Supporting the Community During Parkinson’s Awareness Month and Beyond
During Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April, on World Parkinson’s Day, Tuesday, April 11, and throughout the year, we at Acadia are working to build awareness, to provide education and resources to understand Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its non-motor symptoms, and to help patients find the right treatment.
Did you know that every 6 minutes, someone will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s? That means every year nearly 90,000 people – and the people who love and care for them – will learn they have the second most-common neurodegenerative disease in the U.S.
Around 50% of people living with this devastating condition may experience an added burden, hallucinations and/or delusions during the course of their disease. These symptoms are referred to as Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis (PDP).
During Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April, our team at Acadia is on the ground supporting the community and participating in Parkinson’s disease awareness events all month long, including:
- Step by Step 5K with the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego on April 1, 2023
- Parkinson’s Unity Expo & Walk with the Michael J. Fox Foundation in New York City on April 22, 2023
- Moving Day: A Movement for Change with the Parkinson’s Foundation, which are local walking events throughout the year to build more awareness, more funding and more understanding
We are committed to this community of patients, care partners and healthcare providers – to the science and medicine that can change their lives, and more than that, to championing the people beyond their disease through resources and actions that matter.
Educational programs and content like More to Parkinson’s that provide clear information to support people in making informed healthcare decisions. This Acadia-sponsored website features critical information and personal stories about Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) and tools to support patients and caregivers in their healthcare journey. Visitors can learn more about disease-related hallucinations and delusions, build a customized discussion guide for doctor’s visits, and connect with additional resources in the Parkinson’s community.
Opportunities to share personal stories and experiences through Yours, Truly that give a voice to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners for an essential message – you are not alone. Started as a collaboration between Acadia and StoryCorps, the site features personal and diverse stories from across the Parkinson’s community in English and Spanish, stories of resilience and support about loved ones living with Parkinson’s, including non-motor symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Visitors to the site are encouraged to share their own stories.
Did you know that an estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. will be living with Parkinson’s disease by 2030? #Take6forPD, the Parkinson’s Awareness Month campaign from the Parkinson’s Foundation, invites the public to learn more about Parkinson’s disease and take action to spread awareness about PD in six minutes or less. Join us in raising awareness of Parkinson’s this month … and beyond.
