UCB is announcing a new initiative for World Parkinson's Disease Day 2012 that is designed to support communication around all aspects of Parkinson's Disease (PD). The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ is a visual tool designed to help people with PD discuss their health status and well-being with their care teams. A new video 'Living with Parkinson's Disease: Insights and Inspirations' is also shared today and gives a voice to people with Parkinson's on the effects of the condition on their lives.
The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ was developed by UCB in consultation with people living with PD and in partnership with the European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA), the Cure Parkinson's Trust and the Spanish Federation of Parkinson's Disease.
"The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ translates a complex issue into an 'at-a-glance' summary of symptoms of an individual's Parkinson's. By including both movement related and underlying symptoms, it can help people talk to their healthcare team about all aspects of Parkinson's including symptoms such as sleep disturbances and mood changes, which they may not have realised could be part of their Parkinson's," said Knut-Johan Onarheim, President of the EPDA.
Designed to be simple and easy to use, the Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ should help people with Parkinson's monitor and record their symptoms over time as well as summarise their health and well-being in preparation for their consultation with their healthcare team. The Map is already available in paper format in certain countries worldwide, and will be available in further countries during 2012.
UCB is committed to supporting educational programs that inspire and encourage people living with Parkinson's Disease to achieve their personal goals and to support communication on their health and well-being with their care team. The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ builds on 'Today I will...' an ongoing initiative from UCB which encourages people affected by Parkinson's to make motivational pledges to inspire and support others.
'Today I will...' pledges received to date include:
- "Today I will... take inspiration from other pledges, then hopefully realise I'm not alone. I thank you all."
- "Today I will… totally forget my Parkinson’s when walking in the sun, the energy comes back, the winter time is over and then I really enjoy my life!”
- "Today I will... ask my patient how they are living rather than how they are moving."
"Parkinson's Disease is a complicated condition which can have a significant impact on how people live their lives. At UCB we are committed to supporting people with Parkinson's by developing resources that help them to communicate their full range of symptoms to their healthcare teams and connect with each other for motivation and inspiration,” said Lode Dewulf, MD, Vice President, Global Medical Affairs, UCB.
People can show their support on World Parkinson's Disease Day by viewing 'Living with Parkinson's Disease: Insights and Inspirations'
About World Parkinson's Disease Day
World Parkinson's Disease Day is marked on April 11 in commemoration of the birth of Dr. James Parkinson (1755 - 1824) who established the disease as a clinical entity.(1) Activities on this day aim to raise public awareness for one of the most common progressive degenerative neurological disorders and to show support for people living with the condition.
About Parkinson's Voices
Parkinson's Voices is a UCB website created for people who want to know more about PD, to share experiences with those who have the condition, and to find out how different members of their healthcare team can help them.
About Parkinson's Disease
PD is a progressive neurological condition which affects over six million people worldwide.(2) It is predominantly characterised by problems with body movements, known as 'motor symotoms'.(2) The classical symptoms of PD are tremor, muscular rigidity and bradykinesia including slowness and poverty of movement.(3) Other underlying symptoms that are not related to movement can also occur such as pain, sleep disturbance and mood changes.(2)
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8 500 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.2 billion in 2011. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
1. European Parkinson's Disease Association Charter. 1997. Available at http://www.epda.eu.com/worldpdday/epda-charter/ Last accessed March 2012
2. European Parkinson's Disease Association - Life with Parkinson's disease: What is Parkinson’s disease? Available at: http://www.parkinsonsawareness.eu.com/en/campaign-literature/what-is-parkinsons-disease/ Last accessed March 2012
3. European Parkinson's Disease Association - Life with Parkinson's disease: Symptoms Available at: http://www.parkinsonsawareness.eu.com/en/campaign-literature/symptoms/ Last accessed March 2012