Friends In Frederick 
Parkinson's Disease Support Group

November 5, 2019
A pair of local Parkinson's Disease Support groups have begun a series of original podcasts on their website. These sister organizations from Harrisburg and the Mechanicsburg area of Pennsylvania have a website called HelpWithParkinsons.com. That's not too unusual. However, their series of original podcasts about Parkinson's Disease is unique. Most local support groups don't have the resources to put together original content about the disease.

The podcasts cover a range of PD topics and use local experts. The series is hosted by Warren Butvinik, a retired pharmacist who was diagnosed with PD in 2009.

To listen to recent Podcasts --CLICK HERE--

UPDATE (November 14, 2018): The latest podcast Appendix, Stem Cell & Ultrasound 3 New Studies --CLICK HERE--

The Central Pennsylvania PD Support Group - Mechanicsburg (West Shore) is a member of the Four State Alliance For Parkinson's Support.

October 25, 2018

 PFNCA is proud to announce that it will launch an PFNCA Exercise for Parkinson's program in Frederick, Maryland.  This new program is made possible with generous support from Onelife Fitness.   
 
Those interested in participating are invited to a new program orientation on Thursday November 1st at 12:00 p.m. at OneLife Fitness, 2500 Osprey Way in Frederick, Maryland.   
 
The class will be held weekly on Thursdays at this location from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend this class but annual registration for PFNCA Wellness Programs is required.  There is a $30 annual administrative fee, which allows participants to attend any of the nearly 250 wellness programs that PFNCA provides each month.  This fee can be waived for financial hardship.   
 
During the November 1st  orientation, attendees can meet the instructor, register for the program and participate in a sample class.  The program will formally launch on November 8, 2018.   
 
OneLife Fitness membership is not required to participate.  To register, please click here or call (301) 844-6510.

For information contact:

Banu Luu
Program Manager
Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area
8830 Cameron St. #201
Silver Spring, MD  20910
www.parkinsonfoundation.org
(301) 844-6510 x2

September 28, 2018
 The president signed a bill that increases federal research funding and takes important steps to better support our nation's care partners. Through its tireless advocacy work, the Parkinson's community played a role in the passage of this important law. 

A critical provision provides funding for the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System. This database will capture demographic information on people living with neurological diseases, which is key to helping researchers target their work and increase understanding of these conditions. While it was signed into law in late 2016, the database was never funded or implemented. But with the passage of this bill, it now can become a reality. (As the law does not specify which diseases the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System will track, the Foundation is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will house the database, to push for the inclusion of Parkinson's.)

Another significant provision in the law provides $300,000 to fund activities outlined in the RAISE Family Caregivers Act. This act was signed into law in January 2018, thanks in part to the advocacy efforts of the Parkinson's community, and directs the government to create a national strategy to better support the estimated 40 million care partners across the country. The $300,000 will be used to create a Family Caregiving Advisory Council, which will identify actions that communities, providers, policymakers and others can take to better assist care partners.

--CLICK HERE-- to read more at the Michael J Fox Foundation

August 11, 2018
You don't think Parkinson's Disease is funny? Then you've missed Yuma Bev the Parkinson's Humor lady. Diagnosed at age 47 (that's early onset), Beverly Ribaudo just can't help but seeing funny stuff in the disease. "Humor comes naturally to me and a little disease like Parkinson's can't take it away".

--CLICK HERE-- for a sample of her sense of fun.  

If you can't get enough of YumaBev, she has written a book.  --CLICK HERE-- to buy her book (which is also available on smile.amazon.com and for Kindle).

There are more links to YumaBev on our Resources and Links page

UPDATE: We've added a copy of the book to our library.

July 31, 2018
Alan Alda has become the latest celebrity with Parkinson's Disease. He revealed that he was diagnosed three years ago on the television show CBS This Morning. --CLICK HERE-- to see the interview on the CBS website. 

Alda, 82, said during his announcement on “CBS This Morning” that he’s continued to act, play tennis and take boxing lessons in the years since he learned he had the disease. 

Alda was diagnosed after visiting a doctor because he was physically acting out dreams. 

Alda said Tuesday that he wanted to share his diagnosis with the public because he’d noticed his thumb twitching during recent TV interviews, and he didn’t want there to be any misconceptions. “I thought it’s probably only a matter of time before somebody does a story about this from a sad … point of view,” the actor said. “That’s not where I am.”

