Thursday, March 28, 2024

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

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Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walking, balance and coordination that affects more than one million Americans and an estimated 7-10 million people globally.

Symptoms typically begin gradually and worsen over time.

Parkinson’s disease can affect both men and women, but the disease affects 50 percent more men than women, according to the National Institute on Aging.

The disease is most frequently late onset, affecting most around age 60, but 5-10 percent of Parkinson’s patients are considered early onset, with symptoms beginning before age 50, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Parkinson’s can be hereditary, but most often, the disease occurs randomly.

Environmental exposure also could play a role in the development of Parkinson’s disease.

“Many researchers now believe that Parkinson’s disease results from a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors such as exposure to toxins,” The National Institute on Aging stated.

There are four main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: Trembling in extremities, jaw or head; stiffness in limbs; slowness of movement and impaired balance and coordination.

The disease can also cause depression and other emotional changes; difficulty swallowing, chewing and speaking; skin problems and sleep disruptions.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are medical therapies, treatments and medicines that can effectively treat and relieve some symptoms, so an exact diagnosis based on medical history and a neurological examination is important.

Support and resources for those affected by Parkinson’s disease is spreading.

In Gatesville, a Parkinson’s Support Group meets at 1 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Grace Bible Church, located at 4012 U.S. Highway 84. For more information about the group or meetings, please contact Becky Adams at 254-216-1032.

Other helpful information and local resources can be found online at ctaptexas.org.

Parkinson’s Awareness Month has been observed since 1983. In 2005, the tulip was adopted as the official symbol of the condition.