Parkinson’s drastically changed how they have sex. They're not alone.

Key Points:

• A 73-year-old Missouri woman discovered her 69-year-old husband had Parkinson’s disease after noticing symptoms like diminished handwriting, confirmed by a neurologist, leading to significant changes in their daily life and intimacy.
• Parkinson’s disease often causes diminished sexual desire, a topic rarely discussed openly due to associated shame, prompting the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) to launch the ParkinSex kit to help couples explore intimacy despite the illness.
• Parkinson’s symptoms vary widely, affecting sexual activity differently among patients, and experts emphasize expanding the definition of intimacy beyond intercourse to include touch and sensory experiences to maintain connection.
• The APDA’s ParkinSex kit includes tools like a blindfold and massage stone, along with recommendations for creating a romantic atmosphere, aiming to support couples in sustaining intimacy despite physical challenges.
• Couples facing Parkinson’s are encouraged to maintain expressions of love and intimacy in various forms, recognizing that while the disease changes relationships, it does not mean giving up on love or connection.