Image

"serving as a resource for individuals and their families affected by Parkinson's disease in the Carolinas, through education, community outreach and direct support"

April Newsletter - 2021

 

Dear *{{First Name}}* ,

 

Spring has sprung, and the flowers are in bloom!

Come out for PAC's "TipToe thru the Tulips" fundraiser on April 14th-16th, and help us reach our goal of filling Symphony Park with 200 giant tulips! Proceeds will go toward PAC's cost-free services benefitting the local Parkinson's community.

View the full flyer here!

 

Save the date for more PAC FUNdraisers!

 MoveIt! Walk in Myrtle Beach, SC on May 8th, 2021

https://give.parkinsonassociation.org/moveitwalkmyrtlebeach2021

MoveIt! Walk in Charlotte, NC on May 22nd, 2021

https://give.parkinsonassociation.org/moveitwalkcharlotte2021

 

Congratulations to our Early Registration prize winners Tatanish Campbell and Carey Swanson! 

 

Save the date for more PAC Programs! Our next Virtual Support Group will take place on Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 at 2PM, and we are expanding our programs to include Wellness Wednesdays on the third Wednesday of every month! Join us Wednesday, April 21, 2021 for our second Wellness Wednesday Webinar focused on resolutions versus mindsets!

_________________

 

We will continue to prioritize the needs of our Parkinson's community, and we will keep building upon our programs with commitment and creativity. Of course, we will do this while keeping a pulse on any COVID-19 restrictions and following health guidelines. It is our pleasure to deliver meaningful services, and we look forward to broadening our reach and growing our impact. 

 

Let's move forward together!

 

Sponsored Webinars

We are extremely grateful to all of our sponsors for their continuous support in bringing you more educational opportunities at no cost to you! Please register for the webinars below for exclusive educational opportunities brought to you by the PAC team and our sponsors!

Join Dr. Andrew Falconer, MD for an educational webinar "Motor versus Non-Motor Symptoms and Remote Care" on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at 6:00 P.M., sponsored by Abbott Pharmaceuticals.

 

To register, click on the following link: REGISTER NOW, or click on the "Motor versus Non-Motor Symptoms and Remote Care" above. If prompted enter the Meeting ID: 836 1505 1817 | Pass Code:  725831

 

For information on our sponsors and subsequent webinars click the more information button below.

More information for all webinars, including registration links will be emailed and posted on both social media and our website in the following weeks! Our social media platforms can be accessed at the bottom of your email by clicking the designated social media icon, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates!

Please note there is no cost to participate in these webinars, and all information provided is a paid advertisement by the sponsoring company and is not an endorsement by Parkinson Association of the Carolinas of the product or service. As with any treatment option or medication, please consult your physician.

 

We hope to see you there!

More Information
 


        News

 
 

New Doctor in NC

Introducing, the newest Movement Disorder Specialist at Wake Baptist. Dr. Mary Ann Thenganatt received her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. After completing an internship at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, she pursued a residency in neurology and fellowship training in movement disorders at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY.

Dr. Thenganatt previously held faculty positions at two large movement disorders centers, initially at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX and most recently at The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. A board-certified neurologist, Dr. Thenganatt has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of all movement disorders, including treatment with Botulinum Toxin and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapies.

 
 
 

The Many Variations of Carbidopa/Levodopa -The Mainstay of Parkinson's Disease Treatment

Dr. Rebecca Gilbert

Loss of neurons in the brain that use dopamine to communicate is one of the hallmark features of Parkinson’s disease (PD), causing slowness, stiffness, tremor and balance problems. Replacing the brain’s dopamine is therefore one of the key treatment strategies to help improve the motor symptoms of PD. Dopamine itself does not cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore can’t be used to treat PD. 

Instead, Levodopa, a precursor of dopamine, which does cross the blood-brain barrier is used. If Levodopa is ingested by itself however, it breaks down in the bloodstream before it crosses into the brain, so Levodopa is typically ingested with another medication that stops it from breaking down. In the US, the combination of Carbidopa/Levodopa is used.

 

Continue Reading more from APDA

 
7 Famous Women with Parkinson’s
 

Most people can name at least one famous man with Parkinson’s, but can you name a famous woman? As part of our Women and Parkinson’s campaign, we highlight some of the women in the public eye who have lived with the condition, from the actress Valerie Perrine – who played a showgirl in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and a villain’s moll in ‘Superman’ – to US singer-songwriter, and friend of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt.

