You Can Help Us End Parkinsons
At The Michael J. Fox Foundation, were here. Until Parkinsons isnt. Join us by signing up for updates with the latest research news. Or, browse this page for ways to get involved this Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
Join our Foundation and the Parkinson’s community at happenings this spring and beyond.
The Origins Of Parkinsons Awareness Month
In 1817, Dr. James Parkinson published An Essay on the Shaking Palsy, which contains the first instance of the diseases description.
We recognize Parkinsons disease as a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of neurons that produce dopamine. The brain needs dopamine to trigger movement and speech, which is why the lack of it leads to the common symptoms of PD like tremors, difficulty with balance or movement, stiffness of the limbs, and speech problems. Many living with PD also experience symptoms unrelated to movement and speech, including depression, sleep disorders, constipation, and cognitive impairment.
While there is no cure for Parkinsons, advancements in medical knowledge, technology, support programs, and PD community resources have allowed those living with PD to thrive despite their symptoms. Parkinsons Awareness Month is held every April to bring light to the disease and the solutions for living with it.
Parkinsons Awareness Month: Why It Matters
April is Parkinsons Awareness Month, and its more important than ever to raise awareness for this challenging disease. Parkinsons affects 1 million people in the United States alone, and there is still no cure. So this month, lets learn more about Parkinsons and how we can support family, friends, care partners, and, of course, those living with Parkinsons disease during Parkinsons Awareness Month.
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Parkinsons Awareness Month: Signs Symptoms And Treatments
Its Parkinsons Awareness Month, and we find it crucial to shed light on signs of this disease since it develops very slowly and can often be missed early on. For those who may be unfamiliar, Parkinsons Disease directly affects the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. Dopamine is important to controlling mobility.
So far, doctors are not completely sure what causes this disorder, but they believe gene and environment changes may be factors. There is no cure yet, however, with the right treatment, symptoms can be successfully managed and controlled. With that said, our care team in Pitman NJ has compiled helpful information such as signs, symptoms and treatment options for Parkinsons Disease.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinsons occurs when nerve cells in an area of the brain that controls movement become impaired and/or die. Normally, these nerve cells produce an important brain chemical dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they naturally produce less dopamine, resulting in the movement problems of PD. Scientists still do not know what causes these dopamine-producing cells to die.
Parkinsons affects about 60,000 people in the U.S. alone each year. Nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with PD, which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrigs disease . This is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030.
If you have PD, participation in research can help.
At Rent A Daughter, we can help you or your loved one who is experiencing Parkinsons Disease. Or we can help anyone who is having difficulty with everyday tasks like dressing, walking, balance, errands, meals, and household chores. Give us a call today to find out how we can help.
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Who Gets Parkinsons Disease
Anyone can get a Parkinsons diagnosis, especially later in life. Usually around age 60 is when individuals develop the disease, but people can have it even younger than that. Michael J. Fox developed the disease when he was only 29 years old half the age of normal diagnoses.
The causes for Parkinsons are largely unknown but several risk factors play a huge role:
- Lewy bodies: Clumps of specific substances within brain cells that indicate the presence of Parkinsons disease.
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Facts About Parkinsons Disease
- The cause of Parkinsons is largely unknown, and more research is being done to better understand aspects of Parkinsons disease and which medication can prevent neurocognitive degeneration.
- A change in handwriting and a loss of smell are early signs of Parkinsons.
- Exercise helps manage Parkinsons symptoms.
- Parkinsons itself is not fatal, but disease complications can be serious.
- The CDC rated complications from Parkinsons as the 14th cause of death in the United States.
- It is still possible to have a good quality life with Parkinsons.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, at Foothills Neurology, we take the time to hear your story. With all relevant medical history and your personal input considered, our team of highly experience and expert neurologists are here to help. Schedule a consultation today!
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Educate Your Self About Parkinson Disease
This is as easy as attending our Parkinsons 101 webinar on Thursday, April 22. By educating yourself about what Parkinson disease is, helps you support those impacted by the disease and educate others in the community.
Tip: Take a selfie of you attending and tag @ParkinsonAssociationofAlberta or include the hashtag #circleofhelp.
History Of Parkinsons Awareness Month
Parkinsons Disease has been around since the times of the Egyptians, but many of the sources before the 12th century would describe symptoms of PD, but would not be able to explain any more than that. Such sources include Egyptian scriptures, the Bible, and the Roman Empire. It wasnt until the 19th century when James Parkinson would publish an essay describing this condition that Parkinsons Disease would exist as a term, even if it didnt immediately get recognition. It wasnt until 40 years later that the essay would get noticed. The 20th century involved the research of scientists from all over the world, but as doctors would prescribe treatments, a cure couldnt be found.
