For many people, Parkinson's disease is associated with old age—a condition imagined to begin with trembling hands and gradually rob a person of their independence.

For Nduta Mbogori, however, the story began much earlier.

Looking back, Mbogori remembers experiencing unexplained symptoms while still in primary school. She was an active child who loved sports and spent much of her time running and playing.

But occasionally, when she stood up to run, she would experience a sharp, shooting pain through her ankles. She also remembers persistent tension and discomfort in her neck and shoulders from a young age. 

Then, when she was about 15 or 16 years and in high school, she noticed another symptom: a tremor.

At the time, she had no idea that these experiences could eventually be connected to Parkinson's disease.

Today, she lives with the condition and has turned her experience into a platform for advocacy, using her voice to challenge misconceptions, stigma and the lack of understanding surrounding Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's is not just an older person's disease

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Parkinson's disease has doubled in prevalence over the past 25 years, with more than 8.5 million people estimated to be living with the condition globally in 2019. 

The disease caused 5.8 million disability adjusted life years and approximately 329,000 deaths that year.

While Parkinson's is more common among older people, younger individuals can also be affected. Early-onset Parkinson's, diagnosed before age 50, accounts for about 4–10% of cases, with men diagnosed more frequently than women.

Over the years, several high-profile figures have publicly shared their Parkinson's diagnoses, including boxing legend Muhammad Ali, former NBA basketball player Brian Grant, the late civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson and late actor Robin Williams. More recently, Rebecca King-Crews, wife of actor Terry Crews, has also spoken publicly about living with the condition.

'At first, I thought it was a death sentence'

When Mbogori finally received her diagnosis, the news was devastating.

"At first I thought it was a death sentence," she recalls.

For about a year and a half, she remained in denial. Accepting that she had Parkinson's was not something that happened overnight. Eventually, however, she began to understand that the condition was now part of her reality. But even today, she does not see acceptance as a destination. For Mbogori, acceptance is a daily process.

Every day brings a new negotiation with her body and a new lesson in adapting to her circumstances.

More than the tremor

Parkinson's disease is linked to the gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement. As dopamine levels decrease, disruption to brain circuits involved in movement can lead to symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness and slowed movement. Many people with Parkinson's disease eventually develop dementia as the disease progresses.

Parkinson's is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. 

The tremor may be the most visible sign of Parkinson's, but Mbogori says it is only one part of a much bigger reality. Living with the condition also means dealing with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep challenges and digestive issues.

"The shaking is only one of more than 40 motor and non-motor symptoms that I have to contend with," she says.

Beyond the symptoms, Mbogori says stigma remains one of the biggest challenges. Some people have mistaken her condition for drunkenness, while others have judged or misunderstood her.

"Sometimes the silent and uninformed judgment and stares make me wonder whether it is worth going outside," she says, adding that greater awareness is needed to help people understand Parkinson's.

A life planned around Parkinson's

Mbogori now shapes her life around medication schedules, exercise, meals, appointments and managing her energy levels. Tasks that were once simple require more planning and patience.

"I can no longer be as spontaneous as I used to be. I have to calculate each movement, each task and each break. It is exhausting."

However, Parkinson's has also transformed her outlook, helping her become calmer, more grounded, more spiritual and more positive. Mbogori believes that finding someone who understands and is willing to make that effort can make the journey worthwhile.

The condition has taught her to value the people who choose to stay.

Turning a diagnosis into advocacy

Mbogori did not immediately become an advocate.

Her aunt, Njambi, was with her when she received her diagnosis and was among the people who encouraged her to tell her story.

It took time before she was ready.

About a year and a half after her diagnosis, having begun to accept her new reality, she finally decided to speak publicly. Advocacy became a way of taking charge of her situation. It became a way to challenge misinformation, change the narrative and confront the stigma surrounding Parkinson's.

But she soon realized that her advocacy was bigger than her own experience.

She explained that there are many people living with Parkinson's who may not have the opportunity, confidence or ability to speak publicly about what they are going through.

"If being an advocate makes it easier for the ones who come after me and the ones who are around me, I will do it without a second thought," she says.

Finding strength in humor

Mbogori does not see herself as a strong person, but she has learned to keep going despite the challenges.

Parkinson's has not taken away her ability to laugh, and humour has become part of how she navigates difficult days.

Her advocacy work also gives her hope, especially when people tell her that her story has helped them understand Parkinson’s or inspired them.

Mbogori says those moments show that her journey is making a difference. 

Her message to anyone newly diagnosed with Parkinson's:  seek knowledge, take charge of their healthcare journey and advocate for themselves.

But Nduta Mbogori is much more than her diagnosis. She describes herself as a lover of life.

Since 2022, she has run Jungle Culture Kenya, a music collective and events outfit centered around drum and bass.

She is passionate about marketing, advertising and the arts, particularly the performing arts.

In August 2026, she added another achievement to her story when she performed stand-up comedy for the first time.

It was another reminder that Parkinson’s may have changed the way she lives, but it has not taken away her curiosity, creativity, humor or desire to experience life.

Living, laughing and moving forward

She does not deny the difficulty of living with Parkinson's. She does not pretend every day is easy.

Instead, she chooses to live with the condition while refusing to allow it to define her entire identity. She laughs, she speaks, she advocates, she creates, she performs and she loves life.

And she keeps moving forward beyond the tremor.