Pain is one of the most disabling non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, affecting up to 80% of sufferers. The origin of pain symptoms in the disease has yet to be fully understood.

Does chronic pain have a peripheral origin? A central origin? Is the onset of chronic pain in Parkinson's disease affected by sensory, cognitive, and/or affective vulnerability? Is it possible that people with Parkinson's disease have abnormally low pain thresholds and/or that the brain has difficulty modulating pain?

There is very little data on this subject.

The aim of our research project is to help elucidate the origin of pain in Parkinson's disease by establishing the sensory profiles of people suffering of Parkinson's Disease with and without chronic pain, during sessions with and without the first levodopa (dopamine precursor) medication.

People with Parkinson's disease are currently being evaluated using pain sensitivity and modulation tests, and neuropsychiatric questionnaires. To compare results and try to understand what is specific to Parkinson's disease and what is specific to chronic pain, participants with chronic pain but without Parkinson’s Disease and healthy participants are also in recruitment.

Insterested in participating in this project? Click here for more information.

This project is funded by a grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and by a pilot project grant from Parkinson Canada, both obtained in 2023.