On the occasion of World Parkinson’s Day, France Parkinson 82 organized a day of conferences and events to raise public awareness. Marie-Nuria Falguières, departmental delegate of the association gives an update on this disease. Interview.
James Parkinson, born April 11, was the first to describe the symptoms of trembling paralysis, later renamed Parkinson. Monday, April 11, the France Parkinson committee of Tarn-et-Garonne organized, in Castelsarrasin, an followingnoon of awareness for World Parkinson’s Day. Marie-Nuria Falguières, departmental delegate of the association, answers our questions regarding this disease that has long remained taboo.
Can you remember what Parkinson’s disease is?
We often talk regarding Alzheimer’s but not enough regarding Parkinson’s. This disease is still too little known, it is a destruction of dopaminergic neurons. These are the ones that produce dopamine which is the movement hormone. The only solution to treat the disease is a treatment with dopamine. It cannot be stopped but physical activity, done intensely, helps to avoid curling up, works the body’s balance and coordination.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of this disease are trembling, slowness and stiffness, these are the most important motor signs. Then there are the non-motors, which are visceral signs, for example, constipation, lack of sleep and especially lack of concentration and coordination. It is a chronic and progressive neurological disease that heavily impacts the personal and social life of patients.
How is the diagnosis made?
This disease is detected either by an obvious clinical sign or by the tremor of an arm and/or a hand, or because people are slowed down or because they are stiff. There are no tests that detect Parkinson’s like certain infectious or parasitic diseases. In the case where one hesitates on the origin of the pathology, one makes a datscan (scanner with a specific marker) which shows the lesions of the brain, the destruction of the dopaminergic neurons at the level of the brain. But in principle, the patient who arrives with a frozen face or who is greatly slowed down, the diagnosis is obvious. These are essentially rest-only tremors.
Can we cure it?
You can stop the symptoms but not the disease. We don’t know all the causes. Pesticides are one of them, moreover, it is an occupational disease among farmers. There are also all the solvents in plastics and heavy chemical plants. Boxers also suffer from Parkinson’s. There is 10% heredity. Usually it can be contracted between the ages of 58 and 65, but 8% of people with Parkinson’s catch it around the age of 40.
How does the association support the sick?
France Parkinson welcomes and supports patients and their loved ones by explaining the disease, treatments and aids to them, energizing research and raising public awareness. Recognized as a public utility in 1988, it has 10,000 members, 70 local committees, 450 volunteers. 200,000 people have Parkinson’s. We want to raise awareness of the disease and recover some funds to help research. Apart from medical or surgical treatment, physical activity is essential. Our members benefit from Argentine tango, soft gymnastics and choir. Singing is very important, it comes in addition to speech therapy, to help people articulate, swallow and not make mistakes. For several years, the town hall of Montauban has lent us a room, every Thursday we organize from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. choir and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. soft gymnastics. On Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. we offer Argentine tango.
Why did you get involved in this association?
I got involved to support a friend, a parkinsonian himself, who had taken the association in hand. He had asked me to help him medically since he was a photographer. I was doing the medical articles and then he saw some of his acquaintances becoming more or less disabled. He was afraid of this future and said to me: “If you want, take care of it because when I see those who have a cane, it bothers me a lot”, he withdrew and I took the following.
Events for World Parkinson’s Day
With its 450 volunteers, the association aims to welcome and support patients and their relatives by explaining the disease, treatments and help. On the occasion of this world day, France Parkinson raises public awareness of this disease which is still too little known through several activities. 140 people were present from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Espace Descazeaux in Castelsarrasin where conferences, demonstrations and songs were presented.
Medical treatment and surgery are very important to help the sick, but physical activity should not be forgotten. Done intensely, it helps prevent curling up, works on body balance and coordination. The day ended by listening to a few songs performed by the France Parkinson choir over lunch and a raffle.