Wisconsin Parkinson Association Magazine April 2024

April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month:

Make it P er s on al!

April is a signi fi cant month for people with Parkinson’s disease. It’s a month in which a lot of national and local attention is directed to the world of Parkinson’s, and for good reason. There are over one million people in the United States currently living with Parkinson’s, and research shows the prevalence of the disease is on the rise. By the year 2030, it is expected that 1.2 million Americans will be affected by Parkinson’s. If you don’t already know someone who has the disease, chances are very high that in your own lifetime, you will know someone who is diagnosed with Parkinson’s. That How can you help spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease this month? • Follow WPA on our social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. • Share WPA’s posts with your own network – let your family, friends and associates know that Parkinson’s disease is an important cause, that it’s personal for you. • Learn more about the disease yourself by participating in a webinar, in person event or by doing other reading. • Spread awareness by sharing the facts about PD. • If you have PD – share your story. Your experience will help someone else who is on their own Parkinson’s journey. • Connect someone with Parkinson’s to WPA’s resources. • Host your own fundraising event with your family and friends. Facts about Parkinson’s Disease* • Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, after Alzheimer’s;

makes Parkinson’s very personal…and when it’s personal, it’s time to take action. One of the most effective things you can do personally to take action during Parkinson’s Awareness Month is to use your voice and your networks to spread the word about the disease. Information is power. By linking people to resources and information they need to live an improved life, you will be making a difference. You’ll be helping connect people to WPA to receive support and programs that will help them most. • Current estimates indicate that approximately one million people are affected by this disease, and the prevalence is expected to rise to 1.2 million people by2030; • Research suggests that the cause of Parkinson’s disease is a combination of genetic and environmen tal factors, but the exact cause and progression of the disease is still unknown; • There is no objective test or biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, and while there is currently no cure, PD symptoms can be managed by medication and research has shown that disease progression can be slowed by exercise; • It is estimated that the economic burden of Parkinson’s disease is at least $52 billion annually, including direct and indirect costs, including treatment, social security payments and lost income, to patients and family members. *Source: Parkinson’s Foundation This April let’s make Parkinson’s disease awareness month personal. Let’s join together in making a commitment to spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease so that, until there is a cure, we can help people with Parkinson’s live their best lives. Spread the word!

Issue 115 | 2024 4 |

Wisconsin Parkinson Magazine