 

 

Valerie Perrine

The seventies silver screen icon Valerie Perrine (pictured above) launched her career with a role as a Las Vegas showgirl in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ (1971). She went on to star alongside some of the most celebrated actors of the time, including Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford and Christopher Reeve in the original ‘Superman’ film in 1978.

 

Continue Reading on Parkinson's Life

 

 

Stress Linked to Harsher Parkinson’s Symptoms, but Mindfulness May Help

 

People with Parkinson’s disease experience more stress than those without this disease, and high stress levels associate with a worsening of symptoms, research based on a patient survey reported.

Mindfulness, a practice of maintaining a heightened state of awareness of thoughts and feelings, may help to lower stress in people with Parkinson’s, especially anxiety and depressive feelings.

 

 

These findings were in the study “Stress and mindfulness in Parkinson’s disease – a survey in 5000 patients,” published in npj Parkinson’s Disease.

A team led by researchers in the Netherlands sent out a survey through The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Fox Insight program. The survey asked a variety of questions about stress, Parkinson’s, and related factors.

 

Continue Reading On Parkinson's News Today


 

       Upcoming Events

 

Monthly Virtual Support Group

Parkinson Association of the Carolinas hosts

 

Monthly Virtual Support Group

 

Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 at 2:00PM 

Guest Speaker:

 

Rock Steady Boxing Coaches Rob Fisher and JT

 

*To register please click the highlighted "Monthly Virtual Support Group" if prompted enter the Meeting ID:82414839345 | Pass Code: 793980

 

Wellness Wednesdays: Resolutions vs. Mindsets

Parkinson Association of the Carolinas is excited to bring you our second focused on Resolutions Vs. Mindset

 

Wellness Wednesday

 

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021 at 3:30PM

 

Featured Presenters:

 

Ann Marie Worman

 

Quinci Christian

 

For more information click here

or visit our website.

*To register please click the highlighted link "Wellness Wednesday" if prompted enter the Meeting ID: 829 8791 4693 | Pass Code: 552411

 

Parkinson Association of the Carolinas has partnered with Abbott Pharmaceuticals to present 

 

"Motor versus Non-Motor Symptoms and Remote Care"

 

Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at 6:00PM

Featured Presenters:

 

Dr. Andrew Falconer 

 

*To register please click the highlighted link "PD and Nutrition" if prompted enter the Meeting ID: 836 1505 1817 | Pass Code:  725831

 

TipToe thru the Tulips

View Full Flyer Here

Help us reach our goal of filling Symphony Park with 200 giant tulips!

 

April 14th-16th, 2021

 

You can purchase a tulip in honor or memory of someone affected by Parkinson's or simply in support of PAC! Proceeds will go toward PAC's cost-free services benefitting the local Parkinson's community.

Please see the full flyer for more details and information on donating/purchasing a tulip!

 

Or contact a PAC team member today!

(980) 245-2786

 

MoveIt! Walk in Myrtle Beach, SC 

May 8, 2021

Register below:

https://give.parkinsonassociation.org/moveitwalkmyrtlebeach2021

 

MoveIt! Walk in

Charlotte, NC

May 22, 2021

Register below:

https://give.parkinsonassociation.org/moveitwalkcharlotte2021

 

 

Congratulations to our Early Registration prize winners Tatanish Campbell and Carey Swanson!

 

Register today for a chance to win more prizes, raffles and giveaways!

 

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's presents

 

"Parkinson's Virtual Care Partner Connection Support Group"

 

Thursday, April 1st, 2021 at 10:00AM

*To register please click the highlighted "Parkinson's Virtual Care Partner Connection Support Group"

 

The Davis Phinney Foundation presents

 

"Health Disparities and Parkinson's: Understanding the Role of Trust"

 

Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 at 3:00PM

Featured Presenters:

 

Altaf Saadi, MD, MSC

 

Conssuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI

 

*To register please click the

highlighted "Health Disparities and Parkinson's: Understanding the Role of Trust"

 

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's presents

 

"Adult Children of People with Parkinson's Discussion Group"

 

Thursday, April 8th, 2021 at 6:00PM

*To register please click the highlighted "Adult Children of People with Parkinson's Discussion Group"

 

Parkinson's UK has launched a global campaign called #TogetherApart.

