Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Parkinson's Disease is an incurable neurological disorder affecting approximately 1 in 300 people in which specific nerve cells in the brain fire wildly, leaving patients unable to control their movements.

Early symptoms are often so subtle that many often attribute them to the aging process. These symptoms may include mild depression, exhaustion, slight shakiness or stiff, unsteady or slow movements. As the disease progresses, however, patients are unable to control their movements completely as the body cooperates with the mind less and less.

No primary cause of Parkinson's Disease has been identified, but there are several known risk factors such as advancing age, sex (males are more likely to get it than females), family history, low levels of vitamin B folate and head trauma to name a few.

Unfortunately there is no one test to diagnose the disease, either. Additionally, it is extremely difficult to diagnose in the early stages when the symptoms are less severe.

The diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease is often devastating for patients as they realize that they will soon go from being a strong, independent individual to being progressively, chronically ill. Patients may want to take advantage of psychological counseling to help alleviate their fears and anxiety. Reaching out to support groups in the community can also be extremely helpful for the patient and their caregivers.

A Parkinson's Disease support group is available at the Fitness and Wellness Center at Passavant Retirement Community, which is open to its residents, community members and caregivers. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, and features a variety of topics as well as open discussion. For more information on the group, please call Kim Groves, Wellness Manager at 724-452-3534.