Parkinson's Awareness Month: Focusing On Progress And Hope
Every April, Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month serves to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as well as to highlight and fund recent Parkinson’s research. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impacts over 500,000 people in the United States alone. For those living with the disease and their loved ones, the journey is often marked by resilience and adaptation as they navigate the challenges associated with PD.
Parkinson’s Awareness Month can be a time for those impacted by PD to come together in a supportive community, learn more about the disease, and help spread awareness to others. It may also be an opportunity to celebrate progress made in research or treatment and help research organizations get additional funding. Below, we’ll examine the impacts of Parkinson’s disease and discuss how to get involved during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
Understanding Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder named after Dr. James Parkinson, who described the condition in 1817. In many cases, people living with PD experience motor symptoms like tremors, slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, and postural instability.
Other effects a person may experience include non-motor Parkinson’s symptoms such as trouble sleeping, cognitive changes, and mood disorders like anxiety or depression. Also note that Parkinson’s disease may share symptoms with other neurological disorders such as progressive supranuclear palsy and Lewy body dementia; however, these conditions are each separate. If you’re experiencing symptoms of any of these, it’s recommended that you connect with a medical professional who can identify and treat the condition and track disease progression.
Potential impacts of Parkinson’s disease on health
Parkinson’s disease may impact a person’s health in several ways. Many of these effects are physical, impacting motor skills and daily living. In addition to physical symptoms, however, it’s not uncommon for a person with PD to develop mental health conditions as well.
Physical health impacts of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease may cause several types of physical impacts that are thought to stem from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, which disrupts the body's ability to control movement. These impacts can vary in severity and progression depending on the individual. Some common physical impacts include:
- Tremors: involuntary shaking, which commonly occurs in the hands or fingers during rest periods
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement): Movements may become slower, making simple tasks take longer than normal.
- Muscle rigidity: stiffness in the arms, legs, or neck that can limit the range of motion
- Postural instability: Maintaining posture may be challenging, which can cause loss of balance and falls.
- Gait changes: development of a shuffling walk with reduced arm swing or an inability to move forward, particularly when starting to walk or turning
- Fatigue: persistent tiredness regardless of exertion, which can make daily tasks challenging
- Pain and discomfort: Rigidity or stiffness may cause an increase in pain or discomfort.
- Speech and swallowing difficulties: Speech may become soft or monotone, and it may become difficult to swallow, which can increase the risk of choking.
Mental health impacts
In addition to the physical impacts of Parkinson’s disease, there are often mental health impacts that accompany this condition. One potential effect is depression, which may be caused by changes in brain chemistry in addition to changes in sleep patterns and feelings of hopelessness linked to disease progression. Other common impacts include anxiety and cognitive impairment.
What is the purpose of Parkinson’s Awareness Month?
One of the month's highlights is World Parkinson’s Day, which occurs every April 11. This day marks the birthday of James Parkinson, the doctor who identified the condition. Some of the main goals of Parkinson’s Awareness Month include raising awareness, fostering support, and highlighting progress.
Raising awareness
Many support groups and organizations use Parkinson’s Awareness Month to promote education about PD symptoms and treatment options. It can also be a time to recognize steps that individuals with PD and their care partners may take to reduce or better cope with symptoms and improve overall health and quality of life. Education efforts may also help people recognize PD signs and symptoms earlier, which may improve treatment outcomes.
Fostering support
Parkinson’s Awareness Month can also be a time to foster support from the community. Community members can help fund or raise funds for research efforts that continue to provide improvements in treating PD. These efforts are often also dedicated to bringing people with Parkinson’s disease together to develop a cohesive support community.
Highlighting progress
Although there is not currently a cure for Parkinson’s disease, there continue to be advancements in treatments that may help reduce the impact of symptoms. During Parkinson’s Awareness Month, events often highlight recent progress or new treatment methods. Highlighting progress can be an effective way to inform people about the availability of new treatments and get more individuals involved in supporting additional research.
Progress in treatment and care for Parkinson’s
Research on treatment and care for individuals living with PD is ongoing. Some promising advancements so far include innovations in medications, therapies, and surgical options like deep brain stimulation (DBS). Progress has also been made in the area of holistic treatment options such as mental health support and lifestyle changes.
Researchers have also made progress in methods of early identification as well as their understanding of how PD impacts the body. This includes recognizing the role of genetics and biomarkers, which may help doctors identify at-risk individuals. By identifying the disease early on, doctors can help patients manage symptoms and may also be able to slow the condition’s progression more effectively and efficiently.
How to get involved during Parkinson’s Awareness Month
For individuals looking to get involved during Parkison’s Awareness Month, there are often many activities available both locally and nationally that may help generate awareness. Engaging with a community of others who support Parkinson’s awareness efforts can be a good way to spread the word and educate people about the impacts of PD. Involvement in PD Awareness Month can involve joining an existing campaign or supporting research and advocacy efforts.
Join a Parkinson’s Awareness Month campaign
There are many different ways to join a Parkinson’s Awareness Month campaign. One popular way is to wear a gray or silver ribbon, especially on April 11, which is Parkinson’s Awareness Day. Other campaigns may occur at the local level and can include things like fundraisers and educational events designed to inform the public about signs, symptoms, and treatment options for Parkinson’s disease.
Support research and advocacy
You might also support PD research and advocacy in April and year-round. Donating to specific research or treatment funds or organizations can be one way to support the ongoing effort to cure PD. There are also typically a number of social media campaigns and other advocacy efforts in progress, which can help to raise funds for research or advocate for broader social awareness of this condition.
