April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

Golden Valley, MN – April 5, 2021 – Governor Tim Walz has designated April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month in the state of Minnesota. Each year, 60,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and more than one million Americans are currently living with the neurodegenerative disease.

Commonly known for its movement or motor-related symptoms, people with PD are often more impacted by non-motor symptoms like apathy, depression, sleep behavior disorders, loss of sense of smell and cognitive impairment. The prevalence of the disease is expected to increase substantially in the next 20 years due to the aging population. Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are medications and treatments to live well with PD.

“Since 1957, the Parkinson’s Foundation has invested more than $368 million in Parkinson’s disease research and clinical care,” said John L. Lehr, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “Parkinson’s Awareness Month highlights the critical need for us to continue working together to fund research, care and resources so that one day we may live in a world without Parkinson’s disease.”

Efforts to raise awareness and funds during this month are part of a nationwide movement led by the Parkinson’s Foundation to make life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure.

“This proclamation highlights our support of the state and everyone here who has been affected by Parkinson’s disease,” said Jennifer Hendrickson “Together we can help our local community by raising awareness of the tools the Parkinson’s Foundation offers to empower people with PD and their loved ones.”

Two virtual education programs in April will be hosted by the chapter. Spring Parkinson’s Symposium is Friday, April 16 at 9:30am. Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease: Strategies for Living Well is Saturday, April 24 at 9:30am. Visit Parkinson.org/MinnesotaDakotas/Events for more information and to register.

Moving Day Twin Cities will have a drive-thru event on Saturday, May 1 at Grace Church in Eden Prairie to fundraise for research, expert care and education for the Parkinson’s community. A virtual program will be premiered on May 22. Visit MovingDayTwinCities.org to register and donate.

To learn more about how to get involved, visit Parkinson.org or join the Parkinson’s Foundation online community, a place to ask questions and connects with others living with PD at PDConversations.org.

About the Parkinson’s Foundation

The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).

About Parkinson’s Disease

Affecting an estimated one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.