What is Parkinsons Disease

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What is Parkinsons Disease?

• A degenerative brain disorder affecting movement
• Symptoms caused by the deficiency of a chemical
  in the brain called Dopamine why it happens,
  nobody knows
• Not fatal but progressive and incurable and, with
  time, severely affects quality of life
• Currently there is no one specific test to
  diagnose Parkinsons Disease diagnosis is a
  combination of symptoms exhibited and
  eliminating other possible causes

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Symptoms of Parkinsons Disease

• Tremor (shaking usually starts on one side of
  the body, often in the hand or finger)
• Rigidity (stiffness where the limbs feel like
  lead)
• Akinesia (difficulty in initiating movement and
  slowness of movement)
• Problems with balance

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Facts about Parkinsons Disease

• Approx. 80,000 people in Australia live with
  Parkinsons Disease
• In Australia alone, estimated cost to the
  community is A6 billion annually
• It can last up to 50 of your life
• It is the next most common brain disease after
  Alzheimers disease
• There is no remission with Parkinsons Disease
• Even with medicines, symptoms vary in incidence,
  severity and timing from person to person, day to
  day, hour to hour the disease is totally
  unpredictable

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Facts about Parkinsons Disease cont

• Medicines effective for only a limited period.
  They then become less effective or cause
  disabling side-effects
• Stress intensifies symptoms and counteracts the
  benefit of medicines
• People also often suffer from depression, severe
  anxiety and emotional turmoil
• Even with severe symptoms, there is little
  impairment to the intellect
• Environmental and genetic factors may play a part
  in the development of Parkinsons Disease

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Myths about Parkinsons Disease
Myth Only old people get Parkinsons
Disease Myth The only thing that people with
Parkinsons have is shaking Myth People with
Parkinsons are unemotional and not
feeling Myth People with Parkinsons are not
the full quid Myth Only the person with
Parkinsons is affected by the disease
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Far-reaching Impact of Parkinsons Disease
Carers depression, financial stress,
strained relationships, frustration
, anger, change in roles, changed plans for
the future Families sense of
helplessness, financial stress, change in
roles, frustration, resentment Community
loss of social capital, increased
healthcare costs, increased social
benefits, loss of productivity
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Treatment of Parkinsons Disease

• Medicines - Can control symptoms effectively for
  5 to10 years in most people before disabling
  side-effects appear and control then becomes
  less effective
• Surgery - Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an
  alternative to earlier forms of surgery where
  lesions are cut in the area of the brain that
  controls fine movement of the limbs to stop
  shaking
• Even if surgery is successful, it only relieves
  symptoms for a period of time it does not
  halt progression of the disease

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• represents
• HOPE STRENGTH
• TWO SIDES OF THE BRAIN
• STURDINESS
• ALL-EMBRACING

Towards Understanding Learning Improving
Parkinsons
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Parkinsons Australia A Joint Activity with
all States and Territories

• Lobbies government
• Alzheimers Disease 4.2million (160,000
  patients) 262.50
• Multiple Sclerosis 14 million (15,000 patients)
  933.33
• Parkinsons Disease 225,000 (80,000 patients)
  2.81
• Generates support from companies
• Promotes community understanding
• Parkinsons Australia Magazine
• Website www.parkinsons.org.au

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State and Territory Parkinsons Affiliates

• Provide Further Support via
• Local Support Groups for People Living With
  Parkinsons
• resource materials eg videos and books
• 1800 Information service
• Parkinsons Australia coordinates the
  activities of State and Territory
  affiliates

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How Can We Make a
Difference ?

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