April is National Parkinson’s Awareness month. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately 10 million people in the world have Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in a certain part of the brain. PD is a long-term disorder where the central nervous system degenerates and that affects the motor system. People with PD experience motor symptoms like:
- Tremor, mainly at rest and described as pill rolling tremor in hands. Other forms of tremor are possible
- Limb stiffness and rigidity
- Gait and balance problems
Symptoms typically occur slowly. One side is often affected first, but as PD progresses, both sides are affected. The cause remains largely unknown. Symptoms are used to diagnose typical cases, with motor issues being the most common complaint.
While each person’s reaction to the disease differs, consequences are frequently serious. There is no cure for this disease, and additional research is required. Although awareness, medications, and information can help those who are affected by the condition, they are not a cure. Although there is no cure, treatment options vary and include medications and surgery.
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month because it is the birth month of James Parkinson, the London physician who was first to describe Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The goal of Parkinson’s Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase awareness about PD and the Parkinson’s Foundation, and encourage people to take action to impact the future of PD. Whether that means learning how to navigate your own future with Parkinson’s or helping to create a world without PD, together we can make a difference.
Connect with the Parkinson’s Foundation to join in their mission to build on the energy, experience, and passion of their global Parkinson’s community. The Parkinson’s Foundation provides many resources and opportunities to get involved with understanding and researching ways to fight this disease.
Other Parkinson’s Disease resources:
- American Parkinson Disease Association: www.apdaparkinson.org
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: www.michaeljfox.org
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: www.ninds.nih.gov