#UniteForParkinsons around the world

Global update

Author: Aurore GroultPublished: 2 May 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

The 11 April marked World Parkinson’s Day and the second #UniteForParkinsons campaign. From Africa to Asia, we take a look at how campaigners around the world marked the events

On World Parkinson’s Day the world came together to join the second ever #UniteForParkinsons campaign.

The campaign – launched by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association and Parkinson’s UK – was a huge success, connecting with 199 different countries across the globe. The special #UniteForParkinsons hashtag was also used over 17,000 times – more than double last year’s figure – and the campaign reached a total of 8 million people.

#UniteForParkinsons also received support from key policy makers around the world – including UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Maltese president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and European Union commissioner for research, science and innovation Carlos Moedas.

To support #UniteForParkinsons, and mark the day in general, campaigners from all corners of the world teamed up to raise awareness.

Dinner in Rome

The Parkinson’s Centre at the San Raffaele Pisana hospital in Rome, Italy, supported the campaign with a charity gala dinner. The event was attended by a variety of famous faces – such as actress Tosca D’Aquino and TV presenter Massimo Boldi – who enjoyed a charity auction with prizes including a football shirt signed by former Italian footballer Francesco Totti.

Unite for Parkinson's dinner in Rome

Dancing in Malaysia

The Malaysian Parkinson’s Disease Association and the University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre supported the campaign with a dance performance at a “Pause for Parkinson’s” themed event held at the hospital.

Exercise in Victoria

In Victoria, Australia, the Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital encouraged all staff to take part in an intensive exercise regime to support World Parkinson’s Day and #UniteForParkinsons.

Don vale Rehabilitation Hospital

Raising awareness in Pakistan

The Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation, Pakistan, and the Movement Disorder Society of Pakistan held a special walk on World Parkinson’s Day to raise awareness about the condition.

WPD Pakistan walk

Cricket in Dubai

In honour of World Parkinson’s Awareness Month, campaigners in Dubai participated in the VFS Tasheel and Movement Mantra Hold Indoor Cricket Tournament.

Dubai Cricket tournament

Education in Egypt

The Neurology Department at the Kasr Al Ainy University, Cairo, Egypt celebrated #UniteForParkinsons with an educational event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=NSjaGwSSgIA&app=desktop

For more information on the #UniteForParkinsons campaign please visit the EPDA website.

#UniteForParkinsons: the story so far

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Global update

Australian Prime Minister backs #UniteForParkinsons as campaign goes viral

Hashtag trending on Twitter on World Parkinson’s Day

Painting a picture of life with Parkinson’s

Australian artist Timothy John describes his work

The road to Copenhagen: The UK Parkinson’s Football Team

We talk to team captain Charlie Appleyard

Musical therapy study to receive $20 million in funding

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is donating US $20 million to a medical trial researching the effects of musical therapy on brain conditions, including Parkinson’s. The trial will be carried out by the Sound Health initiative, a joint partnership between the NIH and The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The initiative was created to expand current knowledge of how listening, performing and creating music could be harnessed for health and wellness. Francis S. Collins, director of the NIH, said: “We know that the beat of a metronome can steady the gait of someone with Parkinson’s disease, for example, but we don’t fully understand how that happens. “If we can pinpoint in the brain how music therapy works through the use of imaging and biomarkers, the hope is that we can improve its effectiveness and apply it more broadly to improve the lives of millions of people.”

Researchers develop automated system to diagnose Parkinson’s

In an international study, researchers from the US, Germany and Austria have used a non-invasive MRI method to develop an automated system that can diagnose Parkinson’s. As part of the study – published in medical journal ‘The Lancet Digital Health’ – researchers worked with 1,002 patients and used an imaging method that measures how water molecules diffuse in the brain. This helped them to identify where neurodegeneration is occurring. Researchers hope this will help improve the accuracy of early Parkinson’s diagnoses – which they estimate to be around 58%. Dr David Vaillancourt, who led the study, said: “Our method may help to reduce the number of misdiagnosed cases in the future. Since these diseases require unique treatment plans and different medications, and clinical trials testing new medications require the correct diagnosis, getting it right is important for patient care.”

MJFF announces $10 million competition for Parkinson’s

The Michael J Fox Foundation has launched the ‘Ken Griffin Alpha-synuclein Imaging Competition’ – a US $10 million programme aiming to develop a game-changing tool for Parkinson’s research. As part of the competition, participating teams will compete in a scientific race to build a device that is able to identify alpha-synuclein – a protein closely associated with Parkinson’s. Although almost everyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s has clumps of alpha-synuclein in the brain, these are currently only visible when analysing tissue during autopsies. The competition is named after Ken Griffin, CEO of US investment firm Citadel who has given US $7.5 million funding to the programme. Griffin – whose father has Parkinson’s – said: “If we have the imaging capability to observe the pathology that arises from protein-misfolding in real time, and understand how drugs are impacting people in real time, that would be a major advance.”

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

#UniteForParkinsons around the world

Global update

Author: Aurore GroultPublished: 2 May 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Global update

Australian Prime Minister backs #UniteForParkinsons as campaign goes viral

Perspectives

Painting a picture of life with Parkinson’s

Interviews

The road to Copenhagen: The UK Parkinson’s Football Team

Musical therapy study to receive $20 million in funding

Researchers develop automated system to diagnose Parkinson’s

MJFF announces $10 million competition for Parkinson’s

{title}

Subscribe

#UniteForParkinsons around the world

Global update

Author: Aurore GroultPublished: 2 May 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Global update

Australian Prime Minister backs #UniteForParkinsons as campaign goes viral

Perspectives

Painting a picture of life with Parkinson’s

Interviews

The road to Copenhagen: The UK Parkinson’s Football Team

Musical therapy study to receive $20 million in funding

Researchers develop automated system to diagnose Parkinson’s

MJFF announces $10 million competition for Parkinson’s

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in