It’s women’s history month! We’ve come a long way, but not nearly far enough because while women are less likely than men to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD), women with PD report a worse quality of life than men with PD.

This is partly because women are less likely than men to seek treatment from a PD specialist, such as a neurologist or movement disorder specialist and to get important treatments like deep brain stimulation.

At the same time, women are more likely to live and attend medical appointments alone. This means women with PD may have less social support and should prioritize their mental health by joining a support group, or making sure they have someone to talk to (friends, family, clergy, or a counselor).

Every woman with PD should be equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to get the very best treatment and find support. The Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach Program can help.

Along with curated and vetted articles, webinars, etc. about Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson’s caregiving, Stanford Parkinson’s has a long list of favorite blogs and podcasts about living with PD. Several are written by women with Parkinson’s, like Defeat Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s Diva by Dr. Maria DeLeón, Perky Parky by Allison Smith, LMFT, A Simple Island Life by Kai, Twitchy Woman by Sharon Krischer, Unshakeable MD by Dr. Soania Mathur, and the Women’s Parkinson’s Project.

In addition, Stanford Parkinson’s has resources to help you find a PD support group in Northern California or video support group, including some just for women with PD.