Most people come across ideas about Parkinson’s disease before they ever receive a diagnosis. Some may seem harmless, but they can shape what a person expects, what a family worries about and how they plan ahead. This page explores common myths about Parkinson’s disease and explains what research shows. It also brings together Parkinson’s disease facts to help separate what is known from what is often assumed. If you are wondering why Parkinson’s happens, including questions about genetics and other possible causes, our Causes page explores those topics. Here, the focus is on the symptoms, progression and everyday concerns that can arise after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, including questions about independence and what lies ahead.
Common myths about Parkinson’s disease
Myth 1: Parkinson’s disease is just a tremor
Fact: Parkinson’s affects far more than movement, and for many people, non-motor symptoms can have a greater impact on daily life.
Tremor is only one of the many possible symptoms. Other symptoms may include sleep disorders, constipation, loss of sense of smell, mood disorders, fatigue, or pain. Some of these changes can occur before motor symptoms develop. If a family is only looking for Parkinson’s disease to manifest itself as shaking, then other problems may be overlooked or not mentioned during an appointment. The World Health Organization’s 2023 fact sheet on Parkinson disease lists cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, sleep disorders, pain and sensory disturbances among the non-motor symptoms.
Myth 2: Everyone with Parkinson’s disease has a tremor
Fact: A meaningful proportion of people with Parkinson’s never develop a noticeable tremor.
Tremor is common; however, it does not affect everyone with Parkinson’s disease. Some people mainly experience stiffness, slowed movement, or balance problems instead. Because Parkinson’s is strongly associated with shaking, its absence can sometimes make the condition harder to identify. A person affected by these symptoms may not think that it may be related to Parkinson’s disease, while a doctor may consider other conditions as well. This is why it is important to look beyond tremor. Even without tremor, you should mention other seemingly unrelated changes during an appointment.
Myth 3: Parkinson’s disease only affects older people
Fact: Most people are diagnosed later in life, but Parkinson’s can be diagnosed considerably earlier.
Most people with Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in later life, but it can develop much earlier. Parkinson’s disease with onset between ages 21 and 50 is referred to as early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD). A 2022 review reported that the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) increases significantly with age, reaching approximately 2.6% among people aged 85 to 89 years. A nationwide multicenter study of 7,918 people with Parkinson’s disease across 18 Indian hospitals reported a mean age at onset of 54.2 years.
Symptoms in younger people may be mistaken for something else or ignored altogether, making diagnosis harder. They may also be juggling work and caring for young children. The issues this group faces can differ from those more commonly raised for people diagnosed later in life.
Myth 4: If a parent has Parkinson’s, you will get it
Fact: Most people with a family history of Parkinson’s never develop it.
Rare genetic changes can cause inherited forms of Parkinson’s, while other variants may increase risk without determining whether someone will develop the condition. It is understandable to worry about your own future after a parent’s diagnosis. But family history does not make Parkinson’s inevitable. The Causes page explains the genetics in more detail; the important point here is that having a parent with Parkinson’s does not tell you what will happen to you. It is a reason to seek accurate information, not a prediction of your own future.
Myth 5: A diagnosis means losing your independence soon
Fact: Parkinson’s is progressive, but it progresses differently in different people, and a diagnosis does not provide a fixed timetable for losing independence.
You cannot know with certainty what your life will be like in the years to come. Symptoms and the support needed may change, as may practical priorities that matter most. Care planning can be based on your current needs and priorities, then reviewed as your situation changes. Individual outcomes vary. Not following a fixed timetable does not deny that Parkinson’s can become more difficult over time. It means recognising that a diagnosis won’t tell you exactly when changes will occur or how much help you will need at different times.
Myth 6: Everyone with Parkinson’s develops dementia
Fact: Cognitive change is common in Parkinson’s, but it varies widely and is not the same as dementia.
People may experience changes in concentration, processing speed, or difficulty finding the right words even without dementia. It may be difficult for families to raise questions about cognitive function, but such issues are worth discussing with a qualified healthcare professional and asking questions doesn’t mean that dementia is expected or certain to happen.
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis reported a pooled dementia frequency of 26.3% among people with Parkinson’s, although estimates varied substantially between studies. This pooled figure should not be interpreted as a lifetime risk, as long-term studies indicate that the cumulative risk can increase substantially with longer disease duration.
Myth 7: Nothing can be done once you are diagnosed
Fact: There is no cure, but there is a great deal that can be done to manage symptoms and support daily function.
Management of Parkinson’s includes medication, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or exercise depending on the person’s needs. Care plans should be reviewed periodically rather than adhering to a fixed routine, as an individual’s needs may change. Individual outcomes vary. Consulting a professional helps people understand options and make decisions that match their priorities.
