April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
March 31, 2022
by Jessica Buss, Marketing Coordinator
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month because it is the birth month of James Parkinson. He was the London physician who published “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy” in 1817. He was the first physician to describe Parkinson’s disease.
On April 11, 2005, the tulip was adopted as the official symbol of Parkinson’s at the 9th World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference in Luxembourg. Today wearing the red tulip raises awareness and shows support for people living with Parkinson’s and their families globally.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative, neurological disorder caused by a deficiency of dopamine in the brain. It is progressive, currently incurable, and the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the U.S. It is estimated there are over one million people in the United States that have Parkinson’s disease, with the prevalence rising to 1.2 million by 2030.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from person to person and can include tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity, difficulty with balance, swallowing, chewing, and speaking, cognitive impairment and dementia, mood disorders, and a variety of other non-motor symptoms.
We are committed to helping patients and loved ones cope, and to offer help in maintaining your quality of life. When it comes to Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s Nebraska wants you to know you are never alone.
Donate today to support our mission to improve the quality of life for Nebraskans with Parkinson’s and their families.
