Welcome back to The Caring Neurologist! In today’s episode, host Dr. Sandeep Thakkar dives deep into a topic too often overlooked: the unique challenges women face with Parkinson’s disease. Although Parkinson’s is typically studied and portrayed as affecting everyone similarly often depicted as an older man with hallmark symptoms today’s conversation unpacks why that perspective misses the mark for women, and what important gaps remain in our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson’s in female patients.

Dr. Thakkar explores how hormones like estrogen impact risk and progression, why women are often diagnosed later than men, and how symptom presentation, side effects, and even clinical research representation differ between the sexes. They also talk candidly about the emotional, psychological, and caregiving burdens unique to women living with Parkinson’s, and discuss actionable steps for doctors, advocates, and patients to move toward more gender-aware care.

If you’re curious about the science, the lived experience, and what the future of Parkinson’s care could look like for women, this episode is not to be missed. Let’s get started!

00:00 Parkinson's Misrepresentation in Research

05:49 Gender-Neutral Healthcare Challenges

07:19 Gender Disparities in Health Care

12:08 Estrogen's Protective Role in Parkinson's

16:07 Gender Differences in Disease Progression

17:52 Misdiagnosed Health Struggles

22:18 Women's Health & Environmental Risks

27:00 Gender Differences in Treatment Response

27:52 Addressing Gender Bias in Research

32:29 Personalized Neurotransmitter Therapy for Women

36:01 Gender Differences in Disease Experience

40:01 Exploring Hormonal Therapies' Future

41:01 Anticipating Episode 13

The Caring Neurologist - Podcast Website - https://thecaringneurologist.com/

Dr. Sandeep Thakkar - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-thakkar-do-798a2499/

Dr. Sandeep Thakkar - Clinic - https://ocparkinsons.com/about-mdpds/our-team/dr-thakkar/

TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/