World Parkinson's Day 2025
Today marks World Parkinson's Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about Parkinson's disease, honoring those living with the condition, and recognizing the invaluable contributions of researchers, healthcare professionals, therapy developers, caregivers, friends, and advocates working to improve treatment and care.
The first World Parkinson’s Day was held in April 1997, established by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association—now known as Parkinson’s Europe—and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization. In 2022, The Spark was introduced as the official logo for World Parkinson’s Day. Inspired by dopamine—the electrochemical neurotransmitter essential for motor function, mood, and decision-making—The Spark symbolizes the drive of those with Parkinson’s to maintain their independence and quality of life.
“World Parkinson’s Day is not only about raising awareness of the disease — it’s also about recognizing the strength of individuals, families, and communities affected by it. It’s a reminder for all of us to come together, create a better world, and move humanity forward.”
What is Parkinson's disease?
Named after James Parkinson, who first described its symptoms in 1817, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain regions responsible for movement. Its primary symptoms include tremors, slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, and balance issues. Additional symptoms may involve depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive decline. The condition can profoundly impact daily functioning and overall quality of life.
Due to increasing life expectancy, Parkinson’s disease is now the fastest-growing neurological disorder globally, affecting individuals across all cultures and ethnicities. An estimated 10 million people currently live with the disease worldwide, a number projected to rise to 25 million by 2050. In Germany and Finland, approximately 1% of individuals over 60 are affected—equating to around 400,000 patients in Germany and over 15,000 in Finland.
How is Parkinson's treated?
Although there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, a range of treatments is available to manage symptoms, enhance quality of life, and slow disease progression. These treatments include oral medication to increase or substitute for dopamine, device-assisted therapies, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and pump-based dopaminergic stimulation for more severe cases, and various supportive therapies, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Effective management of Parkinson’s requires a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s symptoms over time. However, accurate and objective long-term data — particularly in home environments — is often lacking. Treatment planning is typically based on subjective observation and examination of patients during short clinic appointments and patient self-reporting, which may not fully capture the complexity of the symptoms.
At Adamant Health, we are committed to helping people with Parkinson’s disease live full, independent lives. By providing an accurate and clear picture of each patient’s condition, we empower more personalized and effective treatment decisions tailored to their unique needs.
Our unique CE-marked data analysis technology, based on surface electromyography (EMG) and motion measurement, captures both visible and non-visible motor symptoms. This detailed and accurate symptom data is essential for personalized treatment that can be continuously optimized.
By enabling data-driven disease management, we empower clinicians to make more informed treatment decisions and help patients access the best care available—ultimately improving their quality of life.