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Parkinsonism and Parkinson disease

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About parkinsonism and Parkinson disease

Parkinsonism is an umbrella term for a group of neurological conditions with symptoms related to movement. The most common of these conditions is Parkinson disease.

Over 100,000 people in Canada aged 40 years and older live with parkinsonism. Of them, nearly 60% are males. However, evidence suggests that females experience different symptoms. Females also face more barriers to diagnosis than males, which could contribute to underdiagnosis in females.

Explore the most current data on Parkinsonism in Canada

Causes of parkinsonism and Parkinson disease

The causes of Parkinsonism are complex and largely unknown. Health professionals diagnose the condition based on the symptoms you present.

Current research shows that Parkinson disease is the result of a combination of factors, including:

Other forms of parkinsonism may be caused by:

Symptoms of parkinsonism and Parkinson disease

Each person’s experience with parkinsonism is unique. Symptoms include those related to movement and those not related to movement.

Symptoms, their progression and their impact on daily life can vary from person to person. You may not experience all symptoms.

Symptoms related to movement can include:

Symptoms not related to movement can include:

Research shows that females and males may experience Parkinson disease differently. Females are more likely to report:

Males are more likely to report:

If you or someone close to you is experiencing symptoms of parkinsonism, talk to a health care provider as soon as possible. Recognizing the symptoms early can help you receive:

Treating and managing parkinsonism and Parkinson disease

There is no cure for parkinsonism. However, there are a range of treatments that can help manage its symptoms and improve your quality of life. These may include:

Learn more:

For health professionals

Clinical guideline for Parkinson disease

The Canadian guideline for Parkinson disease provides recommendations to support health professionals in the:

The guideline offers practical clinical advice to help improve the quality of care and health outcomes for individuals living with parkinsonism and Parkinson disease.

Access the Canadian guideline for Parkinson disease

Data on Parkinsonism

The Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System began monitoring parkinsonism in 2014, following the National Population Study of Neurological Conditions (2009 to 2013). The system uses data from provinces and territories to estimate the number of new and existing cases of parkinsonism.

The study’s final report, Mapping Connections: An Understanding of Neurological Conditions in Canada, presented key findings on:

It also looked at potential risk factors, and developed microsimulation models to project health outcomes and costs of 7 conditions, including parkinsonism.

Learn more:

Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research supports research that:

The institutes’ Health Research in Action series highlights how funded research advances science and improves the lives of people living in Canada, including through recent breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research.

Learn more:

Parkinson disease in females and males

Research shows that females and males may experience Parkinson disease differently as noted in the symptoms of parkinsonism and Parkinson disease section.

Learn more:

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2026-08-07