Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease that is the fastest growing and second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States. Parkinson’s diminishes the body’s ability to make Dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical for making smooth, coordinated motion. Currently, there is no known cause or cure but we are on the cusp of finding various biomarkers to help the medical community properly diagnose the disease.
One million of the world’s ten million people with Parkinson’s live in the United States and over 66,000 Floridians currently are diagnosed with Parkinson’s (only California and Texas have more). Every six minutes someone new is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a uniquely human disease, which often has not only motor symptoms (Tremor, Rigidity, & Slowness of Motion) but also non-motor symptoms (Apathy/ Depression, Drooling, & Orthostatic Hypotension), as well.
It is estimated that the economic burden of Parkinson’s is at least $52 billion annually, with $26 billion in costs to the Federal government (Medicare and Social Security) and $26 billion in costs associated with the people (lost job opportunities and direct medical costs) who have Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s appears to attack males by 1.5 times more than females, and the average age of people newly diagnosed is 60 years old. Parkinson’s should be treated by neurologists; there are approximately four thousand neurologists in the U.S. but only about four hundred of them have gone on to become “Movement Disorder Specialists”.
The Emerald Coast, more specifically, Bay and Walton Counties, together have approximately three thousand people with Parkinson’s. Unfortunately, this region is in the middle of a Movement Disorder Specialist “desert”, with the two closest Movement Disorder Specialists located in Pensacola and Tallahassee.
Panama City Beach at least has a Parkinson’s Support Group, started in 2021, called 3085Thrive, with the name derived from the Longitude and Latitude of Panama City Beach (30/85) and the word THRIVE, which we intend to do, despite having Parkinson’s (www.3085Thrive.com).
3085Thrive will be hosting the first-ever Emerald Coast Parkinson’s Educational Event on Tuesday October 22, 2024, at Woodlawn Church (219 Alf Coleman) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The symposium will feature over 15 Vendors who offer products or services that assist people living with Parkinson’s. There will also be three nationally known speakers present to discuss topics such as understanding the grief associated with the disease, Care Partner Burn Out and to provide a summary of the latest Parkinson’s research initiatives from Movement Disorder Specialists.. The event will also be offered in a virtual webinar format with a Q&A format.
It is our hope to be able to attract a Movement Disorder Specialist to establish a practice in the Emerald Coast area, possibly at FSU’s new Medical facility, within the next couple of years, by showing the medical community the strength, vibrancy, and size of the Parkinson’s community here on the Emerald Coast.
Please contact Greg Ritscher, 3085Thrive support group leader, at gregritscher@gmail.com or (303) 875-8117 for more information.
Author: Sowal Editor
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