How Parkinson’s disease is managed
For people living with PD, management strategies may include a combination of medication and surgical interventions. Common medication options include dopamine enhancers or agonists, which may help prevent or reduce symptoms and slow disease progression. Other medications may be prescribed to help manage symptoms such as tremors or sleeping trouble. More recently, surgical options like deep brain stimulation may help regulate symptoms through electrodes implanted in the brain. Consult with your doctor to discuss the right treatment for you.
In addition to medications and surgery, individuals with PD may benefit from ongoing physical therapy and mental health care. Physical therapy may be used to improve fine and gross motor skills and can often help a person cope with the changes that come with PD. Mental health care may be another important focus for people living with PD. Approaches such as meditation and deep breathing techniques along with cognitive behavioral therapy may help reduce depression or anxiety associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Connecting with a mental health professional
Connecting with a mental health professional may be beneficial for people living with Parkinson’s disease. A therapist, for example, can use a variety of techniques that may improve overall mental health and well-being, and they may also introduce effective coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety.
That said, attending traditional, in-person therapy can be challenging for a person living with PD because of mobility issues. With online therapy, in contrast, sessions with a licensed therapist can take place remotely from anywhere you have an internet connection. That means an individual can receive compassionate mental health care from the comfort of home, and this type of care is often more cost-effective than in-office sessions as well. Research suggests that online therapy can often be an effective way to treat stress, anxiety,and other mental health challenges.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Parkinson’s Awareness Month and Parkinson’s disease.
What are the five stages of Parkinson's?
According to the Hoen and Yahr scale of cognitive decline, the five stages of Parkinson’s disease are as follows:
- Stage one: Mild symptoms, such as tremors affecting one side of the body.
- Stage two: Moderate symptoms, such as small handwriting and difficulty with motor control, with tremors and stiffness affecting both sides of the body.
- Stage three: Significant difficulty with balance and coordination and increased stiffness and tremors.
- Stage four: Severe symptoms that make walking and performing daily tasks difficult, such as severe sleep disturbances, inability to exercise, and severe constipation.
- Stage five: Bedridden or wheelchair-bound, with severe muscle stiffness and cognitive impairment.
When is National Parkinson's Day?
World Parkinson’s Day is celebrated on April 11th annually to spread awareness of the one million Americans diagnosed with the condition. On this day, organizations and individuals share information and fact sheets about how to support diagnosis and fund research for this condition so more people can receive support. Resources to look into on World Parkinson’s Day include the PD Library, Fox Foundation, and the Substantial Matters Podcast by the Parkinson’s Foundation, which includes podcast episodes on Parkinson’s topics and resources.
What is the symbol of Parkinson's Day?
The Parkinson’s Day symbol is the red tulip, representing the two halves of the brain. The flower was officially adopted as the symbol in 2005 at the World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference in Luxembourg. However, this flower has been used as the symbol for much longer and is often also connected back to J.W.S. Van der Wereld, the man who first developed the red tulip and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He named the tulip after the doctor who discovered the disease.
What flower represents Parkinson's?
The red tulip represents Parkinson’s disease because of its history and creator. J.W.S. Van der Wereld was a horticulturist and made this red variety of the popular flower. He had Parkinson’s disease at the time and named the flower after the doctor who first described the disease in a patient in 1817.
What are the four markers of Parkinson's?
According to research, the four markers for Parkinson’s disease include the following:
- Tremors (shakiness)
- Bradykinesia (slowness)
- Rigor (stiffness)
- Postural instability
What is the life expectancy with Parkinson's?
People with Parkinson’s disease are expected to live a near-normal lifespan, as the symptoms of the condition don’t usually cause death on their own. However, near the end of the disease’s progression, symptoms can become so severe that someone is unable to eat, drink, or practice self-care properly, and some people with Parkinson’s may have stiffness so severe that they struggle to swallow, which can lead to pneumonia. Dementia is also common alongside Parkinson’s disease and may be more likely to lead to a shorter lifespan.
What is the most disabling symptom of Parkinson's disease?
About one-third of people with Parkinson’s say that fatigue is their most disabling symptom. This symptom can cause someone to struggle to wake up, complete daily tasks, or concentrate. People with Parkinson’s may sometimes be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which can cause severe fatigue that is difficult to treat.
What is the finger test for Parkinson's?
Doctors may sometimes perform a finger test called the “finger tapping test” to check for slowness of hand movements, which can be a sign of Parkinson’s disease. To test this skill, the doctor will ask the patient to tap their thumb and index finger together repeatedly, forcefully, and as fast as possible to check their speed and ability. People with Parkinson’s disease may struggle to complete this task quickly.
What are the strange behaviors of Parkinson's patients?
People with Parkinson’s disease may experience behavioral symptoms alongside their physical condition, which might be observed as unusual compared to their past behaviors. Some of these symptoms could include the following:
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Impulsivity
- Risky behaviors
- Anxiety or depression
- Loss of memory
- An urge to take more medication than needed due to dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS)
- Agitation or irritability
At what stage of Parkinson's does dementia start?
Parkinson’s disease dementia, a type of dementia, most frequently starts about 10 to 15 years after the onset of Parkinson’s disease. However, not everyone with Parkinson’s disease develops dementia. This type of dementia only affects about 30% to 50% of people with the condition. The stage that cognitive decline begins can depend on the individual and the severity of their condition.
- Previous Article
- Next Article