--CLICK HERE-- for another story on Alda's announcement that contains some pretty interesting background on Parkinson's Disease on the ABC website.

--CLICK HERE-- to read the story on the Michael J Fox Foundation website

Alda joins Michael J. Fox,  Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Jesse Jackson, George H. W. Bush and one million other Americans who live with Parkinson's Disease.

June 14, 2018
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital have identified unexpected new key players in the development of an early onset form of Parkinson's disease called Parkinsonism. These key players are ceramides, a family of lipid molecules that are found within cell membranes. The researchers propose that ceramides are the linchpin that connects previously identified cellular defects and genes independently known to be associated with Parkinson's disease and suggest a mechanism that can lead to the condition. The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, could result in novel strategies to prevent or treat the condition in the future.

--READ MORE-- at Medical Express

May 25, 2018
A community educational seminar will be held in Hagerstown Maryland on April 12, 2019. The seminar will feature experts in Parkinson's Disease describing symptoms and treatments. There will also be a "vendor" area where participants can talk with medical professionals about medications, therapies, support groups, exercise programs, and all things Parkinson's.

Presented by the Four State Alliance For Parkinson's Support and Otterbein United Methodist Church, the seminar will run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Otterbein United Methodist Church is located at 108 E. Franklin Street - Hagerstown, MD.

The Four State Alliance For Parkinson's Support is made up of nine (9) local Parkinson's Disease Support Groups in the Four State area around Hagerstown, Maryland. The Alliance also works with the Maryland Association For Parkinson's Support.

The Four State Alliance is currently accepting applications for Sponsors and Vendors. For information on sponsorships or vendor space, please contact Art Guyer or Dean Cook.

UPDATE: --CLICK HERE-- for agenda and registration form

March 15, 2018
The Winchester Parkinson's Disease Support Group & Winchester Medical Center's Rock Steady Boxing was featured on WDVM - Channel 25 Hagerstown on March 15, 2018.

--CLICK HERE-- to view the video on the WDVM website.

January 30, 2018
People with Parkinson's disease (PD) who experience "off" periods, times when symptoms return because medication isn't working optimally, soon may have a new treatment option. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently announced positive Phase III results of under-the-tongue apomorphine, which mimics the effect of dopamine, the brain chemical that decreases in PD.

UPDATE: US World Meds, makers of Apokyn, will be our guest speaker in October 2018

--READ MORE-- at Michael J Fox Foundation

January 23, 2018

Care partners play an invaluable role in their loved one's journey with Parkinson disease, helping to preform everyday tasks, visit doctors, administer medication, and so much more. Our community knows this can sometimes be challenging and that care partners don't always receive the support they need.

This week, the president took action to address this by signing the RAISE Family Caregivers Act into law. The bill directs the government to create a national strategy to better support the estimated 40 million care partners across the country. Among other things, it aims to provide caregivers with more education, respite care services and resources to navigate working while helping a loved one manage their disease.

--READ MORE-- at the Michael J Fox Foundation website

January 22, 2018
Movement Disorder Education & Exercise, Inc has a new website. MDEE is the local provider of Rock Steady Boxing. They offer fun exercise classes and support to people with Parkinson's. The classes are designed to help reduce stiffness, improve balance and increase mobility. 

Visit their website at --www.mdeecarrollcounty.com--

January 6, 2018

Parkinson Voice Project has developed SPEAK OUT! therapy program to help individuals with Parkinson’s regain and maintain their speaking skills. The primary goals of SPEAK OUT! are to strengthen the muscles used for speaking and swallowing and to teach patients how to speak with intent and deliberation.

Marissa Yoes, M.S., CCC-SLP, a Speech Pathologist at Meritus Total Rehab Care, recently became trained as one of two SPEAK OUT! providers in Maryland through the Parkinson Voice Project. Marissa Yoes may be reached at 301-714-4025

UPDATE: Marissa Yoes will be our guest speaker at our September 2018 meeting

SPEAK OUT!®  is the first step in Parkinson Voice Project’s two-part therapy approach.  SPEAK OUT!® typically consists of twelve individual speech therapy sessions conducted by a speech-language pathologist. Together, the patient and the speech-language pathologist work their way through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises outlined in a comprehensive workbook provided to every patient in the U.S. as a gift from Parkinson Voice Project. Each therapy session lasts 40-45 minutes. The primary goals of SPEAK OUT!® are to strengthen the muscles used for speaking and swallowing and to teach patients how to speak with intent. Once patients complete SPEAK OUT!®, they transition to the second part of Parkinson Voice Project’s program called The LOUD Crowd®.

