In every 6 minutes, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

It happened on April 11. The World Parkinson’s Day.

It’s possible very few people paid any attention – or even noticed it.

Yet, globally, according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2019 data, over 8.5 million individuals are living with the Parkinson's disease.

The WHO says that there has been an increase in the number of patients in the last 25 years.

This year’s theme was #Take6forPD representing the 6 minutes, one is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease globally.

The World Parkinson’s disease Day is observed on 11th of April every year to create awareness about the disease and its manifestations.

“Parkinson’s disease is degenerative, and affects a part of the brain by reduction of chemicals which help coordinate movement in an individual,” says Dr. Erastus Amaya, a Neurologist at Kenyatta National Hospital.

It’s a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years due to lack of dopamine.

Research shows Parkinson’s disease patients across the world face many challenges such as late prognosis, cost of treatment, change in symptoms and access to specialists.

Dr. Amayo is advocating for early diagnosis of the disease to enable proper care.

“The symptoms manifest in various ways; slowness in all activities, tremor or shaking on one side or a part of the body, or general rigidity of the body,” says Dr. Amayo – who is quick to point out that it's generally an older people disease.

“It is not really clear what causes the disease,” – he says.

However, similar case studies have been used to help in diagnosis and treatment of developing cases.

Treatment is often done by replacing what is lacking in the brain, which in this case is dopamine.

“Lifelong medication and surgery in severe instances are some of the challenges that come with the disease. Both options are quite expensive for patients since some of these remedies have to be sort abroad,” says Dr. Amayo.

Reports indicate that the disease can be physically, emotionally and financially overwhelming, thus support is required from the health, social, financial and legal systems.

There Parkinson’s support Group in Kenya hosts monthly meetings either physical or online allowing members to discuss their challenges.

The forums include specialists to provide information and pamphlets of individual symptoms and how to deal with them.