What is World Parkinson’s Day? Well, it is an international awareness day every year on April 11. It’s purpose is to not only raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, but to also educate everyone about the symptoms and challenges as well as supporting people living with this condition by encouraging research for better treatments and a cure for it. (Parkinson’s Awareness Month takes place the whole month of April, but the exact day is April 11th.)
Why is it celebrated on April 11th? If you were wondering that too, the date was chosen to honor James Parkinson, who was the first doctor that actually described the disease in 1817 in his work “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy”, which is very cool and interesting. (World Parkinson’s Day itself was actually officially established in 1977.)
What is Parkinson’s Disease and what causes it? What are some of the symptoms? Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder (which means it gets worse and worse over time), that is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain which leads to a decrease in dopamine (a chemical in your body that controls movement.) Symptoms of Parkinson’s can be movement-related (Motor) or non-motor symptoms (usually overlooked symptoms). Some motor symptoms are tremors (shaking), slowness of movement (bradykinesia), muscle stiffness, and even balance and coordination problems. Non-motor symptoms consist of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, and cognitive changes (memory/thinking issues). And an important note to keep in mind is that these non-motor symptoms can actually appear years before the more visible/detectable ones.
World Parkinson’s Day matters because it spreads awareness, reduces stigma, helps people understand that Parkinson’s is more than just tremors, supports patients/their caregivers, and also encourages different funding and research for some treatments. (As well as also just highlighting the simple but daily challenges faced by different individuals living with the disease and how everyone’s experience is different.)
Some symbols of Parkinson’s Awareness are the Red Tulip and “The Spark”. Chosen in 2005, the Red Tulip is the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease, representing hope and solidarity. “The Spark” is a newer global symbol that represents energy and dopamine, used to just inspire unity and the need for action worldwide.
World Parkinson’s Day: April 11th, is not just about awareness, but also about the understanding, compassion, and action needed to take place for this disease. The numbers of people affected by this disease continues to grow every year, and this day is a good reminder of the importance of research, support, and hope for a future with a possible cure/better treatments for Parkinson’s.