November 15, 2017
Comprehensive Neurology - 196 Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick, MD - has added a Movement Disorder Specialist to their staff. Laura Alissa Brosbe, D.O. completed her residency in Neurology and fellowship training in Movement Disorders at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She attended undergraduate school at Boston University and medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Comprehensive Neurology appointment number: (240) 566-3130

 The Parkinson's community welcomes Dr. Brosbe to Western Maryland.

UPDATE: Dr. Brosbe will be the guest speaker at Hagerstown Support group meeting in August 2018

August 24, 2017
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an extended-release formulation of amantadine (GOCOVRI) to treat dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). This is the first drug indicated specifically for dyskinesia -- uncontrolled, involuntary movements that can develop with long-term levodopa use.

UPDATE: Our January 2019 guest speaker will be from Adamas Pharma makers of extended release admantadine.

--READ MORE-- at Michael J. Fox organization

--READ MORE-- about other recently approved therapies for Parkinson's Disease

June 22, 2017
APDA has launched an online support site. Much like a virtual support group. For information --CLICK HERE--

March 27, 2017
Larry Zarzecki, a former Maryland State trooper, paced the room at Carroll Hospital, speaking loudly, almost barking, at the dozen or so Parkinson's patients who had gathered for a unique demonstration.

"How many don't think they can box? You don't think you can box?" Zarzecki asked during the Thursday demonstration.
Just one hand went up, that of a man sitting quietly in his wheelchair. Zarzecki didn't hesitate.
"I need a pair of gloves."

Zarzecki is a member of Rock Steady Baltimore, a Timonium nonprofit that utilizes noncontact boxing exercises in an effort to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's, such as tremor, and improve balance and other functions. "I can attest to this being true because I have Parkinson's myself," Zarzecki said.

--CLICK HERE-- to contact Larry

--READ MORE-- at the Carroll County Times

For more information on Rock Steady Boxing, visit their WEB SITE http://baltimore.rsbaffiliate.com/

UPDATE: New website --CLICK HERE--

Also, Read about Bonnie's Rock Steady Boxing experience in our March 2017 Newsletter.

If you don't receive our newsletter and would like to, visit our Contact US page.

March 23, 2017
Researchers at Northwestern University have found that even small amounts of exercise can have an impact on the progression of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that causes mobility impairment over time, impacting a person's quality of life and eventually leading to death.

The study found that Parkinson's patients who exercised regularly experienced slower declines in mobility and health-related quality of life, or HRQL, over a two-year period.

"We found that people with Parkinson's disease who maintained exercise 150 minutes per week had a smaller decline in quality of life and mobility over two years compared to people who did not exercise or exercised less," Miriam R. Rafferty, researcher at Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, said in a press release. 

--READ MORE-- At UPI

For more information --CLICK HERE-- on EXERCISE and Parkinson's at the National Parkinson's Foundation

January 3, 2017
New research suggests that people with Parkinson's disease may achieve better and more reliable motor control by taking an experimental drug called opicapone alongside the standard medication levodopa.

A study of several hundred Parkinson's patients found that the drug -- opicapone -- boosts levodopa's ability to control the motor difficulties associated with Parkinson's, said study co-author Dr. Patricio Soares-da-Silva.
These motor problems include tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement.
Opicapone (Ongentys) appears to be an improvement over current treatment options, said Soares-da-Silva. He is director of research and development for the drug's maker, Bial-Portela & Ca. SA, in Portugal.

--READ MORE-- on WebMD

Updated April 20, 2016
Watch the WRC - NBC4 story about Frederick County resident Kimberly Spletter and Focused UltraSound for Parkinson's Disease.

--CLICK HERE-- to watch the video

--CLICK HERE-- for a story from Channel 19 in Charlottesville, VA

--CLICK HERE--for the Baltimore Sun story

--CLICK HERE--for the Frederick News-Post story

--CLICK HERE--for the WHAG - Your 4 State story

--CLICK HERE--to see John Grisham story on CBS about Focused Ultrasound

March 20, 2016
Check out the story on the front page of the March 20, 2016 Frederick News-Post. --CLICK HERE-- to read the story on the News-Post web site.