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Parkinson’s Disease
What is PD?
What is PD?
What is PD?
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a motor system disorder resulting from the breakdown of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. The loss of dopamine causes the symptoms of PD, which include tremors, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and changes in speech.
While the disorder gets progressively worse over time, the intensity of symptoms and rate of progression varies from person to person.
While PD can impact life expectancy, there are medications and therapies that can control symptoms for many years. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for PD. Scientists are studying how the disease progresses and working to develop new drug therapies to delay, prevent, or reverse the disorder.
While the precise cause of PD is unknown, genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role. However, more research is needed to uncover the causes and treatments for the disorder.
For more information on PD and on the research underway to fight the disorder, please visit the website
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The red tulip, with a fringe of white, became the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease at the 9th World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference in Luxembourg on April 11, 2005 (although the flower had been associated with Parkinson’s awareness since the early 1980s).
The tulip is described in detail as the “exterior being a glowing cardinal red, small feathered white edge, the outer base whitish; the inside, a currant-red to turkey-red, broad feathered white edge, anthers pale yellow.”
This particular tulip was developed by J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist who had Parkinson’s disease. He named the flower after James Parkinson, the doctor who first described the disease as the “shaking palsy.”
MJFF
What is PD?
What is PD?
UPDATES FROM MJFF
In August the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) announced 49 new grant awards totaling more than $8.8 million to projects that serve our mission to find a cure for Parkinson’s and improved treatments for those living with the disease today..
To read the full story click the following link - Grant News
News:
Star-shaped cells called astrocytes perform many duties in the brain, but their latest trick could replace dopamine cells lost in Parkinson’s disease.
Two research groups have recently published that they could turn astrocytes into dopamine cells in the brains of Parkinson’s models, which helped regain some movement ability. While there is much work to do to understand the potential of this approach in humans, these findings present a new way to approach replacing the dopamine lost in Parkinson’s and helping maintain or restore motor function.
To see the complete story use the link below.
Transforming Brain Cells to Replace Dopamine
What’s the Environment Got to Do with Parkinson’s Research?
In most cases, the cause of Parkinson’s is unknown. This is one of the greatest challenges to better understanding the disease. Leading research has demonstrated that a combination of complicated and interrelated factors including lifestyle, environment and genetics play a role in who is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
To see the complete story use this link - Environment
Neurologists and Patients Weigh In on How We Can Heal Together
Dan Kinel of Rochester, NY, was scheduled to celebrate his 50th birthday with his wife in New York City the weekend of March 20. She had intended to surprise him with tickets to a Jerry Seinfeld show. "On March 15, we still planned to go," he says. "By the 17th, it was clear we would not." Medical experts may have seen this coming, he says, "but I felt like the world turned on a dime."
Within a few weeks, COVID-19 had killed a former work colleague and infected a physician Kinel knows. He sheltered in place with his wife and two teenage children. "It turned all our schedules topsy-turvy," says the corporate lawyer, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013. His sleep rhythms and medication schedule suffered. "I had a real uptick in symptoms, especially in the first couple of weeks." Fatigue seemed to set in faster and less predictably than usual. Read the complete story here.
To view more Parkinson's Research Information and updates go to the MJFF Research Blog
Exercise and Parkinsons
Exercise and Parkinsons
Exercise and Parkinsons
Research shows that regular exercise can help individuals with Parkinson’s manage the symptoms of their disease.
The Parkinson’s Outcomes Project, run by the National Parkinson Foundation, shows that people with Parkinson's who exercise a minimum of 2.5 hours a week experience a slowed decline in quality of life. The impact of exercise was most pronounced for individuals who started exercising earlier in the course of the disease.
A variety of exercises, including boxing, cycling, swimming, dancing and walking on the treadmill, can help. Physical therapists can help develop customized exercise plans to maximize effectiveness. As always, individuals starting an exercise program should check with their doctor before they begin.
This video from CBS News shows a great example of how boxing has helped slow the progression of Parkinson’s for patients in New York.
Other Resources For Your Information
Rock Steady Boxing - rocksteadyboxing.org
The mission of Rock Steady Boxing is to empower people with Parkinson’s disease to fight back.
Quiet Punch- quietpunch.com
The original home punching bag. Fits most doorways from 28" - 36" and provides easy to follow home workouts.
Other Resources
Exercise and Parkinsons
Exercise and Parkinsons
Listed are links for websites with other information that maybe helpful.
This information is being provided For Your Information. It is not a substitute for Professional Advise.
Caring.Com
Caring.com is an online destination for those seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones.
Medicare Guide
With millions of people using these benefits and tens of thousands of providers delivering health care service under Medicare, navigating the program’s benefits can be complex.
This resource will help seniors and their loved ones understand what Medicare is and provide some basics about how the various aspects of the program work, such as whether Medicare will cover senior care services like an assisted living community or home health care.
Senior Living
By 2030, 20 percent of the US population will be 65 and over. To help serve this growing population, Caring.com looked at 70 metrics to rank the best and worst places for senior living.
- Senior Living Report with States Ranking
- Senior In Home Care
- Senior Care - Assisted Living
- Senior Independent Living Options
Caregivers Help
Most people don’t enter care giving thinking that they’re putting their own health in harm’s way. But those who provide care to a frail loved one tend to live with high chronic stress and skimp on self care.