The Parkinson's Foundation Joins Global Community at 4th World Parkinson Congress in Portland, OR

NEW YORK and MIAMI, Sept. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Foundation, recently formed by the merger of the National Parkinson Foundation^® (NPF^®) and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation^® (PDF^®), is pleased to join the global Parkinson's community this week at the 4th World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Portland, OR. The Parkinson's Foundation offers interactive programs to encourage the Congress' 4,000 delegates and those participating online — researchers, health professionals and patient leaders — to join us in advancing the care and cure for Parkinson's. Join the Parkinson's Foundation's interactive programs by visiting www.parkinson.org/wpc and www.pdf.org/wpc, and using #Together4PD.

"The World Parkinson Congress has become a transformational event for the Parkinson's community. It is the single global event where Parkinson's clinicians and scientists interface directly with the community," said Michael S. Okun, M.D., National Medical Director of the Parkinson's Foundation. "At the Parkinson's Foundation, we are particularly enthusiastic about the WPC because its philosophy aligns so close with our own. We both know that intersection of science and care with patients is key to advancing care and research."

The Parkinson's Foundation estimates that as many as 10 million people worldwide live with Parkinson's. The legacy organizations of the Parkinson's Foundation have been instrumental in helping to create and support the World Parkinson Congress, advocating for the creation of a space where the global Parkinson's community can come together to improve understanding and promote advocacy worldwide and to potentially shape future research, treatment and care.

This week, the Parkinson's Foundation brings a team of more than 100 staff, patient advocates and Foundation-supported researchers and health professionals to the Congress.

Here is how to participate in our interactive programs in-person or online:

• Learn about Parkinson's and Influence Research: visit the Parkinson's Foundation booth (#406) at the Congress to browse educational materials and meet experts in the field. Meet Dr. Okun at the booth and receive a signed copy of Parkinson's Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life, or visit the "Book Nook Panel" on Thursday, September 22 at 5:30 PM PT to hear him discuss the book. Vote in the 3rd Community Choice Research Awards, which seek feedback from the community to align scientific research with patient priorities and accelerate solutions for unmet needs in Parkinson's.
• See the Future of Parkinson's Care: join a Foundation-sponsored pre-congress educational session, Changing how care is delivered: A success the Parkinson's community can take pride in, on Tuesday, September 20, from 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM PT, discussing our innovative evidence-based efforts to improve patient care and advocacy.
• Learn about Parkinson's Foundation Programmatic Advances: see results of Foundation programs seeking a cure and improved patient care and support, in which we have invested $365 million. Visit our 10 scientific abstracts as follows:
  • Abstract #1335: Simpler prescribing patterns are associated with a lower rate of falls (Wednesday, September 21, 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM PT; Thursday, September 22, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P31.17)
  • Abstract #1243: Engaging people with Parkinson's in determining and defining research priorities: The PDF Community Choice Research Award (Thursday, September 22, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P23.25)
  • Abstract #1077: Injury rates for people with Parkinson's are predicted by Parkinson's severity independent of demographic data (Thursday, September 22 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P29.01)
  • Abstract #885: Outcomes of the PDF Community Choice Research Award: a workshop to address maintaining cognitive function in Parkinson's (Thursday, September 22, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P26.17)
  • Abstract #777: Prevalence of Parkinson's disease in North America: a nationwide epidemiological study sharing available databases (Thursday September 22, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P01.04)
  • Abstract #1152: Does gender influence the types of questions asked by people living with Parkinson's? (Friday, September 23, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P21.07)
  • Abstract #1231: Driving patient engagement in Parkinson's clinical research: lessons learned in developing successful partnerships with study sponsors (Friday, September 23, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P35.22)
  • Abstract #1259: Higher mortality with antipsychotic medication use in individuals with Parkinson's (Friday, September 23, 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM PT, P34.07)
  • Abstract #1241: Parkinson's Advocates in Research: A Parkinson's Disease Foundation cutting edge program in patient engagement in research (Friday, September 23, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P35.23)
  • Abstract #1236: PDF Women and PD Initiative: identifying and addressing unmet needs (Friday, September 23, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM PT, P19.13)

"As a person living with Parkinson's, it is easy to feel alone. The World Parkinson Congress is an awe-inspiring opportunity to realize that in fact, there is a global network working toward the same goal: a world without Parkinson's," said Daniel Novak, Ph.D., of Fort Worth, TX, Chair, PDF People with Parkinson's Advisory Council. "I hope my fellow people with Parkinson's will join the Parkinson's Foundation — in Portland or online — in moving the cause forward."

Follow the Parkinson's Foundation at the 4th WPC by visiting www.parkinson.org/wpc and www.pdf.org/wpc.

About Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the US and over 10 million worldwide. Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th leading cause of death in the US. It is associated with a loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression) as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease.

About the Parkinson's Foundation
The Parkinson's Foundation is working toward a world without Parkinson's disease. Formed by the merger of National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) in August 2016, the mission of the Parkinson's Foundation is to invest in promising scientific research that will end Parkinson's disease and improve the lives of people with Parkinson's and their families, through improved treatments, support and the best care. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org or www.pdf.org, or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636) or (800) 457-6676.

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SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation

Related Links

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