April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
APRIL IS PARKINSON AWARENESS MONTH
April is Parkinson awareness month. Usually we would be out in our communities educating the public, selling tulips to fundraise and having a conference to heighten awareness about Parkinson’s. However, the world has changed quickly with the CoVid-19 Virus circulating around in everyone’s lives. This virus was declared a pandemic.
What is a pandemic? It is a global outbreak of a disease. Did you know that last year Parkinson’s was declared a pandemic by the top movement disorder doctors in the world? They predicted Parkinson’s would double in numbers by 2030 and continue on if we do nothing. When we see what is happening in the world right now one could not imagine doing nothing. Why have we the global Parkinson’s community not taken action to try to stop Parkinson’s from spreading?
March 17, 2020 four top doctors and neuroscientists have addressed this and published a book titled ‘Ending Parkinson’s disease’. I have just finished reading it. I ordered 2 copies for our PWP family and they will be available in our library. I have them at my house at present if anyone would like to read.
In the past 20 years more research has been done. The Michael J Fox Foundation (their CEO is one of the authors of this book) was started and focused on finding the cure. Many other foundations and charities started opening up. Although we don’t have a cure, neuroscientists have discovered and collected very much data. They now know there are genetic variations notably the LLRK2 and GBA genes. They know there are environmental exposures that cause Parkinson’s. People exposed to pesticides and other chemicals such as agent orange and solvents in dry cleaning have a much higher risk of PD. They can produce Parkinson’s in the lab in mice and rats.
What is stopping us from Ending Parkinson’s? We have been told it is a pandemic. Why are there not more resources and advocacy groups pushing for all pesticides to be stopped production? Round Up is still being sold in some provinces in Canada. Our fruits and vegetables are being sprayed and we are ingesting these toxins.
As there is no treatment for this COVid-19 virus it is the same for Parkinson’s. We have tools for helping us live better with it but no cure. We do know we need to advocate to stop the known triggers of Parkinson’s. We also know that high intensity Parkinson’s specific exercises slows down the progression. PWP has led the country in providing these exercises right at diagnosis. We know people who are diagnosed do better if they are followed by a movement disorder specialist not a general neurologist or GP. Victoria now has Dr Tuck.
We at PWP are doing our part for a better quality of life living with Parkinson’s. It’s time now to advocate to ban herbicides and pesticides. It’s time to advocate for more money for Parkinson specific research to slow down our pandemic and eventually have better control to stop the disease.
Please visit endingPD.org to find out what you can do to help stop the Parkinson’s Pandemic
IN LOVING MEMORY OF PADDI WOOD a fierce PD warrior and advocate with a wicked sense of humour -We will all miss you Paddi RIP
Jillian