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2008 Columbia Symposium

The 2008 Columbia Symposium was a great success, with around 350 people in attendance. Keynote speaker was Dr. Abraham Lieberman, Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Lieberman educated participants on the different classes of drugs in Parkinson’s disease and how they are used. He also explained the physiological basis of physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease and gave participants very practical tips for exercise to improve posture, balance, and strength.

Melody Morehouse, PT, MHA, DHA, manager of Palmetto Home Care in Columbia, followed up with a presentation on the categories of exercises that can benefit people with Parkinson’s disease. She gave participants strategies and tools for coping with activities of daily living, particularly for coping with “gait freeze”.

Debbie Clark, MSW, co-founder of Caring for Caregivers in Columbia, helped caregivers understand the emotional roller coaster of caregiving and equipped them with strategies for managing the roller coaster for the long haul.

DVD’s of this event may be purchased by calling (803) 261-0870 or emailing bemo@sc.rr.com.

PAC Sidebar

Parkinson Facts

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. It was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson, a British physician who published a paper on what he called "the shaking palsy." In this paper, he set forth the major symptoms of the disease that would later bear his name.

Researchers believe that at least 500,000 people in the United States currently have PD, although some estimates are much higher. Society pays an enormous price for PD. The total cost to the nation is estimated to exceed $6 billion annually. The risk of PD increases with age, so analysts expect the financial and public health impact of this disease to increase as the population gets older.