It is hard to believe, but it was eight and a half years ago when for the last time we dedicated the entire content of one of our educational programs to reviewing the “non motor” aspects of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). So much has been learned and so much progress has been made in the treatment of some of these problems, that we are past due to bring an update in this most critical aspect of PD.
Until the very late 1990’s very little was recognized, known and understood about the “non-motor symptoms” (NMS) of PD. By 2006, Dr. William Langston’s publication in Annals of Neurology described the “parkinsonism” or motor aspects of PD as “the tip of the iceberg”, referring to the NMS as the poorly recognized variety of problems affecting patients with this condition. He had already presented this concept in some of the large International Movement Disorders Society meeting, and it was very obvious that our efforts in the treatment of PD had been dedicated for decades to addressing the motor aspects linked to the dopaminergic deficit and being addressed by drugs such as levodopa, anticholinergic (trihexyphenidyl), glutamate receptor antagonist (amantadine) dopamine agonists, COMT-inhibitors (tolcapone and entacapone) and MAO-B inhibitors (rasagiline). Furthermore, surgical treatment with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) was a major step in the treatment of PD, entirely or exclusively treating the motor problems. Not surprisingly, over the past 15 or 20 years, more and more patients find themselves very well controlled in terms of their tremor, rigidity, dyskinesias, slowness… but with their quality of life (QOL) very much impaired by problems such as: anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, low blood pressure upon standing (neurogenic orthostatic hypotension or NOH), apathy, sialorrhea (drooling), gastrointestinal problems, bladder dysfunction, psychosis (hallucinations and delusions)… to mention some.
Today, these problems clearly represent the major challenge for us, as better treatment for the motor aspects, often “uncover” the NMS as the QOL does not improve as one would expect only successfully treating the motor aspects.
This coming Saturday, November 9, we are bringing a great program in which we will present the latest information regarding these problems as well as advances in the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments. Several FDA approved drugs are already making a difference in the QOL of many patients. Information in reference to ongoing clinical trials trying to make available new, more effective and better tolerated drugs to treat these problems will also be presented.
This 2019 Fall Symposium is presented as a joined project working along with the Charlotte County Medical Society. We are honored to have as our special guest speaker, Dr. Fahd Amjad, Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Movement Disorders Program at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. We also have, as part of our Faculty: Jill Scarpellini-Huber, PhD, Clinical Psychologist in private practice in the Sarasota/Venice area and Dr. Ramon A. Gil, Medical Director, Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SW FL, who is also the Program Director.
The program will take place at the Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda with breakfast and onsite registration from 7:30 to 8:30 am and the program concluding by 12:30 pm. Pre-registration is recommended since seating is limited. There will also be a block of rooms at a reduced rate, for those coming from out of town, and would find this convenient. This is at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Punta Gorda.
If you or a loved one is affected by PD, we encourage you to join us for this educational and interactive program. There is a registration fee of $15 per person which include breakfast and refreshments.
For more information, please contact our main office at 941-743-4987 or email at office@parkinsonsfl.com We look forward to seeing you joining us for this great event.
Parkinson’s Disease Treatment
Center of SW Florida
(941) 743-4987
4235 Kings Highway, Unit 102, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
1531 Tamiami Trail, Suite 702B, Venice, FL 34285
8931 Colonial Center Drive, Suite 401, Fort Myers, FL 33905
Specialized in Parkinson’s Disease and other Movement Disorders, Dr Gil believes that every patient diagnosed with a movement disorder deserves the most comprehensive team of healthcare providers aimed at improving quality of life. We work together with experts from all related fields including: Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapy, Neuropsychologists, and Neurosurgeons. Dr.Gil’s practice is also dedicated to clinical research, and outreach programs, dedicated to promoting the mission of the practice.
Ramon A. Gil, M.D.
– Diplomate American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
– Diplomate American Board of Internal Medicine
– Former Clinical Associate National Parkinson Foundation
– Medical Director and Founder, Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SW FL