanced treatments, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), offer additional benefits when medications are insufficient.
Open communication with your healthcare team ensures your treatment evolves to meet changing needs.
Takeaway: Parkinson’s treatment plans are dynamic. Medications remain vital throughout the disease.
Myth 6: Everyone With Parkinson's Experiences the Same Symptoms
Fact: Parkinson’s disease is highly individualistic — symptoms vary widely in type, severity, and progression. Some patients primarily experience tremor, while others have stiffness, slowness, balance difficulties, or predominantly cognitive and mood changes.
This variability exists because what we call “Parkinson’s disease” actually represents a collection of different clinical presentations grouped under one name.
Symptom differences arise from multiple interacting factors (including genetics and environmental exposures). Understanding how these factors combine in each person is challenging and requires a comprehensive study of disease mechanisms.
There are various studies (such as the CCBP study) that aim to integrate these dimensions — clinical symptoms, genetics, biology, and environment — to understand better why Parkinson’s disease appears so differently from one person to another.
Takeaway:
There is no “one-size-fits-all” Parkinson’s. Each patient should receive a personalised treatment.
Myth 7: Parkinson's Is Always Inherited
Fact: Most Parkinson’s cases are not inherited. Approximately 10-15% involve genetic factors, but the majority arise from a mix of unknown genetic and environmental influences.
Having a family member with Parkinson’s slightly increases risk, but doesn’t guarantee development of the disease.
If you’d like to learn more about genetic risk in Parkinson’s, you can read our blog “Is Parkinson’s hereditary?“
Takeaway: Parkinson’s disease is not usually inherited. Many cases occur without a clear inherited cause.
Myth 8: A Parkinson's Diagnosis Means Immediate Disability
Fact: Most people continue working, travelling, and engaging in hobbies for years after diagnosis. In addition to medications, non-pharmacological treatments such as physical therapy play a critical role in slowing functional decline, preserving mobility, and maintaining independence.
Early involvement of rehabilitation specialists makes a huge difference:
- Physical therapists play an essential role in helping people with Parkinson’s stay mobile by working on gait and balance and developing exercise routines, while also teaching strategies to reduce the risk of falls.
- Occupational therapists focus on maintaining independence and safety in everyday life, supporting activities at home, at work, and in the community.
- Speech-language pathologists assist with speech and voice, swallowing safety, and cognitive-communication skills, and can also help manage saliva issues when needed.
Takeaway: Optimal Parkinson’s care is not just about medication—it’s about combining dopaminergic therapy with exercise, rehabilitation, and lifestyle interventions. This integrated approach helps maintain function, preserve independence, and support a good quality of life for many years after diagnosis.
Myth 9: Only Movement Symptoms Affect Quality of Life
Fact: Non-motor symptoms are persistent and could affect quality of life. Some of the Non-motor symptoms include fatigue, sleep issues (sleep fragmentation, REM sleep behaviour disorder), mood disturbance, autonomic dysfunction(constipation, orthostatic hypotension, swallowing issues, drooling, urinary dysfunction, sensory abnormality and sexual dysfunction) and cognitive changes.
These Parkinson’s symptoms can appear at any stage of the disease; their presence varies from patient to patient.
Managing thParkinson’ss through professional help, counselling, and sometimes medication is crucial for well-being.
Takeaway: Addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms is vital for overall quality of life.
Myth 10: Exercise Doesn't Help Parkinson's
Fact: Parkinson non-pharmacologic therapy in Parkinson’s disease. Evidence shows it can delay the onset of Parkinson’s symptoms, improve both motor and non-motor function, and enhance quality of life, making it an essential complement to medication.
Different types of exercise target various aspects of Parkinson’s:
- Aerobic or cardiovascular training (e.g., treadmill, cycling, brisk walking, dance) can improve bradykinesia, balance, and cognitive function, while also reducing fatigue.
- Balance and gait training (e.g., treadmill gait training, task-specific turning exercises, tai chi) can improve gait parameters such as speed and step length, reduce freezing of gait, enhance postural control, and help prevent falls.
- Resistance or power training (e.g., high-velocity power training, lower-limb strength exercises) can help build muscle, lessen bradykinesia, improve day-to-day mobility, and may slow down motor decline in people with Parkinson’s.
Takeaway: Exercise is a powerful component of Parkinson’s care. Staying active sustains strength and independence.
Conclusion
Parkinson’s is a complicated condition, and a lot of what we hear about it just isn’t accurate. These myths don’t just spread confusion—they can create fear and make people overlook that there are ways to manage symptoms and maintain a good quality of life. When we take the time to separate what’s true from what isn’t, we start to see how differently Parkinson’s can look from one person to another, and how treatment is much more than just taking medication. With the proper support — things like personalised care, early rehab, staying active, and talking openly with your care team — many people keep working, travelling, and doing the things they enjoy for years. The more we understand, the better we can support those living with Parkinson’s and make informed decisions instead of reacting to fear or misinformation.
Reference:
Mehanna, R., & Jankovic, J. (2019). Young-onset Parkinson’s disease: Its unique features and their impact on quality of life. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 65, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.201Parkinson’sdams, C. M., Stebbins, G. T., Delen, Y., Cortés, C. R., & Alberts, J. L. (2023). Updated Parkinson’s disease motor subtypes classification: MDS-UPDRS-III subtyping and cerebrospinal neurotransmitter profiles. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 104, 105–Parkinson’s//doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105113
Xu, X., Fu, Z., & Le, W. (2019). Exercise and Parkinson’s disease. International Review of Neurobiology, 147, 45–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2019.06.003
Baumann, C. R. (2012). Epidemiology, diagnosis, and the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease tremor. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 18(Suppl. 1), S90–S92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1353-8020(11)70029-3
Goldman, J. G., Volpe, D., EllParkinson’sHirsch, M. A., Johnson, J., Wood, J., Aragon, A., Biundo, R., Di Rocco, A., Kasman, G. S., Iansek, R., Miyasaki, J., McConvey, V. M., Munneke, M., Pinto, S., St Clair, K. A., Toledo, S., York, M. K., Todaro, R., Yarab, N., … Wallock, K. (2024). Delivering Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Care in Parkinson’s Disease: An International Consensus Statement. Journal of Parkinson’s disease, 14(1), 135–166. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-230117
Pfeiffer R. F. (2016) Parkinson’s symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism & related dParkinson’s2 Suppl 1, S119–S122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.09.004