One celebrity that is known to have Parkinsons Disease is Michael J. Fox, a Canadian who reached fame through his charismatic personality in some of his most famous acting roles throughout the 80s and 90s. His diagnosis in 1991 inspired him to help, founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons research to help others learn about the disease and find ways of managing and treating this condition. Parkinsons Awareness Month is part of the core of foundations such as the MJF Foundation, and this month-long holiday encourages people to learn about the disease, donate to foundations to help with research and support those who do have it in any way they can.
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Make Awareness Month Meaningful
During the month of April, I will be spending time telling others about how exercise is medicine for Parkinson’s. Is there something you can do for Parkinsons Awareness Month?
One suggestion is to start by making people around you more familiar with this disorder. It is important to help others learn more about this neurodegenerative disease.
Let me know what you are doing if you decide to participate in some activity for Parkinsons Awareness Month.
However, as you approach your disorder with steely-eyed-determination, treat every new day as a day for Parkinson’s awareness. It will make a difference in your approach to treatment and hopefully yield an improved quality-of-life.
What Is Circle Of Help
The Circle of Help is what we aim to create around Albertans living with and affected by Parkinson disease. At the centre of this initiative is a video, which will provide education and awareness by showcasing unique stories that highlight the ongoing work, care and community support provided by PAA. The video will premier on World Parkinsons Day April 11. The launch of the video broadcast on Global TV and various digital mediums will help us share our inspiring message province-wide.
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Chemical That Triggers Parkinsons Disease Discovered
- Saint Louis University
- Summary:
- The key brain chemical that causes Parkinsons disease has been discovered. This is a breakthrough finding that could pave the way for new, far more effective therapies to treat one of the most common and debilitating neurological disorders.
Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine have discovered the key brain chemical that causes Parkinsons disease a breakthrough finding that could pave the way for new, far more effective therapies to treat one of the most common and debilitating neurological disorders.
Currently, the main approach for treating Parkinsons disease, which afflicts more than 1.5 million Americans, is to replace dopamine thats lost when the cells that produce it die off and cause the disorder. With this new research, however, scientists can better work toward neuroprotective therapies those that actually block dopamine cells from dying off in the first place.
We believe this work represents a very significant breakthrough in understanding the complicated chemical process that results in Parkinsons disease, said William J. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the studys lead author.
For the first time, weve identified the chemical that triggers the events in the brain that cause this disorder, Burke added. We believe these findings can be used to develop therapies that can actually stop or slow this process.
Story Source:
What Are The Symptoms Of Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders
Like classic Parkinsons disease, atypical Parkinsonian disorders cause muscle stiffness, tremor, and problems with walking/balance and fine motor coordination.
Patients with atypical Parkinsonism often have some degree of difficulty speaking or swallowing, and drooling can be a problem. Psychiatric disturbances such as agitation, anxiety or depression may also be part of the clinical picture.
Dementia with Lewy bodies can cause changes in attention or alertness over hours or days, often with long periods of sleep during the day. Visual hallucinations typically of small animals or children, or moving shadows in the periphery of the visual field are common in DLB. DLB is second only to Alzheimers disease as a cause of dementia in the elderly, and it most commonly affects patients in their 60s.
Patients with progressive supranuclear palsy may have difficulties with eye movements, particularly when looking downward, and with balance when descending stairs, for instance. Backward falls are common and may occur during the early course of the disease. PSP is not usually associated with tremor, unlike Parkinsons disease.
Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders Center
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Register For Our Third Thursday Webinar
Thursday, April 21 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Listen to our expert panelists discuss practical tips for navigating a new Parkinsons diagnosis. We’ll cover how to build your care team, ways to connect with the community and opportunities to participate in research.
Join the Parkinsons Progression Markers Initiative
PPMI is on a mission to stop Parkinson’s. Our landmark study is changing how patients, families, doctors and scientists think about brain disease. Now it needs you. Whether you have PD or not, you can make a difference.
Build Connections in the Parkinsons Buddy Network
Everyone’s Parkinson’s path is unique, but that doesnt mean youre alone. The Parkinsons Buddy Network is an online community of people impacted by Parkinsons those living with the disease, their loved ones and caregivers. Make meaningful connections, engage in important dialogue and find useful resources.
