Interactive Map of Independent Parkinson’s Organizations in North and South America, Europe, and Africa

Global change, unfolding in every part of the world

Interactive North American map of independent Parkinson’s organizations. Click any region to see local organizations.

• Teal states have at least one independent, locally funded Parkinson’s organization — click them to see the org name and a direct link to its website.
• Gray states don’t have a confirmed independent org; clicking them will show links to the three main national resources (APDA, Parkinson’s Foundation, and PMD Alliance) for finding local support groups.
• Hover over any state to see its name before clicking. Tap or click to zoom out.

Parkinson’s Across the Globe

Throughout North America, Europe, and other parts of the world, hundreds, if not thousands, of independent organizations serve millions of people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease every day. The resources needed for programs, treatments, medicines, and long-term care often extend far beyond what any single national system can provide. These community-based groups help fill those gaps, offering everything from exercise programs and support groups to education, advocacy, and direct patient assistance.
In many cases, these organizations are the first place newly diagnosed individuals turn to for guidance. They provide localized knowledge, connect patients with specialists, and create spaces where people can share experiences with others who understand the realities of living with the disease. From urban centers to rural communities, the impact of these groups is often deeply personal and immediate, embracing those who have just been diagnosed and letting them know that they are not alone.

At the same time, these groups play a broader role in strengthening the overall Parkinson’s landscape. By working alongside national organizations, healthcare providers, and research institutions, they help ensure that patient needs are represented at every level. Whether it is pushing for better access to care, raising awareness, or supporting clinical research, independent organizations remain a critical part of the effort to improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected.

United States

Across the United States, Parkinson’s support is not driven by a single system, but by a network of hundreds of organizations that exist independently but have one focus. From a handful of national foundations to an estimated 200 to 400 regional and community-based nonprofits, these groups form the backbone of care, education, and advocacy for more than one million Americans living with the disease. What often goes unseen, however, is how much of that support happens at the local level, where smaller, independent organizations fill critical gaps left by larger systems. These groups are the ones organizing weekly exercise classes, hosting support meetings, connecting patients with specialists, and helping families navigate a diagnosis in real time. In many communities, they are the first call after diagnosis and the steady presence that follows.

As diagnoses continue to rise, driven largely by an aging population and environmental factors, this decentralized network is becoming even more essential. It not only expands access to care and resources, but also reflects the reality that Parkinson’s is not experienced the same way in every region. Together, these organizations form a patchwork system of support, one that is deeply rooted in community and increasingly vital to the future of Parkinson’s care in the United States.

Canada

In Canada, support for people living with Parkinson’s disease is built around a mix of national coordination and local, community-driven care. At the center is Parkinson Canada, which provides education, advocacy, and research funding, while helping connect people to resources across the country. But in reality, most of the day-to-day support doesn’t come from one national organization; it happens at the regional and community level.

Across provinces, independent and affiliated groups, such as Parkinson societies in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia, are the ones running support groups, organizing events, and offering programs that people can access regularly. That includes specialized exercise programs such as boxing, dance, and mobility training, along with education and caregiver support tailored to the local healthcare system.

• Teal states have at least one independent, locally funded Parkinson’s organization — click them to see the org name and a direct link to its website.
• Gray sections don’t have a confirmed independent org; clicking them will show links to the three main national resources for finding local support groups

This structure matters in a country like Canada, where geography plays a big role in access to care. While the healthcare system provides a baseline level of medical support, it is often these regional organizations that help people figure out what comes next, how to find a neurologist, where to go for therapy, or how to connect with others living with the disease. In many cases, those local groups become the most important part of the support system. They are the ones people see every week, the ones that understand the realities of their region, and the ones that turn information into something practical.

Mexico

Parkinson’s services in Mexico are growing, but care is currently built around a mix of hospitals, small nonprofits, and community support systems. Hospitals like Médica Sur offer specialized movement disorder centers with diagnosis, medication management, and surgical options like deep brain stimulation. Facilities such as Centro Médico ABC provide multidisciplinary care, including neurology, rehabilitation, and long-term disease management. These centers are often private or semi-private, which means access can depend heavily on financial resources or insurance. With an estimated 230,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Mexico, and tens of thousands still seeking diagnosis or treatment, the need for more coordinated services continues to grow.

• Teal states have at least one independent, locally funded Parkinson’s organization — click them to see the org name and a direct link to its website.
• Gray states don’t have a confirmed independent org; clicking them will show links to Mexico’s main national resources for finding local support groups.

Europe

Parkinson’s Europe is a leading nonprofit organization that works to represent and support the Parkinson’s community across the continent. Formerly known as the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, the organization brings together national Parkinson’s groups, advocates, researchers, and policymakers with a shared goal: improving life for people living with Parkinson’s and advancing the search for better treatments and ultimately a cure.

• Teal countries have at least one independent, locally funded Parkinson’s organization — click them to see the org name and a direct link to its website.
• Gray countries don’t have a confirmed independent org; clicking them will show links to national resources (Parkinson’s Europe) for finding local support groups.

Operating across more than 40 countries, Parkinson’s Europe serves as a unifying voice for an estimated 1.2 million people living with Parkinson’s in Europe. The organization focuses on advocacy, awareness, and collaboration, helping ensure that Parkinson’s remains a priority within European health policy discussions. By engaging with institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Commission, it works to influence funding decisions, research priorities, and access to care.

In addition to advocacy and awareness, Parkinson’s Europe supports research by promoting collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and patient communities. The organization emphasizes the importance of patient involvement in research design and policy decisions, ensuring that lived experience helps shape the direction of scientific progress.

Parkinson’s Support in Africa

Parkinson’s disease is a global phenomenon, affecting people in every country. For Africans, the number of patients with the disease is anywhere from 7 to 67 cases per 100,000 people across the Sub-Saharan Africa region, with some studies placing the overall rates closer to 0.1% to 0.2% of the population, according to PubMed. Broader estimates indicate that there may be anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 people on the continent living with Parkinson’s across Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East, though data is limited. As a result, researchers emphasize that Parkinson’s in Africa is likely underreported, with a hidden and growing number of patients yet to be diagnosed and treated. These numbers are expected to rise as populations age and healthcare systems expand.

Africa has several organizations across the continent, leading the charge to get on top of the disease. These include:  Parkinson’s Africa, Africa Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (APDF), Parkinson’s ZA (Parkinson’s Disease South Africa NPC), Parkinson’s Si Buko, IPDGC-Africa, and the Egyptian Network for Neurodegenerative Disorders (ENND)

South America

Across South America, Parkinson’s organizations are growing, but the level of support varies widely from country to country. In places like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay, there are established national groups that provide education, therapy programs, advocacy, and direct support for patients and families. Many of these are centered in major cities, but their reach continues to expand.

In other countries, including Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, support is often more localized, sometimes built around smaller community efforts or hospital-based programs rather than large standalone organizations. Then there are countries like Paraguay, Guyana, and Suriname, where public-facing Parkinson’s groups are much harder to find, pointing to gaps in awareness and access. As a whole, the region reflects both progress and disparity, with growing collaboration across Latin America helping to strengthen networks, improve education, and bring more attention to Parkinson’s disease.

Progress Marches On

Parkinson’s disease doesn’t stop, but neither do the efforts to understand and treat those who are affected by it. With a worldwide perogative, the desire to cure the disease grows by the minute. Across the planet, momentum is becoming even more visible, as researchers, clinicians, and advocacy groups work to close gaps in diagnosis, care, and data, bringing the global fight against Parkinson’s into sharper focus.