THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY - WELL JUST THE BAD & THE UGLY

DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT PD IN CANADA

• Nearly 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson's disease with approximately 5,500 new cases diagnosed each year in Canada.

• There are 11,000 British Columbians suffering with Parkinson's disease, and 1 million in the United States. These numbers are expected to double by 2016.

• In Canada and the United States, one person dies every hour from complications of Parkinson's and one person is diagnosed with Parkinson's every nine minutes.

• According to the Brain Repair Centre at Dalhousie University, brain disease and disorders (like Parkinson's disease) will surpass cancer and heart disease as the leading cause of death and disability to Canadians by 2040 yet at present, there is no national strategy to address this growing concern.

• The present-day impact of brain disease and disorders like Parkinson's cannot be overstated. They are devastating for entire families; they result in an enormous loss of productivity; and they cost the Canadian health care system more than $30 billion annually.

• Parkinson's is one of the most pervasive neurological diseases - to date researchers and clinicians have found no way to stop, slow or prevent Parkinson's.

• 40% of patients develop Parkinson's before the age of 60. Many are diagnosed in their 20's, 30's, and 40's - prime years for building their careers and/or raising young children.

• Canadian Movement Disorder specialists estimate the cost of medication for a typical Canadian with Parkinson's to be $1,000 per month.

• The proper care for a person with Parkinson's disease includes: family physician; neurologist or movement disorder specialist; Parkinson's nurse specialist; pharmacist; occupational therapist; physiotherapist; social worker/psychologist; speech and language pathologist; and dietician.

• Canadians with Parkinson's rely on universal access to Home Care supports and services to achieve maximum quality of life. Sadly, current access varies significantly from region to region, city to city, and town to town.

• According to a 2003 economic burden document developed by Health Canada, much more information is needed to develop a true understanding of the impact of Parkinson's disease including:

Epidemiology
Medical information
Burden for individuals
Burden for families/caregivers