April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
At Elder Advisors Law, we believe in the power of awareness and understanding. Bringing attention to the challenges many of our clients and their loved ones face allows us to not only protect those individuals but also bring hope to the cause and shine a light on progress.
Every year, April marks Parkinson’s Awareness Month. This is the birth month of physician James Parkinson who was the first to describe Parkinson’s disease all the way back in 1817. This April, it’s important to not only understand what Parkinson’s is but also where we are at in research for a cure.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder in the central nervous system that severely impacts motor functions, often causing tremors and, in some cases, stiffness and slowing of movements. Damage to nerve cells in the brain produces the systems of the disease.
How Many People Have Parkinson’s?
In the U.S., there are around 500,000 diagnosed cases of Parkinson’s, but some research suggests there are as many as 1,000,000 Americans dealing with the disease. Around the world, an estimated 10,000,000 people are living with Parkinson’s.
These numbers have doubled in the past 25 years, and there are nearly 90,000 new cases each year in the U.S. alone. On average, a new case is diagnosed every six minutes in the country.
Is There a Cure?
Right now, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s. There are treatments including medicine that helps your body produce more dopamine to combat symptoms. Increased awareness and understanding of the disease will create pathways to finding a cure. Just last year, the University of Maryland announced a new, non-invasive treatment method that produces a “rapid reversal of symptoms.”
How Does the Disease Impact Decision-Making?
One of the common questions we face at Elder Advisors is how Parkinson’s impacts an individual’s ability to make decisions for themselves. Many assume people with the disease need others to make decisions on their behalf, but the brain of a Parkinson’s patient is actually fully cognitive. Their ability to communicate is impacted, but decision-making capability remains fully intact.
Ultimately, we need to help our loved ones who are dealing with the disease by giving them all the opportunities to make their own decisions. Establishing an estate plan in the early stages of symptoms can be key to preventing any legal challenges down the road when communication is more complicated.
Our team is proud to serve people and families in Wisconsin who are in need of a plan. We understand the challenges of Parkinson’s because we serve clients who are dealing with the disease and their families. Contact us and protect your family for generations to come.
