Charity host event for Parkinson’s community to bond

A nationwide charity is welcoming people affected by Parkinson’s for a day of education and bonding.

As part of ‘Living well with Parkinson’s’, Parkinson’s UK will meet people associated with the condition at the Grange Hotel in Northwoods, near Bradley Stoke.

The event which has already been booked to capacity will have experts from the charity offering advice and information. Attendees will also learn about the UK-based charity’s events across the southwest region.

Research support network lead at Parkinson’s, Liz believes that it is important that the new treatment is made inclusive for everyone.

 

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She said: “There may be people living with the condition who struggle to get advice and support.

“We can connect them to specialists and healthcare professionals, and showcase some great activities that can help them to manage their symptoms and even make friends.

“For some people these events are the first time they have ever met anyone else with Parkinson’s, or talked about it.

“We’d love to get guests interested in research, too. Parkinson’s affects people of all ethnicities across the UK, but we know this diversity is not reflected in Parkinson’s research.

“This lack of representation means that new treatments may not be appropriate for, or available to, everyone. We need to involve, include and represent everyone in the Parkinson’s community for this to change.

The event will have the director of research at Parkinson’s UK, professor David Dexter explaining the various therapies and trials accessible to the community and stories of people who have been affected by the condition.

Associate professor of ageing and movement disorders at the University of Bristol, Emily Henderson said: “We research topics that people with Parkinson’s tell us are most important to them. This includes studies that prevent falls, interventions that reduce the chance of broken bones, and therapies that can improve bladder and bowel symptoms.

“We also focus on making trial participation accessible, so that new findings are relevant to people with Parkinson’s and we can target care to those who need it most.

“I look forward to showcasing our cutting-edge approaches, significant discoveries and sharing our vision for the future, driven by the needs of people living with Parkinson’s now.”

Parkinson’s generally stems from the death of brain cells that produce dopamine and is believed to affect approximately 1,965 people in Bristol.

It is also the world’s fastest-growing neurological condition with over 40 possible symptoms, that surface in every individual differently.

Main photo: Parkinson’s UK

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