10 Breakthrough Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Each year, almost 60,000 patients are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
As their life expectancy increases, the cost of care also increases, leaving a substantial economic burden for families and patients. According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, combined direct and indrect cost of Parkinson's, including treatment and lost income, is estimated at $25 billion per year in the U.S.
“There is a worldwide crisis of misinformation; in many areas no information is available for people to understand the breakthrough therapies that will be necessary to living a better life with Parkinson’s disease,” said Michael S. Okun, M.D., co-director of the UF Health Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration in Gainesville, FL, a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence.
“We have to get the message out, and we have to make it understandable and available to everyone, regardless of where they live or what language they may speak,” Okun urged. In his book, 10 Breakthrough Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease, Okun discusses 10 ideas about Parkinson’s disease that could change the way physicians and surgeons treat the disease and its symptoms.
Innovative Ideas
Some ideas included in the book include the following.
- Disease modifying drugs
- Deep brain stimulation and other technologies
- Benefits of coffee, tea, and exercise
- Stem cell treatment
- Behavioral therapy
With a combination of optimism and scientific research, Okun reviews a variety of therapies to help inform, educate, and inspire Parkinson’s disease patients, families, and health care professionals.
The book 10 Breakthrough Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease is available now in paperback and on Kindle.