APDA National Headquarters – American Parkinson Disease Association

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http://www.apdaparkinson.org/
by APDA National Headquarters – American Parkinson Disease Association

The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. was founded in 1961 to “ease the burden and find a cure” for Parkinson’s disease. Headquartered in New York, the organization focuses its energies on research, patient services, education and raising public awareness about the disease. APDA supports nine Centers for Advanced Research, 52 regional Information and Referral (I&R) Centers, 45 chapters, and 250 affiliated support groups nationwide. Each year, the APDA Scientific Advisory Board reviews grant applications, and submits recommendations, for funding researchers whose work shows promise for making scientific breakthroughs or for finding improved treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

The University of Chicago Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders combines clinical expertise with state-of-the-art therapies and groundbreaking research. Experts in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, otolaryngology, and rehabilitation provide compassionate care to patients and families, using advanced and practical approaches to these challenging diseases.

The Neurology and Neurosurgery program here has consistently been ranked as one of the top programs in the country. Many patients turn to the University of Chicago for solutions, after seeking help elsewhere. Others come to us because of puzzling symptoms or for a second opinion. The experience and expertise of our physicians, coupled with advanced diagnostic resources, may provide the answers you have been seeking. Some of the diseases that we handle include Parkinson’s Disease, ataxia (please see website dedicated to ataxia), dystonia, chorea, tremor, tics, and myoclonus. Other labels that have been used to describe this category of disorders include progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal ganglionic degeneration, Huntington’s disease, torsion dystonia, blepharospasm, Meige syndrome, spasmodic torticollis, writer’s cramp, and Tourette syndrome

Quilt raises awareness of PD

The World Parkinson’s Congress unveiled the Parkinson’s Quilt, created by 600 quilters from 14 countries, five Canadian  provinces, and 46 states. It is designed to raise awareness of the impact the disease has on people living with it — as well as their families, caregivers and friends — and on the urgency to find a cure.

“There were 39 quilts hanging from the ceiling and each was made up of 16 panels,” said Chapter Board member Jo-Ann Golec. “It was an awesome sight.”

Quilters contributed two-foot square panels illustrating the personal stories of people whose lives are or have been touched by Parkinson’s. You can view the quilt online at www.pdf.org/quilt

Sign Parkinson’s Pledge

The most signigicant initiative to come out of the WPC is the Global Parkinson’s Pledge “to make Parkinson’s a priority health, social and economic issue around the world, and to advance the cure.” Organizers hope to have one million people sign the Pledge by the next WPC in October 2013 in Montreal, Canada. Show your support by adding your signature online at www.parkinsonspledge.org

“The more names we gather on the pledge, the bigger the message will be regarding how many people are affected by this disease and the quicker we’ll draw attention to our need to offer better care for patients and to find a cure, said Dr. Stanley Fahn, President of the WPC.

Can being an Alzheimer’s caregiver make you happy?

When it comes to caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, happiness may not be the first emotion that comes to mind. But many of the activities associated with caregiving are principles that experts say make people happier.
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Visit our Caregiver Center >>

http://blog.alz.org/can-caregiving-make-you-happy/

Binge drinking may increase risk of cognitive decline

Moderate drinking and binge drinking among older people may increase the risk for cognitive decline and memory loss, according to studies presented at last week’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). In one study, adults age 65 and older who reported binge drinking at least twice a month were more than twice as likely to suffer cognitive decline than those who didn’t drink. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks on one occasion.
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See other news from AAIC >>
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-18/alzheimers-binge-drinking/56310294/1