Understanding, recognizing, and supporting the fight against Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s Awareness Month
April is officially recognized as Parkinson’s Awareness Month. This important initiative aims to educate the public, raise awareness, and promote support for ongoing research to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation and American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) use the month to share resources and fundraise, engaging people to act to help the more than 1.1 million people affected by the disease in the U.S. alone. During the month, April 11 is specifically recognized as World Parkinson’s Day in a global unified effort to raise awareness for the disease and highlight the realities faced by those diagnosed.
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Learning about Parkinson’s disease includes understanding what it is, recognizing symptoms, becoming informed about methods of diagnosis and treatment options, learning about early intervention and research, and supporting patients and families of those with Parkinson’s disease. Many organizations work together to bring attention to the disease. The red and white tulip, developed in 1980, is recognized as the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease.
Support and Involvement
Per Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapy, Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. They share, “Despite its increasing prevalence, it remains misunderstood by many.” They explain that there are diverse symptoms, challenges, and misconceptions that surround the condition. Awareness campaigns advocate for better research, earlier diagnosis, and more accessible care and support. Both World Parkinson’s Day and Parkinson’s Awareness Month encourage individuals to seek support, as well as give support to others affected by the disease.
Parkinson’s Disease and the Four Key Motor Symptoms
Parkinson’s disease is named for Dr. James Parkinson, the physician who first identified the condition in 1817. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder that occurs when dopamine-producing brain cells die or become impaired, reducing dopamine levels. This affects the central nervous system and results in resting tremors, muscle rigidity, slow movement (bradykinesia), and balance issues (instability, poor coordination). While symptoms can vary per individual, these are the four primary motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Per Mayo Clinic, “Early symptoms may be mild, and you may not even notice them. Symptoms often begin on one side of the body, then affect both sides. Symptoms are usually worse on one side than the other. Some Parkinson’s disease symptoms are similar to those of other disorders.” Visit a healthcare professional if you have symptoms of Parkinson’s disease to diagnose your condition and rule out other causes.
Non-Motor Symptoms
The disease can also cause non-motor symptoms to possibly include fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, constipation, vision and dental problems, low blood pressure when standing up, cognitive impairment, and more. Reduced ability to smell and detect odors (hyposmia) or loss of smell (anosmia) can be an early marker of diseases that affect the nervous system. However, reduced smell or loss of smell can also be related to other conditions like COVID-19 virus, allergies, or sinus problems. Non-motor symptoms can substantially impact the quality of life of patients and their overall wellbeing. Therefore, symptoms (even those that may seem unimportant) should be discussed with a physician or neurologist.
What is the Cause?
Parkinson’s disease is not fully understood. Though exact cause is unknown, nhs.uk points out what occurs, explaining, “Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the Substantia nigra.” They explain that if the nerve cells die or become damaged, the amount of dopamine is reduced. This means that the part of the brain that controls movement can’t work as well as normal, causing movements to become slow and abnormal. But researchers don’t know why the loss of nerve cells associated with Parkinson’s occurs. It’s thought that a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors may be responsible for the condition. However, further research is essential. Additionally, while treatments exist to help manage symptoms, and great scientific strides are presently being made, there is currently no cure. Fortunately, continued research brings great hope for the future.
How is it Diagnosed?
Like many other diseases, diagnosis can be challenging, particularly in its initial stage. Doctors will examine a patient’s medical history, assess symptoms, and order neurological exams, imaging, and tests like MRI, DaTscan (a brain SPECT assessing dopamine transporter levels in the brain) or blood test to rule out other disorders. A skin biopsy, a newer diagnostic tool used to detect the presence of abnormal proteins on skin nerves, is increasingly being used by neurologists to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. This test (the Syn-One Test from CND Life Sciences) typically takes three small punch biopsies from the distal calf, distal thigh, paracervical area to detect abnormal misfolded alfa-synuclein proteins in skin nerve fibers with 95-99% accuracy. Pacific Neuroscience Institute explains that there are five conditions that have abnormal alpha-synuclein. The synucleinopathies, meaning conditions that will test positive with the Syn-One test, are:
- Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or Lewy body dementia
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- Pure autonomic failure
- REM sleep behavior disorder (considered a precursor to PD, DLB, MSA)
Ensuring accurate diagnosis is vital, therefore, the Syn-One test is extremely useful, particularly where diagnosis is unclear.
Per CND Life Science, “The test results may even help shorten the time to a correct diagnosis – which means you and your doctor can get started on making the best choices for your health.”
How is Parkinson’s Treated?
Because there is no current cure for Parkinson’s disease, treatments then focus on managing symptoms with medications to replace dopamine, embarking on physical, occupational, and speech therapies, and considering focused ultrasound or surgical treatments like deep brain stimulation (DBS).
About the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF)
Canadian American actor Michael J. Fox is one of the most well-known celebrities living with Parkinson’s. Diagnosed in 1991, with initial symptoms reported as a twitching little finger and a sore shoulder, he became a strong advocate for Parkinson’s Disease research, even testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in 1999.
Today, he continues to work tirelessly for a cure. He founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, which supports advances like the 2023 discovery of a biomarker (aSyn-SAA) that detects Parkinson’s disease in living people by detecting abnormal alpha-synuclein protein in spinal fluid with 93% accuracy. Experts say this breakthrough enables earlier diagnosis and highlights ongoing efforts toward better treatments and a cure.
Key roles of the MJFF during the April Parkinson’s initiative include driving research, promoting public advocacy such as working with lawmakers to increase funding for research, mobilizing the community with events like the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, creating awareness and resources via newsletters, webinars and more, advocating for research participation, and lending support to patients with Parkinson’s and their caretakers.
Summary: Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting over 1 million Americans and many more worldwide. While receiving a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis can be daunting, the scientific and medical communities are working toward better understanding and treatment. Organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation, American Parkinson Disease Association, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and others, offer unwavering support and special opportunities for all to get involved during this important awareness month as well as year-round.
Disclosure: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or personal advice. Additionally, this article has not been medically reviewed. Please consult your doctor for medical guidance.
