Women with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have not been and are not adequately represented in Parkinson’s research, which is a critical reason the Parkinson’s Foundation created the Women and PD Initiative. The Foundation is leading the first national effort to address long-standing gender disparities in Parkinson’s research and care through the Women and PD Teams to Advance Learning and Knowledge (Women and PD TALK).

This project received $250,000 in award funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and developed new patient-centered recommendations to improve the health of women living with Parkinson’s.

Why Women and PD TALK?

Historically, Parkinson’s care has been based on research that has focused too narrowly on men or neglected to consider relevant gender differences. For example, treatment protocols have not taken into consideration the fact that women can react differently to medications or are less likely to see specialists.

How Did It Work?

Over the past two years, the Parkinson’s Foundation hosted 10 regional forums and one national forum where advocates for women with Parkinson’s and healthcare professionals gathered to recommend priorities in research and care. Through this collaboration, the Parkinson’s Foundation developed comprehensive, patient-centered recommendations, Women and Parkinson’s: Closing the Gender Gap in Research and Care, A patient-centered agenda for change, that provide an opportunity to change the ways in which Parkinson’s is studied and treated in women.

“The Parkinson’s Foundation is engaging key stakeholders in Women and PD TALK to ensure that our recommendations for women’s health are not only developed, but also implemented,” said Veronica Todaro, co-lead of Women and PD TALK, Parkinson’s Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We want to understand how to improve women’s lives and then make it happen."

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