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April is National Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month
The Gazette Opinion Staff
Apr. 2, 2013 12:37 pm
Did you know:
April is National Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month.
That Iowa, per capita, is the second leading state in the nation in the prevalence of Parkinson disease.
Nearly 2 million Americans, including an estimated 20,000 Iowans, are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
With the exception of Alzheimer's/Dementia, Parkinson's disease is more prevalent than all other neurological disorders combined (MS, MD, Huntington's, ALS).
The impact Parkinson's disease has on our economy (increased health and insurance costs, lost wages, lost productivity, etc.) is calculated to be $14.4 billion annually.
All these numbers are projected to double by the year 2040.
Although Parkinson's disease will seldom take a person's life, it forever alters the way one lives their life.
Most importantly, did you know there is help a toll free number away? Call 1-877-872-6386. Please call to ask any questions you might have or to get connected to a support group near you.
John Krumbholz
President
Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association
Cedar Rapids
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