Understanding Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition affecting more than 80,000 people in Australia, with 17,000 of those people living in Queensland. The cause of Parkinson's is usually unknown, with over 90% of cases being diagnosed without a direct cause. However, the understanding of possible causes is increasing all the time thanks to ongoing research.

  • Parkinson’s is slightly more common in males.  
  • The average age of diagnosis is 65, although Parkinson’s can affect adults of any age. Young Onset Parkinson’s refers to people who are diagnosed between the ages of 21 and 40. Juvenile Onset Parkinson’s refers to people who are younger than 21 when they are diagnosed.
  • Symptoms of Parkinson’s are mainly related to a lack of a neurotransmitter substance called dopamine in the brain.

People living with Parkinson’s can be impacted by motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms, which will vary with each individual case.

Motor symptoms may include tremor; slowness of movement; muscle stiffness resulting in difficulty standing and walking; and postural instability causing falls.

Non-motor symptoms can include fatigue and pain; impact to cognitive functions including memory; changes to oral muscles impacting eating and drinking; changes to senses affecting smell and vision; gastrointestinal issues; and difficulty sleeping.

This information has been provided by Parkinson’s Australia.

How can CPL help?

Allied Health therapies

While Parkinson's can occur at any age, onset usually occurs between 50 and 60 years of age. CPL's Allied Health team can support people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's to aid recovery and help them reach their goals.

Support at home 

CPL can support you with day-to-day tasks, depending on your needs, from getting ready for school, university or work, right through to mealtime assistance and medication.

Independent living

CPL provides 24/7 Supported Independent Living services, and has a number of vacancies in accessible homes.

Employment and Training opportunities

There are a range of disability employment and training pathways to help people who have Parkinson's to re-enter or join the workforce.