 

Sunday, April 11th, 2021 at 7:00AM via the EPDA Facebook page and YouTube channel

 

 

Featured Presenters:

 

Physiotherapist Josefa Domingos

 

Speech Language Pathologist John M. Dean 

 

 

 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation presents

 

"Volunteering for Parkinson’s Research: What to Know and Expect"

 

Thursday, April 15th, 2021 at 12:00PM

 

 

*To register please click the highlighted "Volunteering for Parkinson’s Research: What to Know and Expect"

 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation presents

 

"A Conversation with Michael J. Fox: On Testing the Limits of Optimism"

 

Tuesday, April 20th, 2021 at 5:00PM

Featured Presenters:

 

Micheal J. Fox

 

*To register please click the highlighted "A Conversation with Michael J. Fox: On Testing the Limits of Optimism"

 

The Davis Phinney Foundation presents webinars for

 

YOPD,

YOPD for Women, and 

Care Partners

 

* Dates for each vary. For more information or to register please click the highlighted "YOPD", "YOPD for Women" or "Care Partners"


 

             Programs 

 

Disclaimers!

 

Many meetings have been suspended until further notice, others have pivoted to virtual meetings. Similarly, many classes or facilities are closed out of an abundance of caution for public safety.

 

Please refer to the highlighted links for contact information and updates regarding availability.

 

We ask that you practice caution when participating in all programs especially exercise programs.

Talk to your doctor about what program would be best for you, stay hydrated, exercise in a safe location, move at your own pace and preferably with a partner -either with a caregiver or video exercise with a friend!

Support Groups


PAC assists 90+ support groups in NC and SC. Click here to view our Support Group list for a group near you. If you have questions about a specific group please contact the Support Group leader. 

 

 

The PAC Virtual Support Group will continue every first Wednesday of the month at 2:00PM.

 

Our next Virtual Support Group will be April 3rd, 2021 at 2:00PM.

 

Check our website for updates.

Exercise Opportunities


Find your way to Move It!

Exercise has been proven to slow the progression of the disease. Click here to view the most current list of exercise classes throughout NC and SC.

 

Rock Steady Boxing: streaming on YouTube

Dance for PD & Sing for PD: streaming here

Pilates for PD: streaming here

Invigorate Physical Therapy: www.invigoratept.com

LSVT -Speech Therapy: www.lsvtglobal.com

 

PAC will continue to offer Gentle Yoga, and Dance for Parkinson's online.

Please check our website here for updates.

Additional ongoing programs are listed below. Note that some of the programs listed below are not facilitated by Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) and are subject to change, please check the programs affiliated link for more information.

 

View Full Flyer Here

The Poise Project presents the Spring Poised for Parkinson's classes 

 

Beginning April 12th and April 19th, 2021

*Please note acceptance into the classes is based on The Poised Project's prior screening. Please check the flyer attached for more information on getting started!

 

Facebook Live Parkinson's Speech Exercises

Monday-Friday at 11:00AM

Tuesday at 7:00PM

More Information Here.

 
Image

 

Rock Steady Boxing Headquarters is now offering
classes online via YouTube!


More Information Here.

 

Classes in Hickory, NC with Coach Rob Fisher are now Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9AM and 10:30AM.

For more information call (980) 245-2786

 

 
Image

Dance and Sing for PD classes are now online.

 

Check danceforparkinson.org or more information here!


For those of you in Charlotte who have attended our
Dance for Parkinson’s class with Gretchen Jax, click here to see her most recently recorded class.

 
Image

 

Now offering online Pilates classes!

Check poewellnesssolutions.com

 
Image

 

Explore worldpdcoalition.org for articles, webinars, and more!

More Information Here.

 

 

       Research and Volunteer Opportunities

 

Volunteer with PAC! 

 

For opportunities to assist our PAC team with projects relating to development, digital marketing and communications,  and community surveys, OR to serve as a Board Member, Committee Member, or PAC Ambassador, click on the “More Information” button below and get started today! To volunteer at an upcoming PAC event, contact Associate Director, Lauren Tankersly at ltankersly@parkinsonassociation.org.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Information

Would you like to offer your services or insight in a different way? Share your feedback to help us improve PAC's programs and raise awareness about our organization.

