Australians living with Parkinson’s disease are facing a significant yet often overlooked challenge: chronic pain. A groundbreaking study led by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has revealed that individuals with Parkinson’s are nearly three times more likely to suffer from chronic pain compared to the general population. This discovery, published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and better management of this debilitating symptom.
The study, which involved 10,631 participants from the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS), found that two-thirds of those with Parkinson’s reported persistent pain. This pain severely impacted their mobility, sleep, independence, and emotional wellbeing. The research, supported by the Shake It Up Australia Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation, marks the first large-scale examination of chronic pain prevalence and severity in individuals with Parkinson’s.
Chronic Pain: An Under-Recognized Symptom
Lead author Associate Professor Miguel Rentería emphasized the under-recognition and undertreatment of chronic pain in Parkinson’s disease. “We would like our research to have a real impact on people’s lives, and we want to do research that matters to people living with Parkinson’s and one of the most debilitating symptoms that they report is chronic pain,” he stated.
The study’s findings aim to ensure that chronic pain is appropriately recognized, monitored, and managed, thereby improving the quality of life for those affected. The research revealed that 66.2% of participants experienced chronic pain, a stark contrast to the estimated 23% of men and 30% of women in the general population.
Gender Disparities and Pain Locations
Women with Parkinson’s were disproportionately affected, with 70.8% reporting pain. The most common sites of pain included the buttocks (35.6%), lower back (25.4%), neck (19.4%), and knees (17.2%). These findings underscore the need for gender-sensitive approaches in managing chronic pain in Parkinson’s patients.
Linking Pain to Other Health Issues
Chronic pain in Parkinson’s was strongly linked to depression, sleep disorders, and osteoarthritis. Environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, and alcohol, were also associated with increased pain, particularly among men. Co-author Dr. Kishore Kumar, a neurologist, highlighted the clinical implications of these findings. “As clinicians, we are often focused on the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s but we need to make sure we are not neglecting the non-motor symptoms like pain so we can treat that aspect of the disease and improve the lives of patients with Parkinson’s,” he said.
Community Insights and Support
Shake It Up Australia Foundation CEO Vicki Miller noted that the study confirmed what many patients had long reported. “Many people with Parkinson’s suffer in silence. Pain is invisible, but it’s real and this research finally gives us the numbers to back what the community has been saying for years,” she remarked.
The research represents a significant output from the ongoing APGS, which aims to uncover the genetic basis of Parkinson’s to inform new therapeutic targets and personalized treatments. Participants provided detailed questionnaires on medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms, offering crucial insights into one of the disease’s most debilitating but overlooked symptoms.
Implications and Future Directions
The authors emphasized the urgent need for improved clinical recognition, comprehensive assessment, and tailored management strategies that integrate medical, psychosocial, and lifestyle interventions. They also stressed the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors, such as mental health conditions and environmental exposures, in shaping targeted prevention and therapeutic approaches.
“Future research should focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms driving chronic pain variability in PD and developing evidence-based guidelines to enhance patient quality of life and treatment outcomes.”
This study not only sheds light on the prevalence and impact of chronic pain in Parkinson’s but also paves the way for future research and improved care strategies. By addressing this often-neglected symptom, healthcare providers can significantly enhance the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disease.
