When we honor mothers on Mother’s Day, we celebrate their strength, resilience, and capacity to care for others. But too often, we overlook the unique ways women are impacted by Parkinson’s disease-and the many roles they play in this growing health crisis.
A Different Kind of Parkinson’s Story
When we think of Parkinson’s disease, we often picture an older man with a tremor. But that image is incomplete-and potentially harmful. Parkinson’s affects hundreds of thousands of women across the US, yet their experiences are often overlooked in diagnosis, treatment, and research.
Women with Parkinson’s tend to be diagnosed later and misdiagnosed more frequently. A landmark study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that women are more likely than men to present with tremor-dominant Parkinson’s, which is typically associated with a slower disease progression-but paradoxically, they are still diagnosed at a later stage, with more advanced symptoms.
In addition to motor symptoms, women often experience a greater burden of non-motor symptoms-such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms are frequently misattributed to stress, aging, or menopause, which delays appropriate care and support.
The Research Gap
One reason for this disparity? Women are significantly underrepresented in Parkinson’s research. Despite making up a substantial share of those living with the disease, only about 30% of participants in clinical trials are women. That means most treatment guidelines, drug studies, and even symptom definitions have been shaped by male biology.
The result is a mismatch in care. Women often report more disabling symptoms-especially around mood, energy, and sleep-but these are not well understood or adequately addressed. Some research suggests that estrogen may play a neuroprotective role, potentially delaying the onset of motor symptoms in women-but this hypothesis remains underexplored.
Until research fully reflects women’s biology and lived experiences, the standard of care will continue to fall short.
A Mother’s Instinct: Asking Why
More women are asking: Why did I get Parkinson’s? Why did my husband? My parent?
The answers are starting to come into focus. Mounting evidence links Parkinson’s to chemicals in our food, water, and air. These toxic chemicals include pesticides, air pollutants, and industrial chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE). Exposure to these chemicals can begin early-even in utero-and increase the risk of not just Parkinson’s, but childhood leukemia, developmental delays, brain diseases, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
Trichloroethylene (TCE), a toxic solvent that has been used in dry cleaning, metal degreasing, and consumer products for decades, is still found at thousands of contaminated sites across the country. TCE exposure has been associated with up to a 500% increased risk of Parkinson’s.
In December 2024, the EPA announced a historic plan to ban nearly all uses of TCE, citing its strong links to cancer and neurological disease. But the TCE ban decision is now on hold, delayed by legal and industry challenges. Communities continue to be exposed-many unknowingly-including pregnant women and children.
This is not just a disease of aging-it’s a disease of exposure. And those exposures often begin early in life, sometimes even in utero. Parkinson’s may be the result of toxins women have unknowingly carried through pregnancy, parenting, and beyond.
The Caregiver Role-Another Form of Burden
Women are the backbone of caregiving in the Parkinson’s community. They are far more likely to be caregivers for spouses and parents with the disease. This role is often invisible-unpaid, emotionally exhausting, and physically demanding. And too often, it’s unsupported.
The numbers are stark:
- 67% of Parkinson’s caregivers are women-and many are spouses or adult daughters providing care full-time without pay or outside help.
- 1 in 4 women caregivers in the U.S. report that their health has suffered as a direct result of their caregiving responsibilities.
- Women caregivers are twice as likely as men to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression-often in silence.
- On average, female caregivers reduce their work hours, take lower-paying jobs, or leave the workforce entirely-leading to long-term financial hardship and reduced retirement savings.
- Caregiving women often delay or forgo their own medical appointments, leading to undiagnosed or worsening health conditions-especially in underserved communities.
These are not just statistics. They are the lived reality of countless women balancing careers, families, and the emotional labor of caring for someone with Parkinson’s. Many are managing complex medication regimens, mobility challenges, mental health support, and doctor appointments-on top of everything else life demands.
This Mother’s Day, Let’s Do More Than Say Thank You
Let’s say we see you. And more than that-we’re fighting for you. Here are three actions you can do today:
1. Demand gender equity in research, so women’s symptoms are studied, understood, and treated with the care they deserve.
2. Support caregivers-not just with words, but with funding, policies, and services.
3. Protect the next generation by removing the chemicals like TCE that harm our mothers and our children-and by holding industry accountable for the damage already done.
Because honoring mothers means protecting them. Not just with flowers, but with action.