About Parkinson’s Disease
Tremor… stiffness… slowness of movement… impaired balance… personality changes… weakness… stooped posture… fatigue… constipation… discomfort… difficulty writing… soft speech… sleep disturbance… reduced facial expression…
Had Enough?
So have over the 100,000 Canadians affected by Parkinson’s, and their 400,000 family, friends and caregivers.
What is Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, a chronic, slowly progressive neurological disease that generally affects a small area of cells in the mid brain known as the substantia nigra. The disease most often affects people 60 and over, but in recent years there has been a significant increase in the amount of people under the age of 40. The symptoms of Parkinson’s appear when there is not enough dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical that allows nerve cells to transmit messages between each other and then to muscles to facilitate controlled, smooth, spontaneous movement. Once these cells die, the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear.
A significant stride in research provides hope that within decades we may see the Parkinson’s disease eradicated. However, until that time arrives, we must alleviate the emotional and physical symptoms of Parkinson’s that make everyday living a significant challenge.
Support
There are over 230 support groups coast-to-coast that offer the opportunity to meet other people living with Parkinson’s, and share information. Contact your region for more information.
Treatment
Drugs alleviate the symptoms but DO NOT halt the progression of the disease. As symptoms evolve, more medication is needed. While treatment does enable people with Parkinson’s to function better, it is not a cure, and everything a person does becomes more challenging even things like brushing teeth and shaving (things most of us take for granted) are difficult. Ongoing research is the key to finding more effective treatment.
Rehabilitation Includes:
- Physical Therapy: assisting mobility and flexibility
- Occupational Therapy: promoting independence
- Speech Therapy: assisting with voice control and swallowing
Research
Parkinson Society Canada (PSC) understands the importance of investing in Canada’s Parkinson’s disease research enterprise. Our National Research Program is the cornerstone of what we do at PSC. We support efforts to achieve the highest standard of excellence in Canadian research and enable progress in the effort to “ease the burden and find a cure”. Through new discoveries and treatments, research improves the quality of life of all Canadians and reduces the economic burden of illness on the economy. Today’s investment will go directly to research that is aimed at improving the health and lives of Canadians living with Parkinson’s now and in the future.
In Canada, we are very proud to have some of the best Parkinson’s researchers in the world. Canadians and visitors to Canada have contributed a disproportionate amount of knowledge to our understanding of the aetiology, progression and treatment of PD. Very few other countries in the world, if any, can make such a claim. And Parkinson Society Canada is the only national organization in Canada that specifically supports Canadian Parkinson’s research and researchers.
Over the past five years, PSC has invested more than $5.2 million in over 100 research projects. Your contributions, through us, support new and exploratory projects. Current research includes:
Dr. Shawn Hayley — Ontario
Impact of pesticides and the development of Parkinson’s.
Dr. Damian Shin — Ontario
Why does deep brain stimulation work in only 40% of the people who have the surgery?
Drs. Frédéric Calon and Francesa Cicchetti — Quebec
Can Omega 3 prevent Parkinson’s disease?
Dr. Stan Floresco — British Columbia
Why people with Parkinson’s engage in riskier behaviour?
Dr. Thompson Durcan — Quebec
Studying new pathways in the brain for treatment.
To find out more, click on National Research Program at www.parkinson.ca.
