A large Australian study has revealed that people with Parkinson’s disease are nearly three times more likely to live with chronic pain than others their age. The researchers found that two out of every three people with Parkinson’s reported living with this painful condition, which has often been overlooked in the past.
This is the first time researchers have studied chronic pain in Parkinson’s disease on such a large scale. The study, led by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and published in the *Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology*, shows how common and severe the pain can be. It also highlights the urgent need to treat pain alongside more well-known Parkinson’s symptoms like shaking and stiffness.
Associate Professor Miguel Rentería, who led the study, explained that pain is a major problem for many people with Parkinson’s, but it hasn’t received enough attention. He said that past studies only looked at small numbers of people. Now, with data from more than 10,000 participants, the results give a clearer picture.
Researchers analyzed data from 10,631 people who took part in the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study. Out of those, 66.2% said they lived with chronic pain, which means pain that lasts more than three months and happens most days. That’s much higher than in the general population, where only about 23% of men and 30% of women of a similar age report chronic pain.
The study also found that women with Parkinson’s were more likely to have pain, and their pain was often worse than that experienced by men. About 71% of women in the study said they had chronic pain, compared to 63.5% of men.
The most common places in the body where people felt pain were the buttocks, lower back, neck, and knees. But the impact of this pain went far beyond just physical discomfort. Many participants said that pain affected their ability to move, their sleep, their independence, and their mental health.
The researchers also discovered that people with pain were more likely to have depression, sleep problems, and arthritis. Exposure to harmful chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals, as well as alcohol, was also linked to more pain—especially among men.
Associate Professor Rentería said that he hopes the findings will lead to better care for people living with Parkinson’s. He believes pain should be recognized and treated just like other symptoms of the disease.
Neurologist Dr. Kishore Kumar, a co-author of the study, agrees. He said doctors often focus only on the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s, like tremors, but they need to ask patients directly about pain. By paying more attention to pain, doctors can help improve the lives of their patients.
Vicki Miller, the CEO of Shake It Up Australia Foundation, said the research is very important. She explained that many people with Parkinson’s suffer silently, because pain isn’t easy to see. But this new study proves what the community has been saying for years—chronic pain is real and widespread. She also said she’s proud to support research that focuses on what truly matters to people with Parkinson’s.
Understanding how pain affects their lives can lead to better care, quicker diagnoses, and more thoughtful support.
This study is the first big result from the ongoing Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study. That project began in 2020 to better understand the genes behind Parkinson’s and help create more personalized treatments. In this study, participants filled out surveys about their health, lifestyle, and symptoms, including pain.
The results make it clear: chronic pain is one of the most serious and life-changing problems faced by people with Parkinson’s. It’s time for doctors, researchers, and healthcare providers to take this symptom seriously and include it in treatment plans from the very beginning.
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