A resolution sponsored by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, calling on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to declare April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in New York State passed the state Assembly today.
"The disease has received considerable attention in recent years through the courage of activists at every level. Many of our friends and neighbors in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties and across the state are facing challenges - physically, emotionally and financially - due to this disease," Assemblywoman Russell said.
She pointed out 1 million Americans have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and a new diagnosis is made every 9 minutes in the United States alone.
Assemblywoman Russell has sponsored the resolution each year since 2012. The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has been working with Assemblywoman Russell’s team this year to show support for this resolution.
APDA President and CEO Leslie A. Chambers said, “This resolution will bring additional attention to PD and encourage more people to get involved. We are incredibly thankful for Assemblywoman Russell’s dedication to this cause.”
“People from all walks of life are at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease for reasons we do not yet fully understand,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “That’s why I am so supportive of the on-going efforts by the Parkinson’s Disease community to identify the causes of Parkinson’s Disease and find a cure.”
Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month is aimed at putting the spotlight on the debilitating disease to help find better ways to prevent and detect the progressive neurological condition, providing effective care for the disease and ultimately finding a cure.
For more than 50 years, APDA has led the charge as the nation’s largest grassroots organization serving the needs of those touched by Parkinson’s.
“While we work tirelessly to help people living with PD today, giving them access to the tools, support and treatments they need to have the best quality of life possible, we are also keenly focused on the future as we fund critical PD research,” Chambers said.
“According to a research article published by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (1), as the size and proportion of the elderly population continues to grow, the societal and economic burden of this disease could double by 2040, which is staggering the think about. For this and so many other reasons, we are deeply committed to putting an end to PD.”
Parkinson's is characterized by motor problems including slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremor. Balance and gait problems may occur later in the course of illness.
Some people may also experience a decrease in facial expression, low voice volume, small handwriting and difficulty with fine motor movements.
A number of non-motor symptoms are associated with Parkinson's including depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems and sleep disruptions.
The effects of Parkinson’s Disease are different for every person. There is no diagnostic test or biological marker that confirms the diagnosis, and there is currently no cure.
The average age of onset is 60 years old, however, approximately 10 percent of people living with PD are under 50. The disease strikes 1.5 times more men than women.
"It is critical to continue the fight to improve awareness and search for a cure for Parkinson's Disease. While we know symptoms of the disease are unique to each person, it can result in pronounced symptoms that seriously impact quality of life for patients, particularly in the latter stages of the disease," Assemblywoman Russell said.
The American Parkinson Disease Association funds research, patient services and education and elevates public awareness.
Founded in 1961, APDA is the country's largest Parkinson's grassroots organization working to Ease the Burden for Americans with Parkinson's Disease and their families through a nationwide network of chapters, information and referral (I&R) centers and support groups.
APDA pursues its efforts to Find the Cure by funding Centers for Advanced Research and awarding grants to fund the most promising research toward discovering the cause(s) and finding the cure for Parkinson's Disease.
1) Kowal, S. L., Dall, T. M., Chakrabarti, R., Storm, M. V. and Jain, A. (2013), The current and projected economic burden of Parkinson's disease in the United States. Mov. Disord., 28: 311–318.