Disregarded females past a certain age
Aging UK Resident Pam Archer, a former nurse, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 74, during a Parkinson's Awareness Week. Despite her sister's prior diagnosis, Pam had initially attributed her early symptoms—shaking fingers and a trembling forearm—to nothing more than the signs of aging. As these symptoms worsened, involving her shoulder and affecting her typing, she refrained from seeking medical help due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Upon receiving her diagnosis, Pam expressed relief due to her age and increased awareness of the condition. However, she soon found herself frustrated with the dearth of information addressing the experiences of older women with Parkinson's. Most available resources focused on younger women, which left Pam feeling overlooked.
Pam is not alone in her struggle. Despite being one of the first baby boomers, she advocates for increased focus on sex-specific aspects of Parkinson's disease, particularly in older women. Recent research indicates that women may experience distinct symptoms, progression, and treatment responses compared to men, which could justify such emphasis.
Enlightening findings from research indicate that women tend to have a higher prevalence of tremors, while men may display increased rigidity and postural instability. Furthermore, sex-specific differences emerge in non-motor symptoms, with depression and dementia risk varying between genders. Additionally, the treatment responses might also differ between men and women, necessitating a reevaluation of current approaches to care and treatment.
Pam aspires to create a more open and honest dialogue among women with Parkinson's, acknowledging the unique challenges facing older women. She encourages more equal representation of women in research to establish sex-specific prevention and therapeutic strategies that cater to the needs of both older women and men. In her view, older women with Parkinson's are not mere variations of men but require their own tailored approach to support and care.
- Pam Archer, advocating for increased focus on the sex-specific aspects of Parkinson's disease, believes that women, especially older women, may experience distinct medical-conditions, symptoms, and treatment responses different from men, as indicated by recent research in health-and-wellness and neurological-disorders.
- Recognizing the unique experiences of older women with Parkinson's, Pam Archer aims to foster a supportive environment by creating a more open and honest dialogue about womens-health issues related to Parkinson's, encouraging equal representation of women in research as a means to develop sex-specific prevention and therapeutic strategies.
- In the realm of science and medical-conditions, it is vital to acknowledge and address the differences between the experiences of men and women, especially in Parkinson's disease, where women may exhibit higher prevalence of tremors and varied non-motor symptoms, necessitating a reevaluation of current approaches to care and treatment for both older women and men.
