Earlier this week, former Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that he’s living with Parkinson’s disease. Along with leading edge research and advancements in therapies for Parkinson’s patients, Rendell’s decision to make his diagnosis public is helping to shine a light on what a Parkinson’s diagnosis really means.
Roughly 1 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the United States, making it the second most common neurodegenerative disease. However, despite its prevalence, misconceptions about the disease persist. For example, while there are genetic forms of Parkinson’s, most patients do not actually carry one of the genes, showing that other factors are at play. Additionally, many assume that Parkinson’s is only a movement disorder. The truth is that other non-motor symptoms are common, such as sleep disorders, depression, bladder symptoms, fatigue, and limb pain. The good news is that many of these symptoms are treatable.
Matthew B. Stern, director emeritus of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, says he spends the majority of appointments with newly diagnosed patients myth-busting. Most patients, he says, come in depressed, with the assumption that the disease will disable them in a finite period of time. Stern assures patients that with new treatment options, many patients can live full, active lives for years and that great strides have been achieved at reducing long-term disability.
“Many patients worry that their life is over, and the truth is that it’s not,” says Stern. “With a personalized, comprehensive treatment approach, involving a mix of medications, exercise, and other ancillary health services, patients can continue living their lives.”
Read more at Penn Medicine’s News Blog.
