Minneapolis to Host Historic Family Conference for Those Impacted by Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease

Somewhere between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans under age 60 have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Because any cure will take ten years or more to come to market, conferences such as "Northern Lights: Blazing Towards a Cure" provide essential information, resources and networking to help families cope.

Minneapolis, MI July 1, 2004 -- What does a 38-year-old art therapist from St. Augustine, FL, a 38-year old male nurse from Thunder Bay, ONT, a 40-year old environmental health activist from Minneapolis, a Florida chiropractor in his 50s and a 48-year old nuclear power plant worker from Phoenix have in common? All have young-onset Parkinson's disease and all will be attending "Northern Lights: Blazing Towards a Cure," the 2nd Annual Young-Onset Parkinson Network conference.

Parkinson's is a disease that affects more than one million Americans, with a new diagnosed case every nine minutes! Researchers estimate that 10 - 40 percent of people with Parkinson's disease are diagnosed before age 60, which means most are still working. Many have small children and are still paying mortgages and saving or paying for college. These special circumstances add to the challenges and stress of Parkinson disease.

"A neurologist recently told me that if a cure for Parkinson's were found today, it would take at least 10 years for it to become commercially available," said Jackie Christensen, a 40-year-old Parkinson's patient and Minneapolis conference coordinator. "That lag time makes conferences like ours so important, because we have to have the skills and the support to make it through the wait."

This conference will feature scientific information, connections to resources, networking and support opportunities not only for people with PD but also for their care partners (spouse, family members or friends) and even their children. Sessions for Parkinsonians and care partners will include sexuality and intimacy issues; financial planning; parenting; and personal care. The children's program will help kids to handle loss of parents' attention, learn that the disease isn't their fault and allow them to meet other children in similar circumstances. Everyone will have a chance to play as well.

The National Parkinson Foundation's Young-Onset Parkinson Network invites anyone whose life has been affected by young-onset Parkinson's disease to attend the conference. This includes people who were diagnosed before age 60 but are 60 or older now; or anyone who feels that the issues being addressed in the conference would be helpful to them. "Northern Lights: Blazing Towards a Cure" is being held at the Sheraton Bloomington hotel in Bloomington, MN - just a few miles from the Mall of America. Conference fees are $175 per adult, $75 per child. This cost includes 3 nights' hotel, all conference meals and conference materials. Registration deadline is July 14th.

The National Parkinson Foundation's (NPF) mission is to find the cause and cure for Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders through research; educate general medical practitioners to detect the early warning signs of Parkinson's disease; educate patients, their caregivers and the general public; and improve the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers. NPF has 52 Centers of Excellence around the world. These facilities combine bench and clinical research with patient services, education and outreach. The Struthers Parkinson Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota is an NPF Center of Excellence.

To register, contact:
Denise Beran
National Parkinson Foundation at 800-327-4545 or visit
www.parkinson.org/YOPN%20web%20regist.htm

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