Parkinson’s disease is a global challenge, affecting over 10 million people worldwide. In India alone, it’s estimated that 600,000 to 700,000 people are living with Parkinson’s disease, a number that is projected to double by 2040 due to the country’s rapidly aging population. As we mark another World Parkinson’s Day, it is crucial to recognise that this neurodegenerative disorder is more than just a clinical condition one reads about. It’s a daily reality that unfolds not just in labs or hospitals, but within families and homes and routines that are quietly affected by the disease. In India, with its rapidly growing elderly population, the number of Parkinson’s cases is predicted to rise significantly, presenting a growing challenge for elder care. It’s worth noting that although Parkinson’s can occur at any age, the risk of developing the disease increases considerably with age, making the elderly more susceptible to the disease, thereby making it a critical concern for India’s senior population and their families who often become primary caregivers.
Clinically, Parkinson’s is complex, progressive, and incurable, but it is not untreatable. In recent years, we’ve seen notable advances in pharmacological therapies such as newer dopamine agonists and MAO-B inhibitors that help manage motor symptoms more effectively. For those with advanced symptoms, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can be life-changing, improving tremors and rigidity in patients who no longer respond adequately to medication. And yet, fewer than 1 per cent of eligible patients in India have access to DBS, largely due to cost, lack of awareness, and the concentration of neurological expertise in urban centres.
Medical innovation, however, is only one piece of the Parkinson’s puzzle. The outcomes of any treatment, whether medication or surgery, depend greatly on when the disease is diagnosed and how it is managed thereafter. Early signs of Parkinson’s that include subtle motor changes, sleep disturbances, loss of smell, and mood disorders, are often mistaken for signs of ageing. What this does is delay diagnosis by several years, missing the window where early intervention may alter the trajectory of disease progression.
Research has indicated that patients diagnosed early and enrolled in a structured care programme that combines medication with physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, retain functional independence longer, and thereafter report better quality of life. However, within India’s fragmented healthcare ecosystem, such coordinated care models remain the exception and not the norm.
This is because the conversation around Parkinson’s still tends to centre around medication. Which brings us to the most critical yet under-discussed aspect of Parkinson’s management: non-pharmacological caregiving and assisted care services. Anyone who has cared for someone with the condition knows that while medications can stabilise symptoms for a few years, it is the day-to-day caregiving, support with movement, speech, hygiene, nutrition, and helping them find joy in their day is what truly sustains patients. Unfortunately, more often than not, families are left to navigate this without professional help, relying on informal caregiving that, while well-intentioned, can often be physically and emotionally draining.
India is still in the initial stages of developing a robust assisted care ecosystem. Specialised facilities equipped to manage neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s are limited in number and concentrated in metropolitan cities. And where they do exist, their utilisation is often limited because of the societal stigma and lack of awareness that surrounds the disease. Therefore, considering the challenges the disease poses for the caregivers, it’s important to emphasise and make people understand that assisted care is not an abandonment of duty, rather, it is an extension of care, delivered by trained professionals under the guidance of a doctor, who understand the condition’s nuances and can adapt support as the disease progresses for enhanced quality of life.
Multidisciplinary assisted care, integrating physiotherapy, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, nurses, and neurologists, plays a vital role, particularly in mid- to late-stage Parkinson’s. These care environments ensure therapy adherence, monitor symptom progression, prevent falls, and most importantly, strive to preserve the patient’s autonomy for as long as possible. They also offer structured cognitive engagement and emotional support, thereby reducing the risk of depression and social isolation that often accompany chronic illness.
This World Parkinson’s Day, our message must be clear and unequivocal, that India must shift from reactive to proactive care. We must prioritise the integration of early diagnosis into primary health screenings for high-risk individuals, invest strategically in the training and expansion of allied healthcare workers, and continue to develop infrastructure that brings assisted care within reach of more families. Public-private partnerships, philanthropic funding, and insurance innovation can all play a role in building a Parkinson’s-ready care ecosystem.
Parkinson’s disease has a ripple effect, extending beyond just the individual diagnosed to reshape the lives of all of their families and loved ones. Our approach, therefore, must extend beyond medication to address the emotional, functional, and social dimensions of living with this chronic condition. Because, while science may eventually find a cure, it is empathetic, accessible, and comprehensive care that will define the quality of care and life we can deliver for those living with Parkinson’s disease today.