Every year April 11th marks World Parkinson’s Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness, dispelling myths and standing with millions of people with Parkinson’s disease.
The date honours Dr. James Parkinson, the English physician who first described the condition in his 1817 paper “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy.” His birthday, April 11, marks World Parkinson’s Day.
So as we mark World Parkinson’s Day 2025, let’s look deeper at what this condition is—and how innovation is helping people live better, more empowered lives.
The significance of World Parkinson’s Day
World Parkinson’s Day is not about remembering history. It’s about working towards creating a better future.
This Day aims to dispel common misconceptions about the disease, addressing knowledge gaps about causes, symptoms, and treatments.
- It highlights the real-life challenges faced by those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.
- It educates the general public about the full spectrum of symptoms, from tremors to depression, that make Parkinson’s challenging.
- It creates a community for individuals with Parkinson’s and their caregivers and offers a platform to share experiences, access resources, and build connections.
- It highlights the need for increased research funding and better care models.
The day encourages collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups to move closer to better treatments and a cure.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder. It occurs when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine—a chemical that helps control movement—become damaged or die. Without enough dopamine, movement becomes difficult and uncoordinated.
The hallmark motor symptoms include:
- Tremors (shaking, especially in the hands)
- Muscle stiffness
- Slowness of movement
- Trouble with balance and walking
But Parkinson’s goes far beyond movement. It can also affect:
- Cognition and memory
- Sleep patterns
- Mood and mental health (like anxiety and depression)
- Speech, digestion, and even smell.
And here’s what makes it even more challenging:
No two people experience Parkinson’s the same way.
How common is it? The rising prevalence of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is alarmingly on the rise:
- More than 10 million people across the globe are living with Parkinson’s. And the number is expected to double by 2040.
- Every year, nearly 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the US alone.
- While Parkinson’s is more susceptible as you age, nearly 4% of people with the disease are diagnosed before age 50.
- Men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson’s than women.
What’s the cure for Parkinson’s disease?
The surprising fact is:
While Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, it still has no cure.
However, there are treatments to manage the symptoms—medications like Levodopa and others (based on symptoms), physical therapy and in some cases deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.
Challenges with treatment: Finding the right combination of medications is time-consuming and a trial-and-error process based on what works the best with the least side effects.
Many Parkinson’s patients hit a point where none of the treatments work. That’s where technological advancements are the need of the hour.
Technology and innovation changing Parkinson’s landscape
From AI-powered early detection tools to wearable devices for symptom management, digital therapeutics are transforming how Parkinson’s is diagnosed and treated.
These technologies are making a real impact—helping people manage symptoms, track progression, and receive more personalized care.
Here are a few exciting breakthroughs and startups worth watching:
Charco Neurotech’s CUE
The CUE is a small wearable device developed by Charco Neurotech that uses gentle vibrations to reduce stiffness and improve walking. It addresses common symptoms like slowness, stiffness and walking trouble, helping people with Parkinson’s move better.
It’s simple: by pressing a button, users receive these vibrations that help the brain reset its motor rhythm. CUE users often report smoother movement, better control and a confident feeling with the device.
NexStride
NexStride focuses on “freezing of gait” —when someone suddenly can’t move their feet, even though they want to walk. With its device, Nexstride uses visual and auditory cues to help the brain relearn movement and maintain a steady walking rhythm.
Auditory cue: It uses a beat sound, like a metronome, to help the brain find a new way to control movement.
Visual cue: It projects a laser line on the ground, giving the brain a visual target and helping with stride length.
The device is portable and easily clips onto canes and walkers.
Neu Health
Neu Health has built an AI-driven platform for tailored neurology care. Its smartphone-based system gathers data on motor and non-motor symptoms. These insights give clinicians a clearer, more complete picture for faster diagnoses and better-tailored treatments.
Aspen Neuroscience
Aspen Neuroscience is a biotech startup developing personalised cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease, exploring innovative approaches to neuron replacement.
They take a small skin sample, turn those cells into healthy dopamine-producing neurons, and implant them into the patient’s brain. This aims to replace the brain cells lost due to Parkinson’s and improve movement.
Their flagship therapy, ANPD001, is under clinical trials and has received special recognition from the FDA to speed up development. If successful, this will become a new frontier in Parkinson’s treatment.
The gap that startups and researchers must address
Though technology is advancing, there’s more work that needs to be done:
Build user-centered design
Technology for Parkinson’s should be simple and easy to use. This ensures people with limited mobility or who are not tech-savvy can use them.
Make it accessible and affordable
Many innovative technologies are expensive or not readily available. To truly make a difference, these solutions must be affordable and accessible to a broader population. This includes reducing costs, improving distribution channels, and integrating these technologies seamlessly into existing healthcare systems.
Address non-motor symptoms
While motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness are well-known, Parkinson’s also affects cognition, sleep, and mood. Researchers need to focus on developing technologies that address these non-motor symptoms.
The road ahead
World Parkinson’s Day 2025 isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a call to action.
A reminder that millions of people are living with this disease every day—and that technology, science, and community support can make a huge difference. We need bold steps and coordination between researchers, companies, governments and patients!
While we wait for a cure, innovation is helping people live better right now. Let’s keep pushing—because every improvement matters.
-By Rohini Kundu and the AHT Team
