Our team is ready to answer your questions on the topics of: research, fundraising, support, advocacy cases, campaigns, events, lifestyle issues and Parkinson’s disease.
We provide expert commentary in response to questions about Parkinson’s disease.
Marie-Neige Filteau, Senior Marketing and Communications Advisor
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurological disease that gradually affects the ability to carry out movements. There is currently no cure.
Anyone can have Parkinson’s disease, regardless of their age. Parkinson’s disease is something more than 25,000 people in Quebec have to live with.
It affects not only patients but also their spouses, families, friends and colleagues. In total, more than 100,000 people in Quebec have their lives impacted by this diagnosis.
Our proximity and our exchanges with people living with Parkinson’s disease allow us to know the right terms to use when talking about the disease.
We recommend avoiding the use of certain words or expressions in favour of other formulations.
Recommended formulations:
Use “people living with Parkinson’s disease”.
Use the term “people affected by Parkinson’s disease” to refer to people living with Parkinson’s disease and their family, friends and caregivers.
When talking about symptoms, mention that there are more than 40 symptoms but Parkinson’s disease affects everyone differently. Not everyone will experience all of the symptoms.
Use the expression “medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease” or “antiparkinsonian drugs”.
When talking about adults living with Parkinson’s disease under the age of 50, use the phrase “Parkinson’s under 50” instead.
Formulations not recommended :
When describing people affected or living with Parkinson’s disease, avoid saying “suffer” or “survive”. Also avoid the words “victims” or “sick”.
When talking about adults living with Parkinson’s disease under the age of 50, do not use “young PD” or “young diagnosed”.
