What it's like to live with Parkinson's Disease

Today, 11 April, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability are observing #WorldParkinsonsDay.

Parkinson’s Disease is considered the fastest growing #neurologicaldisorder in the world. It currently affects over 8.5 million people, a number that has doubled in the past 25 years.

Some interesting facts about Parkinson’s that you may not know:

There are more than 100,000 people living with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in Australia; Around 13,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; these numbers will increase by more than 60% in the next 20 years. Fifteen per cent of people living with Parkinson’s are of working age and there are more than 2,500 people in their 30s and 40s living with the condition. Up to 15% of people with Parkinson’s may not know that they have it. The total annual economic cost of Parkinson’s to Australia is estimated to exceed $11 billion; this is considerably more than that of Breast Cancer or Prostate Cancer.

Our guest authors in this month's blog are two people that understand Parkinson's Disease very well;

Prof. George Mellick is a Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at Griffith University, who works on all aspects of #neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on Parkinson's Disease. George has, for many years, been an #advocate for people affected by Parkinson’s Disease. He is currently the President of Parkinson’s Queensland and Parkinson’s Australia, the peak State and National not-for-profit advocacy groups supporting the Parkinson’s community.

Prof. Elizabeth Kendall is a #psychologist and Director of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability. Elizabeth cared for her mother, who bravely battled Parkinson's Disease for over ten years.

Prof. Kendall has built a long-term research agenda in #rehabilitation and service systems for people with #disability or chronic health conditions. Elizabeth is also the founding Director of The Hopkins Centre, based on a 30-year relationship between the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Metro South Health and Griffith University. She is a Board Director of Connectivity, raising awareness and appropriate treatment for #BrainInjury and has been on the working party founding the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP). She is also working on Universities Enable, an initiative designed to promote the #inclusion of people with disability in universities as staff and students.

Our community needs to learn more about Parkinson’s to help improve the lives of all those impacted by the disease. Contact a Parkinson’s organisation near you and show your support. In Queensland, the community based not-for-profit, Parkinson's Queensland Inc. provides information and support to those impacted by Parkinson’s. The national organisation, Parkinson's Australia Inc, advocates across the country to improve the life and wellbeing of people affected with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders.

Read the story in full on Griffith Enlighten: https://enlighten.griffith.edu.au/what-its-like-to-live-with-parkinsons-disease/