UCC researchers in world-first study on women managing Parkinson's 

Richelle Flanagan, centre, CEO of MyMovesMatter, with Professor Aideen Sullivan, left, and Dr Lucy Collins Stack. Picture: Daragh McSweeney/Provision.

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) have embarked on a world-first study that could transform how women manage their Parkinson’s disease.

They are collaborating with Richelle Flanagan who, following a diagnosis with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease, developed the My Moves Matter digital health app to track women’s symptoms across her menstrual cycle.

Participants in the study will log their symptoms on the app to collect data which it is hoped will lead to better patient-specific treatment and management of Parkinson’s disease.

Ms Flanagan, who was diagnosed shortly after the birth of her daughter, said specific treatment for Parkinson’s symptoms in women is an area that has been long overlooked by the medical community.

Now, a team from UCC’s Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, supported by the Health Innovation Hub Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, will be the first in the world to track how hormonal changes in women with Parkinson’s impact their symptoms.

“Many people think Parkinson’s disease only affects older white men,” Ms Flanagan said.

“The reality is that 40% of people living with Parkinson's are women and up to 30% are under the age of 60.” 

Hormonal changes

She said her app helps women validate what they experience during various hormonal changes so that they can show their neurologist the impact of their hormones on their Parkinson’s symptoms and get appropriate treatment.

“There are no clinical guidelines for the management of symptoms worsening in relation to hormonal changes in women. My hope is that this study may help to lay the foundations for the development of such guidelines,” she said.

Professor Aideen Sullivan, Head of Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience and lead researcher on the study, said Richelle is “a strong and effective advocate” for people with Parkinson's, especially for young women.

The app can be found on mymovesmatter.com/get-the-app. You can participate in the study by filling out a survey.