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Not as much notice for this one, but if you're in town... Improving quality of life when you or someone you love has Parkinson’s Boca Raton, FL - Approximately 1.5 million people in the United States have Parkinson’s disease, with 60,000 diagnosed each year. Estimates indicate 10% are under the age of 40. Michael J. Fox, diagnosed in 1991 at age 30, going public in 1998, dispelled the misconception that Parkinson’s was an old person’s disease. Living with the progressive and debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s is difficult for any individual or family. Continuous adaptation is needed to cope as Parkinson’s is a chronic degenerative neurological disorder. By the time symptoms become noticeable, approximately 80% of the cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which produce a chemical called dopamine, used by the body to control movement, are lost. There is currently no cure. At the onset of Parkinson’s, levodopa, the most commonly used Parkinson’s medication, replaces or replicates dopamine, the neurotransmitter essential in making the connection in the brain between a thought and an action. It’s effectiveness over time diminishes and generates other debilitating side effects prevail. There are several promising drugs in the pipeline, deep brain stimulation (DBS) when drugs lose their effectiveness and the promise of stem cell research. A special program; Living Longer and Better with Parkinson’s is being hosted by Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc. WHO: Dr. Abraham Lieberman, an internationally renowned neurologist with 35 years experience treating patients with Parkinson’s, principal or co-principal investigator of more than 200 studies involving Parkinson’s and Dr. Michael Dogali, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, a pioneer in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery and innovative and progressive treatments for brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis and other neurologic conditions with expertise in deep brain stiumulation (DBS) and stem cells. WHAT: Informational program about improving quality of life through medication, alternative and complementary therapies, innovative physical therapy, supplements and new drugs in the pipeline. When medications lose their effectiveness, some patients may be candidates for Deep Brain Stimulation which can significantly lengthen the amount of on-time and equip many patients to reduce their medications. Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. They can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells and generate healthy and functioning specialized cells, which can then replace diseased or dysfunctional cells. WHERE: South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog/Powerline Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446 WHEN: Friday January 6, 2006, 12:30 p.m. Registration, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Program WHY: As the disease progresses, simple tasks become more difficult. Getting dressed, driving, cooking dinner, are a challenge if not nearly impossible. Swallowing requires concentration, and difficulty projecting ones voice makes it hard to communicate. There is loss of balance, difficulty walking, and “ freezing” or inability to move when the medication dose wears down. The information shared at this program will provide ways in which patients and care partners can improve quality of life in the face of the challenges presented by Parkinson’s. HOW: To reserve your space at this program, please call 800.481.7796 Email address is [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) and web site is _www.cureparkinsons.org_ (http://www.cureparkinsons.org/) . NOTE: To find out information about Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc.’s young onset support group that meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Heartland of Boca from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. or exercise classes for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners at Sugar Sand Park in Boca Raton call 561.620.1970. Additional information about Take Charge! Cure Parkinson’s, Inc.: e-mail: [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) , website: _www.cureparkinsons.org_ (http://www.cureparkinsons.org/) , or 561.620.1970 VOLUNTEERING: Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's, Inc. , a 501 C 3 organization, welcomes calls from people who would like to volunteer. Please contact us via e-mail at [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) if you are interested in volunteering, listing your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER. - end - Alison Landes Founder & President Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's, Inc. 1489 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 442 Boca Raton, Florida 33486 Tel: 561.620.1970 Fax: 561.488.5726 E-mail: [log in to unmask] Web site: _www.cureparkinsons.org_ (http://www.cureparkinsons.org/) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn