Rowan County Parkinson’s Symposium Planned for October 8th

The local Parkinson’s disease support group (PARC-Parkinson’s Advocacy of Rowan County) is coordinating the third annual Parkinson’s symposium to be held Tuesday, October 8, 2019, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, at First Presbyterian Church, 308 W. Fisher Street, Salisbury. Doors will open at 8:00 AM for check-in and visits with event sponsors. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Learn to Live Your Best Life with Parkinson’s.” Sponsors include a variety of businesses with resources to address the needs of those with Parkinson’s. Light breakfast, snacks and drinks will be provided.

Parkinson’s Disease Word Cloud on White Background

There is no charge to attend the Parkinson’s symposium, and everyone is welcome. Seating is limited, so please reserve your place by contacting: TenderHearted Home Care 704-612-4132 or email RGray@TenderHeartedHomeCare.com

The keynote speakers at the symposium will be Dr. Laxman Bahroo, Movement Specialist at Georgetown University, and Charles Manning, RN, Ashville Health Center. They will speak about Apokyn, a pharmaceutical available for treatment of Parkinson’s symptoms.

Jennifer C. Price, MS, AG-ACNP, Trellis Supportive Care, will be presenting

Joe and Sarah Possenti, patient ambassadors for Apokyn (Mylan Laboratories), will be on hand to talk about using the drug.

Some facts about Parkinson’s:

• As many as 1 million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease — more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected.

• The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness or rigidity, fatigue, change in handwriting, anxiety and depression.

• Parkinson’s is caused by the loss of brain cells called substantia nigra, which produce the chemical messenger dopamine. As the cells die, less dopamine is produced and transported to the striatum, the area of the brain that coordinates movement. Symptoms develop when about 80% of the dopamine has been lost.

• The reason(s) that Parkinson’s disease develops is not known, and there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s. Medication and exercise can help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and maintain quality of life.

The local Parkinson’s support group (PARC) meets the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00PM – 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 308 West Fisher Street. For information, contact Renee Gray, TenderHearted Home Care, 704-612-4132. RGray@TenderheartedHomeCare.com