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Proclamation Declaring April 2026, as Parkinson’s Awareness Month in Rockville, Maryland
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Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Dr. Aviva Ellenstein, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Neurologist, Washington Brain and Spine Institute, and Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Discussion
It’s a powerful moment each year when April arrives, and the world turns its attention to Parkinson’s Awareness Month. We have highlighted one of the most important historical anchors: James Parkinson himself. His 1817 Essay on the Shaking Palsy wasn’t just a medical description - it was the spark that eventually shaped an entire field of neurology.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the United States. This number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030.
Parkinson’s Awareness Day is April 11, 2026
Parkinson’s Awareness Week is April 10 -17, 2026
Parkinson Awareness Month is in April 2026
Approximately 90,000 new cases are reported every year. This number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected. Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) every 6 minutes in the U.S. Incidences of Parkinson's disease increase with age, but an estimated four percent of people with Parkinson's are diagnosed before the age of 50. The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s, including treatment, social security payments, and lost income, is estimated to be nearly $52 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Medications alone cost an average of $2,500 a year, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 per person. More men are affected by Parkinson’s than women.
The specific group of symptoms that an individual may experience varies from person to person
person. Primary motor signs of Parkinson’s disease include the following:
• tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face
• Bradykinesia or slowness of movement
• rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk, and
• postural instability or impaired balance and coordination
10 signs that you may have Parkinson’s Disease:
1. Tremors (Slight shaking I or tremor in finger, thumb, hand, or chin)
2. Small Handwriting (handwriting gets progressively smaller)
3. Loss of Smell (inability to smell certain foods such as bananas, dill pickles, or licorice)
4. Trouble Sleeping (thrashing around in bed, or acting out dreams when deeply asleep)
5. Trouble Moving or Walking (arms don’t swing like they sued to, stiffness in your shoulder or hips)
6. Constipation
7. A soft or low voice
8. Masked Face (a serious or mad look on your face, even though you are in a good mood, called facial masking)
9. Dizziness or Fainting
10. Stooping or Hunching over
What can you do if you have Parkinson’s Disease?
• Work with your doctor to create a plan to stay healthy. This might include:
• A referral to a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in the brain
• Care from an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech therapist
• Meeting with a medical social worker to talk about how Parkinson's will affect your life
• Start a regular exercise program to delay further symptoms.
• Talk with family and friends who can provide you with the support you need.
Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure or definitive cause
of Parkinson's disease. There are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage symptoms.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council annually recognize and proclaim Parkinson’s Awareness Month.