Column: Dr. Watkins On World Parkinson’s Day

[Column written by Dr Kimberley Watkins]

This past Saturday, April 11, marked World Parkinson’s Day, a global moment to raise awareness about one of the world’s fastest-growing neurological conditions. Almost 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease, and that number is rising. This year’s global theme is “Bridge the Care Gap”, and here in Bermuda, that message could not be more relevant.

Parkinson’s disease is a condition where the brain gradually loses the cells that produce dopamine, which is the chemical that helps us control our movements. That is why people with Parkinson’s can experience tremors, stiffness, and difficulty walking. But it goes well beyond movement. Many people also live with fatigue, anxiety, depression, and changes in memory and thinking.

It affects the whole person and their support system. Awareness is key. While some changes in movement are a normal part of ageing, early signs of Parkinson’s are often dismissed or overlooked. Symptoms like persistent tremors, increasing stiffness, or a noticeable change in the way someone moves are worth discussing with a doctor. The sooner any concerns are addressed, the sooner the right support can be put in place.

Physiotherapy is one of the most powerful tools available to someone living with Parkinson’s. A trained physiotherapist helps patients improve mobility, strength, and balance, and can address the fear of falling that so often causes people to withdraw from everyday life. Research is clear that the sooner rehabilitation begins after diagnosis, the better, and that maintaining it consistently over time makes a real difference in how well someone can live with the condition. This is exactly where bridging the care gap begins: ensuring that people have access to that support and rehabilitation from the moment they are diagnosed.

Here in Bermuda, the Bermuda Physiotherapy Association plays an important role in raising awareness of the value of rehabilitation and advocating for patients’ access to the physiotherapy they need. Keeping people living with Parkinson’s disease moving and physically active is central to managing the condition and maintaining quality of life, yet there is a significant gap in long-term funding for rehabilitation. As Parkinson’s progresses, the need for physiotherapy only grows, yet many families are left facing significant out-of-pocket costs, and patients struggle to access the ongoing specialist care they need.

Policymakers, insurers, and the public must understand that funding rehabilitation for those impacted by Parkinson’s disease is not a luxury. It is an investment in the person’s independence, in dignity, and in reducing the far greater costs of advanced disability. World Parkinson’s Day comes once a year, but the need is every single day. Let’s bridge the gap together.

- Dr Kimberley Watkins

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