September Symposium: Women and Parkinson's (2022)

In this webinar, neurologist Dr. Michelle Fullard presented a talk on the distinctions in risk factors, symptoms, care access, and research for men and women with Parkinson's disease. Men face a higher risk and prevalence of Parkinson's compared to women, and the role of estrogen in neuroprotection and risk reduction for women was discussed. Hormonal changes, such as those during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, can impact symptoms and treatment. While some women experience worsened symptoms during menstruation, oral contraceptives can help regulate hormones. Pregnancy may exacerbate symptoms but is generally safe for medication use. Menopause can worsen symptoms, and hormone replacement therapy may help but requires further research.

Women with Parkinson's experience a different symptom profile, including higher rates of depression, anxiety, pain, fatigue, and restless leg syndrome. Disparities in care access and therapy utilization exist, with women more inclined to use home health and nursing facilities and underrepresentation in research trials. The lack of representation hampers treatment understanding. To address these issues, more research is needed to optimize therapies, enhance care access, monitor gender-specific symptoms, and investigate hormone replacement therapy benefits.

**Disclaimer: These sessions are designed to provide general education and are not intended for individual advice and/or clinical care. The information conveyed in this recording was accurate at the time of presentation.**