On 1/1/2020……. I lost my mother, Sharon, due to Parkinson’s disease. I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas on tough topics in caregiving and send thoughts and prayers for others diagnosed and caregivers, so this BLOG was created in their memories.
The Tackling Tough Topics BLOG The Cost of Sleepless Nights: An Advocate’s View in the Fight for a Parkinson’s Disease Cure
Lack of sleep is often brushed off as an inconvenience—an unfortunate side effect of modern life. For families affected by Parkinson’s disease, however, sleeplessness is not occasional or trivial. It is chronic, relentless, and deeply intertwined with the disease itself. As an advocate for a Parkinson’s disease cure, I have come to understand that the fight is not only against tremors, rigidity, or slowed movement, but against the silent exhaustion that shadows patients and caregivers alike.
Parkinson’s disease disrupts sleep in countless ways. Individuals living with the disease often experience insomnia, vivid dreams, REM sleep behavior disorder, restless legs, and nighttime rigidity that makes even turning in bed painful or impossible. Sleep, which should be restorative, becomes fragmented and elusive. The body never fully recovers, and each day begins already depleted. Over time, this lack of rest worsens both motor and non-motor symptoms, creating a cruel cycle: Parkinson’s disrupts sleep, and poor sleep intensifies Parkinson’s.
For caregivers and loved ones, sleeplessness takes on another form. It is the half-awake listening for movement, the fear of falls in the night, the constant vigilance when a loved one is confused or experiencing hallucinations. It is the emotional weight of knowing tomorrow will demand patience, strength, and compassion—without the fuel of rest. Caregivers often sacrifice their own health quietly, believing exhaustion is simply part of loving someone with Parkinson’s. Yet this chronic sleep deprivation has real consequences: weakened immune systems, depression, anxiety, and burnout.
I have lived this reality personally. Parkinson’s disease does not rest, and neither do the families fighting alongside those they love. Nights stretch long, filled with worry, memories, and unanswered questions. When sleep does come, it is often light and fleeting. This exhaustion lingers into the daytime, affecting work, relationships, and the ability to simply function. And still, families show up—because they have no other choice.
As an advocate, I believe the lack of sleep experienced in Parkinson’s households must be recognized as more than a symptom; it is a public health issue and a call to action. Research has shown that sleep disturbances may even precede motor symptoms, suggesting that sleep is not just affected by Parkinson’s disease, but may hold clues to its origins and progression. Investing in sleep research is not secondary—it is essential. Understanding how Parkinson’s disrupts the brain’s sleep mechanisms could open doors to earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and ultimately, prevention.
The exhaustion felt by this community fuels my advocacy rather than silences it. Every sleepless night reinforces the urgency of our mission: to raise awareness, fund research, and push for a cure. Families battling Parkinson’s disease do not have the luxury of waiting. They are awake now—literally and figuratively—living the consequences of a disease that demands more attention than it receives.
Lack of sleep strips people down to their most vulnerable state. Yet within that vulnerability lies resilience. Families continue to love, to care, and to hope even when rest is scarce. They deserve more than survival through exhaustion; they deserve relief, dignity, and answers.
Until there is a cure for Parkinson’s disease, sleepless nights will remain a shared reality for millions. My advocacy is rooted in those quiet hours, when the world is asleep but Parkinson’s families are not. We fight on—not just for better sleep, but for a future where rest is no longer a luxury, and where Parkinson’s disease no longer steals peace from our nights or our lives.
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Want to share a Blog on a PD topic? Reach out to togetherforsharon@gmail.com
TogetherForSharon® In memory of my mother, Sharon to voice awareness & hope for a Parkinson’s Disease cure
Do you have a story to tell, a journey to share, or a blog you’d like to write?
We are always looking for writers, bloggers, and Parkinson’s advocates who want to team up and raise awareness together.
If you’re interested, please email us at togetherforsharon@gmail.com.
You can also explore our blog here:
https://togetherforsharon.com/parkinsons-blogs/
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George’s Biography
Dr. George Ackerman is from Brooklyn, N.Y. He now resides in Florida and works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease.
George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause, but he did not know how to bring about change. With my family, we started TogetherForSharon® to keep my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, ‘s memory alive and share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.
Today, https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands of individuals across the country to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease. George currently interviews individuals throughout the Parkinson’s community, including various foundations, caregivers, and Parkinson’s warriors, to help share their stories and causes.