Parkinson’s disease facts worth knowing
Parkinson’s disease is more than a movement disorder, and there is a lot worth knowing beyond the symptoms people most often associate with it. The World Health Organization reported in 2023 that more than 8.5 million people were living with Parkinson’s globally in 2019, and that its prevalence had doubled over the previous 25 years. It also noted that Parkinson’s is the most common movement disorder and that, although it usually affects older people, younger people can also develop it. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of 295 studies found a pooled dementia frequency of 26.3% among people with Parkinson’s, although results varied substantially between studies. This is a pooled cross-sectional frequency rather than a lifetime risk, and the risk of dementia increases with longer disease duration. Long-term cohort studies have reported substantially higher cumulative rates among people followed for many years. The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society defines early-onset Parkinson’s disease as onset between ages 21 and 50. These are population-level findings, not predictions for an individual.
How Plexus supports people living with Parkinson’s
Most people arrive at a diagnosis carrying a set of assumptions about what comes next. Those assumptions are a poor basis for a plan. What a plan is built on is an accurate picture of how Parkinson’s is actually affecting this person.
At Plexus, that starts with a doctor-led assessment of how the condition is affecting the person: tremors, movement, balance, speech, thinking and mood. A plan may then bring together physiotherapy, occupational therapy, specialised speech and movement therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, mental health therapy, and Cell Therapy for patients found eligible after assessment. Caregivers are taught the home exercises and handling techniques as part of the programme. The plan is reviewed regularly and adjusted as needs change. Individual outcomes vary.
If you would rather plan from an accurate picture than an assumption, our team can talk you through what an assessment involves.
FAQs
What are the most common myths about Parkinson’s disease?
Some of the common myths include that Parkinson’s is merely a tremor, that all patients experience a tremor, or that it only affects elderly people. Another myth is that once you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, you will rapidly lose your independence, or that everyone gets dementia, and nothing can be done to manage symptoms.
What are some important facts about Parkinson’s disease?
Some facts about Parkinson’s are that it can affect more than just movement; non-motor symptoms can also have an impact on day-to-day life. While most people are diagnosed later in life, Parkinson’s can also occur at a younger age. A family history of Parkinson’s disease does not necessarily mean that an individual will develop the condition.
Is Parkinson’s disease fatal?
Parkinson’s disease is not usually the immediate cause of death, though complications in advanced disease — such as falls or infections including pneumonia — can be. How the condition progresses varies from person to person, and questions about prognosis are best discussed with a neurologist.
Does everyone with Parkinson’s disease get tremors?
No. Tremor is a common symptom of Parkinson’s, but it is not present in everyone. Other movement symptoms can include slowness of movement, stiffness, walking difficulties and problems with balance. The absence of tremor therefore does not, by itself, rule out Parkinson’s disease.
Can young people get Parkinson’s disease?
Yes. Parkinson’s is more common in older people, but younger people can also develop it. The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society defines early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD) as Parkinson’s disease beginning between ages 21 and 50.
Can Parkinson’s disease be cured?
There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Management may include medicines, exercise, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, depending on a person’s symptoms and needs. Treatment and support are tailored to the individual and may be reviewed over time with qualified healthcare professionals. Individual outcomes vary.
Sources
- Severiano e Sousa, C., Alarcão, J., Pavão Martins, I., & Ferreira, J. J. (2022). Frequency of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 432, 120077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.120077
- World Health Organization. (2023, August 9). Parkinson disease. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/parkinson-disease
- National Institute on Aging. Parkinson’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease/parkinsons-disease-causes-symptoms-and-treatments
- Mehanna, R., Smilowska, K., Fleisher, J., Post, B., Hatano, T., Pimentel Piemonte, M. E., Kumar, K. R., McConvey, V., Zhang, B., Tan, E.-K., Savica, R., & International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease. (2022). Age cutoff for early-onset Parkinson’s disease: Recommendations from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 9(7), 869–878. https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.13523
- International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. (n.d.). Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease Study Group. https://www.movementdisorders.org/MDS/About/Committees–Other-Groups/MDS-Study-Groups/Early-Onset-Parkinson-Disease-Study-Group.htm
- Kishore, A., Borgohain, R., Puthenveedu, D. K., Rajan, R., Pal, P. K., Kandadai, R.-M., Yadav, R., Mehta, S., Kumar, H., Kumar, N., Kukkle, P. L., Desai, S., Shetty, K., Wadia, P., Aggarwal, A., Agarwal, P. A., Abbas, M. M., Krishnan, S., Radhakrishnan, D. M., … Sharma, M. (2025). Demographic and clinical profiles of Parkinson’s disease in India: Observations from a nation-wide multicenter study. Movement Disorders, 40(10), 2220–2233. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.30310
- Mehanna R, Smilowska K, Fleisher J, et al. Age Cutoff for Early-Onset Parkinson’s Disease: Recommendations from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice. 2022;9(7):869–878. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9547138/
Educational disclaimer: For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Treatment decisions require professional consultation.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Na’eem Sadiq
Medical Director of Plexus
Medically reviewed: September 28, 2026
Dr. Na’eem Sadiq is a neurologist and neuropsychiatrist with over 35 years of clinical experience in treating complex neurological disorders. He founded Plexus in 2011 with a mission to enhance the quality of life for people living with neurological conditions. His areas of expertise include Neurology, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Migraine, Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and Cell Therapy.
