Women Physicians Day 2026: Prioritizing Whole-Person Care for Women With Movement Disorders

The field of women’s health recognizes that sex-based differences can influence various aspects of neurological conditions. In a prior review, researchers identified notable differences between women and men with of movement disorders in prevalence, genetics, clinical presentation, disease course, and treatment response. Additional research has shown that women’s life events and medications commonly used by women can have meaningful implications for disease management. Thus, incorporating sex-specific information may enhance individualized care and provide insights into underlying neurobiological mechanisms.^1,2

In honor of National Women Physicians Day, held February 3, 2026, NeurologyLive^® spoke with Jill Farmer, DO, MPH, FCPP, DipABLM, neurologist at Boro Neurology and group admin for the Women Neurologists Group (WNG); Madhureeta Achari, MD, neurologist at Integrated Neurology; Joanna Dearlove, MD, neurologist at Kaiser Permanente; and Kelly Papesh, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CMRD, executive director at Association of Movement Disorder Advanced Practice Providers (AMDAPP). The discussion focused on questions around how hormonal transitions, caregiving roles, and nonmotor symptoms shape disease management and quality of life for women with movement disorders. The panel also addressed the role of sex- and gender-focused research in expanding understanding beyond motor symptoms, while highlighting ongoing gaps such as underrepresentation of women in trials, limited long-term data on hormonal influences, and disparities in access to care, along with how clinicians can support progress through advocacy, multidisciplinary care, and shared decision-making.

NeurologyLive: What are the most important considerations when caring for women with movement disorders across different life stages?

Jill Farmer, DO, MPH, FCPP, DipABLM: The most important thing is validating women patients and their symptoms. All too often we hear that it is because of stress, anxiety, and related emotional responses. Let me be clear, many things are impacted by these emotional responses and that is not to be diminished. They can be a valid cause that needs to be managed and addressed, but this should not be the biased, knee-jerk reaction when a woman is discussing her concerns. Offering women a place to discuss concerns, be heard and be invited to a conversation on partnership in care planning is key.

Kelly Papesh, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CMRD: Caring for women with movement disorders requires a life-stage specific, whole-person approach. Hormonal transitions such as pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause can influence symptom severity, medication response, and overall function, requiring individualized treatment planning. Pregnancy and postpartum periods add complexity, balancing symptom control with safety while addressing increased vulnerability to mood changes.

Beyond biology, women often carry caregiving responsibilities, which can delay diagnosis and contribute to burnout. Women also frequently present with nonmotor symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and cognitive changes that may be overlooked. Proactive screening for mood, sleep, autonomic symptoms, and caregiver strain is essential alongside motor assessments.

Shared decision-making, aligning care with family planning, career demands, and personal values, is critical. Optimal care integrates neurologic management with mental health support, reproductive considerations, and access to multidisciplinary resources, ensuring women are supported across all life stages.

“Beyond biology, women often carry caregiving responsibilities, which can delay diagnosis and contribute to burnout. Women also frequently present with non-motor symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and cognitive changes that may be overlooked. Proactive screening for mood, sleep, autonomic symptoms, and caregiver strain is essential alongside motor assessments.”

How has research led by or focused on women improved our understanding of movement disorders and its impact on patients?

Jill Farmer, DO, MPH, FCPP, DipABLM: Sadly, there is not much research focused on the understanding of women and their physiology and how it impacts the pathologic and phenotypic presentations of neurodegenerative conditions. With more women physicians in leadership principal investigator roles, we are hoping this evolves.

Kelly Papesh, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CMRD: Women-focused research has expanded understanding of how movement disorders affect women patients. Work led by Indu Subramanian, MD and colleagues, for example, highlights sex and gender-specific differences in Parkinson disease, including nonmotor symptoms, psychosocial challenges, and access barriers, and underscores how these factors influence quality of life.³

This research emphasizes patient-centered outcomes such as quality of life and caregiver dynamics, broadening the field beyond motor symptoms. Including women in leadership and research roles has fostered more inclusive study designs and priorities, ultimately shaping more holistic, individualized, and compassionate approaches to care.

“Sadly, there is not much research focused on the understanding of women and their physiology and how it impacts the pathologic and phenotypic presentations of neurodegenerative conditions. With more women physicians in leadership principal investigator roles, we are hoping this evolves.”

What gaps still exist in women’s health and movement disorders, and how can women physicians help drive progress in this area?

Madhureeta Achari, MD: Our brains are completely different from men’s brains. From migraine, sleep, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis to cognitive disorders, more work and attention must be focused on neurological issues in women. So far, we’ve been extrapolating men data to fit women.

Joanna Dearlove, MD: Perimenopause is real. We should come up with a basic toolkit for clinicians so they can counsel patients about it—brain fog, migraines, night sweats. They should teach this in residency! We can’t complain that patients are going to Hims/Hers or following their favorite influencer’s advice when medicine’s current strategy is, “It’s normal; just deal with it.” Patients really appreciate good counseling and validation with this stuff.

Kelly Papesh, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CMRD: Despite progress, significant gaps remain. Women are underrepresented in clinical trials, especially for advanced therapies, and long-term data on hormonal effects across the lifespan are limited. Access disparities persist, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

As a nurse practitioner, I see how these gaps affect real-world care. Advanced practice clinicians are uniquely positioned to support early recognition, patient education, care coordination, and management of non-motor symptoms like mood, sleep, cognition, and caregiver strain.

Women clinicians can drive progress by advocating for inclusive research, prioritizing patient-reported outcomes, and embedding whole-person care into practice. Participating in research, quality improvement, mentorship, and leadership initiatives ensures women’s lived experiences inform both research agendas and clinical standards, helping shape more equitable, patient-centered care.

Transcript edited for clarity. Click here to view more of our coverage on movement disorders.

REFERENCES
1. Rabin ML, Stevens-Haas C, Havrilla E, Devi T, Kurlan R. Movement disorders in women: a review. Mov Disord. 2014;29(2):177-183. doi:10.1002/mds.25723
2. Baker JM, Hung AY. Movement Disorders in Women. Semin Neurol. 2017;37(6):653-660. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1608845
3. Subramanian I, Mathur S, Oosterbaan A, Flanagan R, Keener AM, Moro E. Unmet Needs of Women Living with Parkinson's Disease: Gaps and Controversies. Mov Disord. 2022;37(3):444-455. doi:10.1002/mds.28921