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I wish to thank Kuolon Huang for pointing out the error I made about the population of Malaysia (the latest fgure should be 25 and not 2.5 million) in the original message. Another error is Dr. NK Chew's email address, which should be [log in to unmask] (and not [log in to unmask]) . Regarding the number of PD sufferers in Malaysia, the fgure 10 000 is an underestimation. The issue is discussed in Chapter 4 of the book, in which the author stressed that the most accurate study on the prevailence of PD would be a door- to- door study in the community. In 1985, the People's Republic of China used this door-to-door study and the result had shown that the prevailence of PD was 50 per 100,000 population. If the proportion is applied to Malaysia, then by calculation, the estimated number of PD sufferers would be about 12500. This figure may not reflect the actual number of PD in Malaysia, since Malaysia is a multi-racial country. The possible factors contributing to the prevailence of PD in Malaysia are discussed in great details in Chapter 4 of the book. LS Chee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chee Liew Seong" <[log in to unmask]> To: "Parkinson's Information Exchange Network" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 7:23 PM Subject: Re: A Local Perspective on Parkinson's Disease > I would like to provide some further information to the subject "A Local > Prospective on Parkinson's Disease" based on the news reported by THE NEW > STRAITS TIMES and posted to the List by John Cottingham on July 15, 2004. > > The book titled "Understanding Parkinson"s Disease - the Malaysian > Perspective" is authored by Dr. N.K. Chew, Consultant Neurologist and > Lecturer, Universiti Malaya Medical Center. He is also the current President > of the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association. Besides chapters on > Parkinson's disease, there are also chapters contributed by a number of PD > suferers and caregivers who shared their personal experiences. It is > published by the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Associaion(MPDA) as a > guidebook for newly diagnosed PD patients and their families. It is also a > useful guide to the general public in Malaysia whose awareness and > understanding of the disease are far from desirable. > > It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 people in Malaysia (with a > population of 25 million) who are currently suffering from PD - only about > 40-50% or about 5000 of them are seeking medical treatment in both public or > private hospitals. The rest are either ignorant and regarding those PD > symptoms as normal signs of ageing, or are seeking treatment from > traditional healers especially those from the rural areas. > > The book was officially launched by The Honourable Member of Parliment Loh > Seng Kok, on May 29th 2004 at a Charity Dinner Nite organized jointly by > MPDA and The LIONS Club of UJS Subang Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur. The sale of > the book is also one of the fundraising projects for setting up the first PD > Care Center in Malaysia. > > The book has chapters on the roles and functions of PD Care Center, brief > history of MPDA (established in 1994), its missions, objectives and services > currently provided. The present membership is about 400, most of the from > around Kuala Lumpur. The association has recently set up two support groups > in Penang and Seremban. For a glimpse of the association activities, log-on > to its website www.mpda.org.my . > > At the moment only the English edition is available -- The Malay and > Chinese editions are being prepared and we are looking for sponsorship for > printing costs. The proceeds of the sale and royalty received by the author, > will be donated entirely to the building fund of PD Care Center. > > List members outside Malaysia interested to obtain copies of the book. The > local saling price of the book is RM40.00 per copy, available at the outlets > of MPH book shops. For details about saling price delievery charges in US$ > to different countries, please email MPDA Secretary Ms. Sara Lew at > [log in to unmask] or Ms Chew B.Peng at [log in to unmask] The author Dr. > N.K. Chew can be contacted by email [log in to unmask] > > L.S. Chee, > Vice President of MPDA > email: [log in to unmask] > > Postal Address : The Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association, > No. 1, Jalan Seri Petaling 17, Seri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA. > (Tel: 603-2096 2246) > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Cottingham" > <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 10:26 AM > Subject: A Local Perspective on Parkinson's Disease > > > > The source of this story is Mental Help Net: http://tinyurl.com/5k7q6 > > > > A Local Perspective on Parkinson's Disease > > (New Straits Times) > > Jul 15th 2004 > > IMAGINE being trapped or permanently confined to a small room, and not > being able to walk, eat, or even smile. > > > > Now imagine that prison is your own body. > > > > This neurological disorder is called Parkinson's disease, where the loss > of cells in the basal ganglia (cells involved with movement) of the brain > leads to deterioration of physical ability. > > > > Then, movement becomes a problem, everything slows down, right to facial > expressions. Stiffness and bodily tremors also occur. Occasionally, strange > sensations in the body and depression are experienced. > > > > Some of the more famous personalities who suffer from this debilitating > disease include actor Michael J. Fox and former world heavyweight boxing > champion Mohammed Ali, both of whom try to spread awareness about the > disease. > > > > Here, the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association attempts to aid those > coping with the disease - patients and caregivers alike - by providing > information and a venue for support groups. > > > > It has also come out with a book, Understanding Parkinson's Disease. > > > > Author Dr Chew Nee Kong, who is also the association's president, is a > renowned consultant neurologist and lecturer with Universiti Malaysia. The > book takes a local perspective of the disease. For instance, there is an > entire chapter on suitable diets for patients, with recommended dishes that > range from meehoon and wantan mee to thosai and other local cuisine. > > > > It also covers a wide aspect of the disease; the causes, symptoms, > complications and treatment. They are presented via diagrams and simple > explanations. The book also delves into alternative treatments (for > instance, traditional remedies used to alleviate symptoms). > > > > Through case studies, Dr Chew highlights situations with which many > patients would be familiar. Heartwarming personal accounts of those whose > lives have been touched by Parkinson's further engage those who read them, > giving a clear message of hope. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn