Improving life through research
Finding a cure will take time – so we also champion research to improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their loved ones.
Priorities set by people with Parkinson's
Alongside our groundbreaking research to develop better treatments and a cure, we also support research to improve quality of life.
To help us focus on what matters most, over the last several years we have worked on two surveys for members of the Parkinson's community. This helped us come up with a list of priority research areas for improving everyday life in the short term.
These priority areas will help direct research efforts in improving everyday life with Parkinson’s.
Identifying research priorities
In 2014, we worked with the James Lind Alliance and researchers at UK universities to ask people with Parkinson's about their priorities for Parkinson's research. The top three priorities identified were balance and falls, stress and anxiety and uncontrollable movements.
Read the full report about priorities of people with Parkinson's from 2014.
Then in 2021 we repeated this survey, asking members of the Parkinson's UK Research Support Network which symptoms of Parkinson's mattered most to them. Our 2021 survey showed that people's priorities change as the condition progresses.
Read a summary of the priorities below, or read the full article in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.
For people diagnosed within the last 2 years, their top 5 priorities were:
1. Uncontrollable movements or tremor
2. Problems with mental health and wellbeing
3. Fine motor coordination, such as holding a pen and writing
4. Stiffness
5. Feeling tired or low energy
For people diagnosed within 2-5 years of the survey, the top 5 priorities were:
1. Uncontrollable movements or tremor
2. Feeling tired or lack of energy
3. Problems with sleep
4. Stiffness
5. Balance and falls
For people diagnosed within 6-10 years of the survey, the top 5 priorities were:
1. Uncontrollable movements or tremor
2. Feeling tired or lack of energy
3. Movement issues or moving in bed
4. Mental health problems and wellbeing
5. Balance and falls
For people diagnosed over 11 years before taking the survey, the top 5 priorities were:
1. Balance and falls
2. Walking
3. Speech and communication problems
4. Movement or moving in bed
5. Mental health problems and wellbeing
Funding these research priorities
Parkinson's is a complex and variable condition, and each person's experience can be unique. We are also keen to support and encourage research that addresses these and other important issues.
Our non-drug approaches grants fund research focusing on what matters most and improving quality of life for people affected by Parkinson’s in the shorter term. Alongside medication, other approaches - such as living aids, exercise and therapies - can play a vital part in helping people to manage daily life and take control of Parkinson's.
Find out more about our non-drug approaches grants for research.
Explore research looking to improve quality of life
Falls affect around 60% of people with Parkinson’s every year and it can lead to lack of confidence and independence. We met three people dedicated to finding better tools and treatments in this area.
Dyskinesia - uncontrolled movements, including twitches, jerks, twisting and writhing - is a common side effect of Parkinson's medication. In March 2023, we announced some exciting early results from one of our funded projects which is looking to find new treatments for this symptom.
Research has shown that keeping active for 2.5 hours a week can be beneficial for people with Parkinson's. But what types of activities are best? Experts from around the world discuss the latest research in our blog.
Help us improve Parkinson's research
People with Parkinson's and those close to them are the real experts on the condition - we make sure their voices are heard. We're always looking for more people to get involved and share their experiences.