Legislation sponsored by North Country assemblywoman would make April ‘Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month’ in NY

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell

Saturday, April 9, 2016 

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa says a resolution she sponsored calling on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to declare April as “Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month” in New York has passed the state Assembly.

"The disease has received considerable attention in recent years through the courage of activists at every level. Many of our friends and neighbors in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties and across the state are facing challenges - physically, emotionally and financially - due to this disease," Russell said.

She says 1 million Americans have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and a new diagnosis is made every 9 minutes in the United States.

Russell says she has sponsored the resolution each year since 2012. The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has been working with her team this year to show support for this resolution.

“This resolution will bring additional attention to PD and encourage more people to get involved. We are incredibly thankful for Assemblywoman Russell’s dedication to this cause,” said APDA President and CEO Leslie A. Chambers.

“Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month” is aimed at putting the spotlight on the debilitating disease to help find better ways to prevent and detect the progressive neurological condition, providing effective care for the disease and ultimately finding a cure, Russell said.

“According to a research article from the Movement Order Society, as the size and proportion of the elderly population continues to grow, the societal and economic burden of this disease could double by 2040, which is staggering the think about. For this and so many other reasons, we are deeply committed to putting an end to PD,” Chambers said.

Parkinson's is characterized by motor problems, including slowness of movement, rigidity and tremor. Balance and gait problems may occur later in the course of illness, Russell said.

Some people may also experience a decrease in facial expression, low voice volume, small handwriting and difficulty with fine motor movements.

A number of non-motor symptoms are associated with Parkinson's, including depression and other emotional changes, difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking, urinary problems or constipation, skin problems and sleep disruptions, according to Russell.

The effects of Parkinson’s Disease are different for every person. There is no diagnostic test or biological marker that confirms the diagnosis, and there is currently no cure. The average age of onset is 60 years old, however, approximately 10 percent of people living with PD are under 50. The disease strikes 1.5 times more men than women, the assemblywoman said.

"It is critical to continue the fight to improve awareness and search for a cure for Parkinson's Disease. While we know symptoms of the disease are unique to each person, it can result in pronounced symptoms that seriously impact quality of life for patients, particularly in the latter stages of the disease," Russell said.

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