April 11 was World Parkinson’s Day, which marks the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson. He was an English doctor who first described the details of the disease in his 1817 Study ‘An Essay on the Shaking Palsy.’ It was this study that first established Parkinson’s disease as a medical condition.

Each year, thousands of people engage in fundraising on World Parkinson’s Day to increase funding for research and to promote more understanding of the disease.

Here are some important facts about PD that you may not have known:

  • Dr. Parkinson lived the majority of his life in East London, and was a social activist as well as a physician. Parkinson also fought for child welfare and women’s right to vote.
  • PD is caused by the death of nerve cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain. This causes dopamine levels to fall in the brain, which is important in regulating body movement. The loss of dopamine is largely what causes the common symptoms of PD – shaking, tremors, difficulty moving, and stiffness.
  • One in 500 people are affected by PD, which means 60,000 people in the US have it, as well as 127,000 in the UK.
  • Most people get symptoms after age 50, but one in 20 will develop symptoms when they are under 40.
  • Men are more likely to get the disease than women.
  • In the United Arab Emirates, there are higher numbers of young people coming down with the disease. It is not certain why, but it appears that genetic factors may be part of the reason. Some patients in UAE are getting PD as young as 24.
  • One of the newest treatments is deep brain stimulation, which is where electrodes are implanted in certain areas of the brain. The electrodes are connected to batteries in the chest, and they generate electrical impulses n the brain. This treatment will not work for all patients, but it can improve quality of life for many people.

While there is no cure for PD, there are ways to make living with it easier, and research is continuing every day to find a cure.

Some helpful Parkinson’s products for your loved one include:

 

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Third Arm Hands Free Cup Holder

 

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Good Grips Weighted Utensils