Parkinson’s Awareness: Why We Need to Talk About More Than Just Tremors

It’s been 23 years since my husband John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I remember the moment vividly: the neurologist delivered the diagnosis, wrote a prescription for levodopa, and told us to come back in six months. No conversation about gut health, toxins, diet, stress, or sleep. Just: “There’s no cure. This may help the tremors.”

Sadly, that same conversation is still happening in clinics around the world today.

As we recognize Parkinson’s Awareness Month, it’s time to widen the lens and deepen the dialogue—not just about symptoms, but about systems. And most importantly, about the real, science-backed steps people can take to improve their quality of life today.

A Global Health Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight

More than 1.2 million people in the United States are currently living with Parkinson’s disease. Globally, that number has climbed to nearly 12 million, with projections estimating 16 million cases by 2035—an increase of almost 33% over the next decade.

Even more concerning is the sharp rise in early-onset Parkinson’s: in the U.S., diagnoses in people under 40 have doubled in each of the past two decades.

These trends reflect more than aging. They reflect the influence of environmental toxins, gut disruption , chronic stress, metabolic imbalance, and the increasingly artificial world we live in—from the food on our plates to the light in our homes.

The System Is Missing the System

Parkinson’s is treated largely as a brain disease. But research now makes it clear: this is a whole-body condition that often begins in the gut —long before motor symptoms appear.

Constipation , indigestion, microbial imbalance, and inflammation frequently precede diagnosis by 10 to 20 years. Today we understand that the gut-brain axis plays a foundational role in neurological health, yet most patients still receive a one-size-fits-all prescription with little to no discussion of terrain, lifestyle, or microbiome.

It’s not that there’s no new science. It’s that it hasn’t reached the clinic.

You Are Not Powerless: Terrain and Epigenetics

Your genes are not your destiny. Through the science of epigenetics, we now know that your terrain—your internal environment—has the power to turn genes on or off.

When John was diagnosed, I didn’t have a medical degree—but I had questions. That led me to research the microbiome, environmental toxins, and metabolic health. Eventually, it led to the creation of BiotiQuest and our first probiotic formula, Sugar Shift, to support John's sugar metabolism and microbial balance.

But this was never just about John. It’s about all of us—and the simple truth that what we do matters. Our choices shape our terrain. And terrain shapes outcomes.

What You Can Do Right Now

There may not be a pharmaceutical cure for Parkinson’s, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. In fact, some of the most powerful, research-backed strategies are accessible today—starting with how you live, eat, sleep, and care for your inner ecosystem.

Here are the top terrain-building strategies I recommend:

• Stress management: Chronic stress disrupts the gut-brain axis, weakens immunity, and accelerates neurodegeneration. Prioritize nervous system support: breathwork, grounding, time in nature, or simply unplugging.

• Prioritize restorative sleep: Deep sleep is when your brain detoxes, repairs, and resets. Poor sleep is strongly linked with faster progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Reduce blue light exposure: We’re learning that toxic blue light—especially from screens and LED lights at night—can disrupt circadian rhythms, reduce melatonin, and increase oxidative stress in the brain. Use blue light blockers, dim your environment after sunset, and get natural morning light daily to restore your internal clock.

• Support your gut: Your microbiome influences everything from inflammation to neurotransmitter production. Eat fiber-rich foods, fermented veggies, and consider targeted probiotics that support sugar metabolism and microbial diversity.

• Limit environmental toxins: Avoid glyphosate-sprayed foods, plastics, and harsh household chemicals where possible. These disrupt microbial and neurological balance.

• Move your body: Movement supports lymphatic flow, mitochondrial function, and neuroplasticity. Even a daily walk can make a difference.

• Build community and purpose: Loneliness and disconnection can accelerate decline. Find creative expression. Laugh. Connect. Purpose is part of the healing terrain.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about direction. Every small shift you make builds momentum toward greater resilience.

📣 CALL FOR STORIES: Be Part of Our Parkinson’s Documentary

We're partnering with the Resolve Parkinson’s Foundation to produce a documentary film sharing the real, lived experiences of people navigating Parkinson’s. We believe in amplifying voices and expanding the conversation.

If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed, please email info@biotiquest.com to connect with our interview coordinator.

From Awareness to Action

Awareness matters. But what we really need is action. We need clinicians to speak about gut health, blue light, and toxins—not just tremors. We need people to be empowered—not just prescribed.

And we need community-driven tools that help people shape their terrain—right now, not someday.

You’re not alone on this journey. We’re walking it together, one step, one shift at a time.