In early 2023 Cure Parkinson’s commissioned a research survey and report titled: ‘Change The Future: Preventing a Parkinson’s Pandemic’ with the aim of understanding how well the world’s fastest-growing neurological condition – Parkinson’s – is perceived by the British public and to bring about an urgent action plan for change.

The results shine a bright spotlight on the misperceptions, low awareness and understanding of this devastating condition.

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Read 'The Emerging Evidence of the Parkinson's Pandemic' UK sleepwalking into Parkinson’s pandemic

In the 2018 paper, The Emerging Evidence of the Parkinson Pandemic, the authors noted that Parkinson’s was exhibiting many of the characteristics of a pandemic. Parkinson’s impacts every corner of the globe; its prevalence is increasing in every major region and the trajectory is rising sharply in response to changes in aging, industrialisation and other external factors. Like other pandemics, the authors reported, “the Parkinson’s pandemic is experiencing exponential growth and no-one is immune to the condition”.

Were it an infectious disease, it would be appropriate to label it a pandemic as it exhibits most of the characteristics.

In the UK, every hour two people are told they have Parkinson’s. It is predicted that one person in 37 in the UK will receive a diagnosis of Parkinson’s during their lifetime.

Cure Parkinson’s believes this is an urgent problem, and we’re keen to echo the efforts of scientists who have labeled this a pandemic. Our report highlights the lack of awareness and understanding about Parkinson’s in the UK and demands drastic change by means of FOUR key actions:

  • £90m needs to be urgently allocated from central government to finding a cure.
  • More people to participate in trials.
  • Filling a recruitment gap to secure more scientists working on a cure.
  • Speeding up the clinical trial process.

Read our report now.

Change the Future – a report by Cure Parkinson’s

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We want to raise much-needed awareness of the urgency around finding a cure as possible and get people talking about how important this is. More funds must be allocated to research to change the future for those affected by Parkinson’s now and those yet to be diagnosed.  

Get involved and help drive our campaign to #ChangetheFuture!

Raise awareness

Like and share our report on social media – and help make more people aware of the urgency. We’re working with other Parkinson’s organisations to put demands to the Government to effect change.

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Take part in a research study to help bring about change

Taking part in research is vital because it enables earlier, more accurate diagnoses, better predictions of future disease progression and more insight into the biology of the condition. There are studies, some of which are online, that are recruiting participants now.

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Help fund our urgent and vital research

You can donate funds directly, or take on a challenge or activity to raise money.

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Stay informed

Keep updated on all our latest news. Sign up to receive our newsletter for all our research news and progress, and follow us on social media. #ChangetheFuture

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