Young Onset Parkinson Conferences: A First-Ever Col...( The American Parkinson Disea...),Health

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) and the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) Announce Plans to Co-Sponsor a Series of Young Onset Parkinson Conferences; First to be held in Dallas, Texas, October 2009

MIAMI, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Parkinson Disease Association's (APDA) National Young Onset Center and the National Parkinson Foundation's (NPF) Young Onset Parkinson Network announced their first joint collaboration today. APDA and NPF will co-sponsor a series of conferences for those living with young-onset Parkinson's disease and their caregivers. The first conference will be held in Dallas, Texas on October 23-24, 2009, with three additional programs in other parts of the country slated for the following year.

"We are pleased to be partnering with APDA to help people with young-onset Parkinson's disease nationwide. Our goal is to leverage the strong networks of both organizations to offer the high-quality educational and networking experience that is so critical for people who will live decades with the disease," said Joyce Oberdorf, NPF President and CEO. Ms. Oberdorf noted that the regional series builds on the success of NPF's highly regarded national Young Onset Parkinson Network conference, while recognizing that in the current economic environment, travel to a single national event is difficult for many people and their families.

According to researchers, between five and 10 percent of Parkinson's patients are diagnosed under the age of 40; although recent clinical studies show that as many as 12 percent of patients report that their symptoms began in their 40s. Young-onset patients will face a greater range of issues than more typical older idiopathic PD patients, including loss of employment, managing finances and concerns of young families as well as the social isolation many feel is their greatest burden. Since they w
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