Australians living with Parkinson’s disease are facing chronic pain at alarming rates, according to a groundbreaking study led by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. The research reveals that individuals with Parkinson’s are nearly three times more likely to experience chronic pain compared to the general population, with significant implications for their overall quality of life.
The study, published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, found that two-thirds of Parkinson’s patients reported persistent pain that severely disrupted their mobility, sleep, independence, and emotional wellbeing. This research is the first of its kind to measure the prevalence and severity of chronic pain in Parkinson’s on such a large scale.
Understanding the Findings
Lead author Associate Professor Miguel Rentería emphasized the importance of recognizing chronic pain as a significant, yet under-recognized, symptom of 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,” he stated. “Our hope is that these findings will mean that chronic pain becomes a symptom that is appropriately recognized, monitored, and managed.”
The study examined data from 10,631 participants in the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS), supported by the Shake It Up Australia Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Researchers discovered 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. Notably, women were disproportionately affected, with 70.8% reporting pain.
Common pain sites included the buttocks (35.6%), lower back (25.4%), neck (19.4%), and knees (17.2%).
Linking Pain to Other Factors
Chronic pain in Parkinson’s patients was found to be 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 in men. Neurologist Dr. Kishore Kumar, a co-author of the study, highlighted the clinical implications of these findings, urging clinicians to address non-motor symptoms like pain alongside the more commonly recognized motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.
“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,” Dr. Kumar explained. “This approach can significantly improve the lives of patients with Parkinson’s.”
Community and Clinical Impact
Vicki Miller, CEO of the Shake It Up Australia Foundation, noted that the study’s findings confirm what many patients have 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 said. “We are proud to support research that looks beyond the lab to understand what truly affects people’s lives.”
The research represents the first major output from the ongoing APGS, which aims to uncover the genetic basis of Parkinson’s to inform new therapeutic targets and personalized treatments. Participants completed detailed questionnaires on medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms, providing crucial insight into one of the disease’s most debilitating but overlooked symptoms.
Future Directions and Implications
The authors of the study 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 Parkinson’s disease and developing evidence-based guidelines to enhance patient quality of life and treatment outcomes,” the authors concluded.
This development follows a growing recognition within the medical community of the need to address the multifaceted challenges faced by Parkinson’s patients. As research continues to shed light on the complexities of the disease, there is hope that more comprehensive care strategies will emerge, ultimately improving the lives of those affected.