Become a Policy Advocate
As people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones know, you are and often must be your own best advocate. By telling lawmakers what matters to people with Parkinsons and sharing your story, you play a critical role in helping fund research toward a cure and ensuring there are programs and support for our community.
A Guide for Navigating Parkinsons: “Parkinson’s 360”
The Compassion Of James Parkinson’s
In 1817, James Parkinson published “An Essay On The Shaking Palsy.” When you read about James Parkinson, you notice his intelligence and compassion for helping others:
“James Parkinson worked as a general practitioner in the semi-urban hamlet of Hoxton, northeast of the City of London, where he had been born, and where he lived all his life. In addition to his daily work in general practice, James Parkinson was a public health reformer, an advocate of infection control in London workhouses, a medical attendant to a Hoxton madhouse, a writer of political pamphlets and childrens stories, a geologist and fossilist, and the author of a textbook of chemistry.”1
The essay itself very carefully and accurately portrays Parkinsons disease, which he called shaking palsy. He did not name the disorder after himself.
Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot suggested that the Parkinsons name deserved to be linked to the disorder that he had so accurately described thus, “Maladie de Parkinson” .
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What Color Do People Associate With Parkinsons Disease
Colors psychologically have an effect on us as humans. They can influence our choices, feelings, personalities, and even memories.
Today, colors are one of the most effective tools in marketing and design. Theres even color therapy, a form of alternative medicine that is thought to treat physical and emotional problems.
There are millions of colors out there. Red, blue and yellow are the 3 primary ones. Each of these colors has unique characteristics and effects on human behavior.
Red represents love, courage, aggression, rage, and danger. It is an emotional color that can influence people to make irrational decisions.
Blue represents trust, efficiency, coolness, security, and sadness. Its also the symbol of logic, communication, and intelligence. Its the opposite of red and is used to calm people down, promote logical decision making, relaxation, and more.
Yellow represents energy, hope, honor, fear, and fairness. Its a symbol of caution that stands out and is used together with black on traffic signs, taxis, and school buses.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
Diagnosis of Parkinsons disease is important so that appropriate treatment can begin. There are four primary symptoms of Parkinson s disease: tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk bradykinesia, or slowness of movement and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.
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Whats Happening On World Parkinsons Day
On Sunday, April 11 there will be four city light ups in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge. Please visit on the evening on Sunday, April 11 and take a photo to share with us! For full details on where the light ups are in your city, view our Parkinson Awareness Calendar.
As a member of our Parkinson community, you make up the unique voices that we are committed to sharing!
Parkinsons Disease Awareness Month
A VA doctor educates a Veteran and his wife about Parkinsonâs Disease
Quality of care for Veteranâs includes raising awareness around important health topics. By highlighting some of the national health awareness campaigns each month, Veterans can get ideas, information, and resources on a variety of health matters.
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurologic disorders. It is believed to be caused by a deficiency of a brain chemical called dopamine. The main signs are tremor, stiffness of the body, slowness of movement, and difficulty with balance. Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease at the present time, some medication and surgical treatments can dramatically improve many of the symptoms.
The VA treats roughly 40,000 Veterans for Parkinsonâs disease, an estimated half of those who are affected because many cases go undetected.
In 2001, the VA strengthened its commitment to detect and help Veterans with Parkinson’s disease by creating six centers of excellence throughout the nation to provide disease research, education, and clinical support centers called the PADRECC network.
Each of the six PADRECCs are designed to deliver state-of-the art clinical care, innovative research, and outreach and education programs to their surrounding regions. There are also 51 satellite clinics called Consortium Centers that work collaboratively with their parent PADRECC to focus on caring Parkinsonâs disease.
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We Asked People What Color They Associate With Parkinsons Disease
We wanted to know what color came to mind when people thought of Parkinsons disease. So we went to the best place we knew to ask, PD support groups on Facebook.
We asked the question, If Parkinsons was to represent a color, what would it be for you? to over 23,000 members in the groups Life with Parkinsons and Parkinsons Non-motor Symptoms.
We got responses from a total of 298 people from different backgrounds, countries, genders, and ages.
Parkinsons Awareness Month: April 2022
Did you know that April is Parkinsons Awareness Month? Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease, which is a disorder of the nervous system that affects movements. Young adults are rarely diagnosed with Parkinsons, as the risks increase with age. Beyond age, other risk factors include:
- If a close relative was diagnosed with Parkinsons
- If you are a male, as men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with Parkinsons
- If you have been exposed to an environmental toxin
The most important thing you can do to help support someone with Parkinsons disease is to educate yourself, so lets learn more.
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