We are looking for community members to provide complete surveys and share testimonies on PAC’s behalf. We’re welcoming program participants, care partners, and industry leaders to take just a few minutes to complete the survey below. Also, if you have just a bit more time, we would love to hear a testimony about PAC’s services. If you or someone you know has been positively impacted by our educational webinars and programs, movement therapy classes, support groups, toll free resource line or even our regular communications, you can submit a written or video testimony to Lauren Tankersly at ltanekrsly@parkinsonassociation.org.

We appreciate your time and support!

Take the Survey
 
Image

Dr. Vanessa Hinson, Director of the Parkinson’s Foundation Center

of Excellence at MUSC, recently spoke to the attendees at a support

group meeting about two ongoing trials in the Charleston area that require minimal or no visit to a medical facility. 

 

 

The TOPAZ Study is a fracture prevention trial where the medication

will be administered during a one-time, 45-minute visit to your home. 

Please contact Sandra Wilson at wilsosan@musc.edu for more information. 

You do not have to be an MUSC patient to participate!

 

 
Alternate text

LSVT Global and CurePSP are partnering with Google for new study called Project Euphonia. Project Euphonia is looking for volunteers with moderate to severe speech disorders associated with Parkinson’s (or other Parkinsonism-related diagnoses), to participate in this new study involving recording spoken phrases to help improve automatic speech recognition software (e.g. phones, computers, devices).

If you are interested in learning more about Project Euphonia, visit this webpage. Please contact project.euphonia@lsvtglobal.com with any questions.

 

View the full flyer here

 
Alternate text

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of people with Parkinson’s while in the hospital. Participation would entail attending a single, two-hour online focus group. During this focus group, which would be attended by approximately 8-10 people, we will be asking questions about your hospitalization experience, including the medical team’s familiarity with Parkinson’s symptoms and treatment, positive aspects of the care provided and what could have improved the stay in the hospital. Through gathering this information, we are hoping to develop patient-centered recommendations for improvement of experiences and care of people with Parkinson’s during hospitalization. The study is being funded by a grant through the Parkinson’s Foundation.

This research team is, looking for people with Parkinson’s diagnosed (and/or their partner or family member who was involved in the care) who experienced a stay in a hospital sometime between September 2018 and the end of February 2020. The recruitment flyer for this study is attached to this email.

Anyone who may be interested in participating, has questions or would like to learn more, is welcome to reach out to Jessica Shurer.

 

 

 

IRB Study #20-2474

IRB contact information: 

(919) 966-3113

irb_subjects@unc.edu

Recruitment Flyer

 

 

The Social Communication and Neuroscience Lab at East Carolina University is looking for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s to participate in a online research survey. Participation involves completion of a survey that consists of five short questionnaires about mental health, demographic variables, and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic and takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.

The survey can be found here. 

For questions, contact Kathrin Rothermich at

(252) 744-2329 or rothermichk17@ecu.edu

      

 

      Get Involved

 

It is our mission to empower individuals and families living in the Carolinas who are affected by Parkinson’s disease through education, outreach and direct support. Therefore, all programs and services provided by Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) are at no cost to you. 

 

Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) is grateful to our amazing donors and community that makes what we do possible! To donate to PAC and our mission, click the "DONATE NOW!" button below or click the highlighted "DONATE NOW!" here.

DONATE NOW!
 
Alternate text

Shop PAC's Amazon Smile Charity List 

   

     Connect with us!

 
 

Let's get social!
Are you a follower?

FacebookTwitter Instagram

Are you a fan of PAC on Facebook? Do you follow us on Twitter? Stay informed and get the latest PD news and events. Click below on the social media outlets you already use and start getting social with PAC today!

 

 

Check out our NEW Instagram! @parkinsonscarolinas

Image

It is our mission to empower individuals and families living in the Carolinas who are affected by Parkinson’s disease through education, outreach and direct support. Therefore, all programs and services provided by Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) are at no cost to you. 

Donate Now!

Image

Call us toll-free

866.903.PARK (7275)

 

Our toll-free resource line is available Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

If we are unavailable at the time of your call please leave us a message.

 

Call today to speak to a PAC team member!

Image

You shop. Amazon gives.

 

Consider selecting Parkinson Association of the Carolinas as your nonprofit on Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to PAC.

 

Click here to get started!

 

Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
*{{Organization Website}}*

*{{Unsubscribe}}*

Alternate text