Marie-Catherine, 65, and Guylaine, 63, two women living with Parkinson’s disease in Martinique, describe how table tennis has turn into a vital part of their daily routine to manage symptoms.
Diagnosed about a decade ago after recognizing tremors at a France Parkinson association meeting, Marie-Catherine says she refused to let fear take over. “I told myself: even if we don’t cure it, one day we’ll find a remedy,” she recalled.
Her weeks now follow a strict rhythm of neurologist visits, medication, physiotherapy, and balneotherapy — all centered around staying active. “I do everything I can. I don’t drive anymore, but I take the bus. I travel. I don’t stay alone,” she said.
While tremors come and go depending on her stress levels, it’s the stiffness and slowness that trouble her most, especially when trying to rise after sitting too long. Her family watches closely, often overprotecting her, she admits with a smile.
Two years ago, she began playing ping-pong — an activity she never imagined herself doing. “And I love it,” she said, laughing.
Guylaine, her peer in the France Parkinson group, shares a similar journey of adapting to life with the condition, though her personal history was not detailed in the report.
Parkinson’s disease remains the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in France after Alzheimer’s, primarily affecting those over 60, with men 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed than women.
In 2020, nearly 26,000 new cases were recorded nationwide, bringing the total number of people under treatment to 177,624 — about one in every 380 residents.
The rate of new diagnoses rises steadily with age from 45 to 80, peaking between 85 and 89 before declining, though after 85, women surpass men in incidence.
Only 15% of Parkinson’s patients in France are under 65, highlighting the disease’s strong association with aging, though regional variations in diagnosis rates — notably higher in Guyane, Indre, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vienne, and Lozère — remain unexplained despite known environmental and genetic complexity.
Early detection and consistent medical follow-up are stressed by health authorities as key to preserving quality of life, even as no treatment currently halts progression.
Another case, Agnès Béchard, a 50-year-old nurse from Lapte, first noticed symptoms in 2015 when she lost control of her left leg during a birthday party. Her father’s immediate reaction — “You’re trembling! Do you have Parkinson?” — reflected family awareness, as her mother had also been diagnosed years prior.
She described the diagnosis as a shock, especially given the rarity of hereditary cases, which account for roughly 5% of Parkinson’s instances.
How does exercise help people with Parkinson’s disease?
Regular physical activity, such as table tennis, can help improve mobility, balance, and coordination, and may slow the worsening of motor symptoms like stiffness and slowness.
Is Parkinson’s disease hereditary?
Only about 5% of Parkinson’s cases are linked to genetics, meaning most occur without a clear family history.
Why are more men diagnosed with Parkinson’s than women?
Parkinson’s is 1.5 times more common in men than women across all age groups, though the reasons for this disparity are not fully understood and may involve biological, environmental, or diagnostic factors.