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Parkinson's Disease can be Managed
“There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. However, medication and rehabilitation can play a major role in managing the symptoms and disability associated with the disease,” said Dr Nadir Ali Syed, Consultant Neurologist and Head of Neurology Section at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), speaking on World Parkinson's Day, Thursday, April 10 at Aga Khan University.
While Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder, the rate of progression varies from person to person. Most symptoms have to do with motor skills: a person begins to experience a slowness in voluntary movement such as standing up, walking and sitting down; tremors, fine involuntary movements of the hands, legs, jaw and face; stiffness of the arms, legs and trunk; and poor balance. A characteristic walk, ‘Parkinson's Gait' is commonly found in people suffering from this disorder. The cause of the disease is still unknown, but genetics and environmental factors are thought to play a role.
Dr Syed reported that while the disease primarily affects individuals above age 60, recently there have been more cases in younger individuals as well. There are no laboratory tests to definitively diagnose Parkinson's disease and a thorough neurological examination is often required to confirm the diagnosis.
Mr Haroon Basheer, Chairman, Pakistan Parkinson's Society presented a non-medical view of the disease. His motivational talk, ‘Never Surrender', was well received by both health professionals and other members of the audience. With quotes, pictures on staying engaged, tips and tricks and personal experiences, the talk delivered a practical view of living with this condition. He also spoke about the Pakistan Parkinson's Society which is providing information on disease management practices, aims at being patient-centric and is developing a dedicated website. The Society would also make available printed material in Urdu on global practices on the disease's management, and is endeavouring to develop support groups and information on the incidence of Parkinson's disease in Pakistan. The event rounded off with a panel discussion that included AKUH's Dr Murad Moosa Khan, Dr Nabila Soomro, Dr Fowzia Siddiqui, Mr Arif Ali and Ms Sana Shabbeer.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH organises such programmes. The Hospital has organised over 300 Signs, Symptoms and Care programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and the UAE, benefiting more than 40,000 people.
Similarly, Aga Khan University Hospital's Patient Welfare Programme reaches out to patients by providing assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. 73 per cent of all patients treated at the AKUH are from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, PKR 2 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.
For further information, please contact:
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi-74000
Fax: 92 21 493 4294, 493 2095
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