State Rep. Diana DiZoglio advocates for Parkinson’s

State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) with Parkinson’s Disease advocates from the Merrimack Valley and across the Commonwealth

State Rep. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, recently hosted advocates from the Merrimack Valley and across the commonwealth at the Statehouse for the third annual meeting of the state Legislature’s Parkinson’s Disease Caucus.

DiZoglio serves as chair of the caucus and provided legislators an opportunity to learn more about Parkinson’s and consider legislative steps to address the neurological disease, which affects an estimated 1 million Americans and is the 14th leading cause of death in the U.S. It is estimated that 60,000 people are diagnosed each year in the U.S. with Parkinson’s and its prevalence is expected to more than double by the year 2040. The exact cause of the disease, which is chronic and progressive, with no treatment to slow or halt its progression, remains unknown.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the National Parkinson Foundation and the Massachusetts chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association all joined DiZoglio for the caucus meeting. 

During the caucus, DiZoglio presented a resolution, cosponsored by more than 40 other legislators from across the commonwealth, proclaiming that the month of April as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month in Massachusetts. DiZoglio officially created and launched the Parkinson’s Disease Caucus in November 2015.

“The Massachusetts Parkinson’s Disease Caucus helps to raise awareness around Parkinson’s disease and the role that legislators can play in helping the Parkinson’s community,” said Charles Brown, North Andover resident and public policy and advocacy volunteer with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

“Programs like these are important in addressing stereotypes about Parkinson’s Disease being incurable and something that only impacts older people,” said Daniel Harvey, Parkinson’s disease advocate. “The disease is not incurable and with the right funding, we can someday find that cure. Until there is a cure, there is a community.”

“It is of the utmost importance to inform people about the difficulties persons with Parkinson’s Disease face every day,” said Chad Moir, board member of the APDA Massachusetts chapter. “The caucus helps legislators better understand how they can assist those with Parkinson’s and create legislation to ease some of the burdens caused by the disease.”

“Greater research, education and community support services are needed to find more effective treatments and to provide access to quality care to those living with Parkinson’s Disease,” said DiZoglio. “I am honored to serve as chair of this caucus and committed to continue raising awareness about the disease with citizens from the Merrimack Valley and across the commonwealth. Thank you to North Andover’s Charles Brown, of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease, for his inspirational comments at this year’s meeting and for helping to organize the event.”

http://northandover.wickedlocal.com/news/20170503/state-rep-diana-dizoglio-advocates-for-parkinsons