Parkinson’s disease affects people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, yet clinical trials and research continue to exclude many of them. According to 2023 NIH data, only 4% of Parkinson’s trial participants identified as Black, 3% as Asian, and 4% as Hispanic or Latinx—numbers far below their representation in the U.S. population. This lack of inclusion has real consequences for diagnosis, treatment, and access to care.
Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, missing chances for early intervention. Latinx patients are less likely to see specialists trained in movement disorders. These disparities are not biological—they stem from systemic barriers in health care and research.
Richard Huckabee, a young Black man, spent nearly nine years being misdiagnosed before finally learning he had Parkinson’s. His symptoms were dismissed, misattributed, and worsened by inappropriate medications. “There is no excuse,” he said, “just because I… do not fit the typical PD profile of an ‘old white male.’”
The NIH’s Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility offers hope, but enforcement is weak. Researchers can still receive full funding without including diverse participants or reporting who was studied.
To close the gap, experts call for tying funding to accountability, engaging communities with culturally relevant outreach, and investing in proven programs like Dance for PD® in multiple languages. Without sustained funding and inclusive practices, Parkinson’s research will continue to leave behind those who need it most.
See: “Closing the diversity gap in Parkinson’s research” (August 12, 2025)