News Release
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Number of people with Parkinson’s disease set to double by 2031
TORONTO, ON, March 31, 2015 – Every day 10 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Over
the next 16 years, the number of Canadians diagnosed with Parkinson’s is expected to double to more
than 163,700 and Parkinson Society Canada will be here for them. These statistics tell only part of the
story. A recent Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) report MAPPING CONNECTIONS: An
Understanding of Neurological Conditions in Canada, offers other data, details and insights about the
impact of Parkinson’s disease in Canada. It also shines a light on the magnitude of challenges faced by
families who live with neurological conditions as a part of daily life.
The health care costs of the disease are staggering. Parkinson’s has the third highest direct healthcare
costs of neurological conditions annually at $120,358,000, second to epilepsy and Alzheimer’s and other
dementias. For individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, household finances can also suffer. People
with Parkinson’s have the highest rate of prescription drug use among those with neurological conditions
and their annual out-of-pocket expenses average $1,100, second only to those people with spinal cord
injuries.
“The impact on individuals and families can be overwhelming,” says Joyce Gordon, President & CEO of
Parkinson Society Canada.”
Most caregivers are family members and caregiver stress doubles when caring for an individual with a
neurological condition. This is particularly the case if the condition is accompanied by cognitive
impairment or behavioral issues, which are common in people with Parkinson’s. Fifty per cent of people
living with Parkinson’s experience memory limitations and 40 per cent experience thinking and problemsolving limitations.
Parkinson Society Canada will continue to extend its reach and ensure that every new person diagnosed
with Parkinson’s disease can find meaningful help and resources close to home. A new, interactive map
has been launched that enables Canadians to find and connect to resources in their province so that they
can live life to the fullest. This online tool complements the toll-free National Information and Referral
Centre, which can be accessed at 1-800-565-3000.
“It’s important following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s that individuals have access to evidence-based
resources, which complement the information they’ve just received from their neurologist and family
physician,” says Grace Ferrari, National Manager, Professional & Public Education.
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April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
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“It may be many months before their next specialist appointment, and in the meantime, they may have
unanswered questions. We are here to make the journey more understandable.”
Parkinson’s is a chronic, degenerative neurological disease characterized by a loss of dopamine in the
brain. There is no known cause or cure. Symptoms include: resting tremor, slowness of movement,
stiffness or rigidity of muscles, difficulty with balance and walking, changes in voice volume and speech,
and difficulty with fine movements. Non-motor symptoms include depression, loss of sense of smell,
sleep disturbances and cognitive changes. The average age of onset is 60, but it can affect people as
young as 30 or 40.
For 50 years, Parkinson Society Canada (PSC), together with a network of partners across Canada, has
provided education and supportive services for individuals, families and health professionals, while
advocating for changes in health policies. Parkinson Society Canada’s National Research Program has
invested more than $24 million in more than 450 research projects to unlock the mysteries of Parkinson’s
disease.
To find out more about Parkinson’s disease programs and services available near you, call 1-800-5653000 or visit www.parkinson.ca. Join the conversation on Twitter @ParkinsonCanada and follow
Parkinson Society Canada on Facebook.
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For further information, contact:
Kelly Mills
Communications Associate
Parkinson Society Canada
1-800-565-3000, ext. 3469
kelly.mills@parkinson.ca
Reference:
Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC), Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada
(PHAC), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). MAPPING CONNECTIONS: An Understanding
of Neurological Conditions in Canada. September 2014.