Aoi Sugimoto

Aoi has been a family caregiver since the age of eight, when her mother was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease 13 years ago.

Growing up alongside Parkinson's disease shaped not only her childhood but also her passion for improving the lives of people living with Parkinson's disease and their families. Through years of caregiving, she experienced both the joys and the emotional challenges of caring for a loved one — including guilt, uncertainty, isolation, and hope.

As she searched for support, she realized that while many resources existed for people living with Parkinson's disease, there were far fewer spaces created specifically for family caregivers. She founded PiaPia to build the kind of community she had long wished existed — a place where caregivers can connect with peers who truly understand their experiences and know they are not alone.

Alongside her caregiving journey, Aoi conducts research on Parkinson's disease and neuroscience at Keio University (Japan), and has also conducted Parkinson's disease research at Rice University. Her research focuses on developing technologies and evidence-based approaches that improve the quality of life of people living with Parkinson's disease and their families.

Before founding PiaPia, Aoi volunteered with Parkinson's disease patient organizations in Japan and has spoken publicly about the experiences of young caregivers and family caregiving. She also volunteered at the World Parkinson Congress (WPC), where she connected with caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and advocates from around the world.

She believes the best caregiver support comes from combining lived experience, meaningful human connection, and scientific research.