South Palm Beach County Chapter Autumn 2014 www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org Save the Date... Fashion Under the stars What you need to know: Date: Sunday, November 16, 2014 (We will walk, rain or shine!) Times: Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. Activities start at 8:30 a.m. The Solidarity Walk starts at 10:00 a.m. Walk one step, a mile, or just cheer on other walkers! Location: FAU Stadium, located in the center of the FAU campus! (Enter the campus at either entrance from Glades Road and follow University Drive around. The stadium is at the far north end of the loop.) thursday, november 20, 2014 6:30 p.m. the residence of robert and robin Muir 850 ne 5th avenure Boca raton, Florida 33432 Food • Fashion • Fun For further information, please contact sara teeter at steeter@ parkinson.org or (305) 537-9951 Parking: Park in the new covered lot just to the west of the stadium! Awards, Prizes, Concert: *Scholarship awards, raffle drawing, and lawn concert will begin immediately after the walk. *Be there as we award two Scholarships on Moving Day The South Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation together with the School District of Palm Beach County have defined and set up a Scholarship Program to help support two deserving young people coming out of the Biomedical and Medical Sciences Academies and who plan to continue their education at Florida Atlantic University. The six finalists’ projects will be presented and judged in a special tent at the Moving Day event. For more information on Moving Day and the Scholarships, see pages 4 and 5! Save the Date Monday, December 1, 2014 South Palm Beach County Chapter Richard Okonow Memorial Charity Golf Tournament St. Andrews Country Club Call Chairman Leo Geller at (561) 451-3520 President’s Report By Bonnie Austin P.O. Box 880145 Boca Raton, FL 33488-0145 (561) 482-3106 Parkinson Community Center 21301 Powerline Road Boca Raton, FL 33433 (561) 962-1702 Board of Directors Bonnie K. Austin President Stuart Perlin Executive Director Jack Mueller Executive Vice President Florence Schneider Treasurer/Secretary Vicky Accardi Amy Cohen Jeff Dowd Annette Fentin Lillian Gallego Anyone who uses Facebook and has a sentimental friend or two is used to seeing lots of platitudes. I’m sure it’s not the first, but it may be the most famous: the British government had signs printed that read, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” to use in case of an imminent threat of German invasion. The sentiment has become so ubiquitous that the BBC has speculated it might be the greatest motivational poster ever designed. Our Community has been hit hard through this past summer. Robin William’s suicide has certainly left a hole in the heart of American pop-culture, but it has more directly left us with a pit in our hearts and our stomachs thinking about that very dark side of Parkinson Disease. But we keep calm and carry on. Closer to home, our dear past President and one of our founding fathers, Irving Layton, has also left us. In his lifetime, he was the recipient of many honors and accolades for the work that he did, though he always brushed them off and kept right on carrying on. Even after he left his work behind, he wanted to keep his hand in on what we were doing – so much so, that every time I went to see him his first admonition was that I didn’t come to see him often enough. We carry on. Summer has come and gone, many of us were able to get away from our Florida heat, but many more of us stayed here and kept right on working. The Community Center is starting to come together, but we still have a lot of work to do. Now that autumn and cooler weather is upon us, we have again come together and we carry on. When you live with PD that is what you do. And we couldn’t come together in a more glorious way than with Moving Day! This one day is the high point of our community for the year. My son asked me once: Is Moving Day a fund raiser or a participant event? The only right answer is BOTH. If you had no other opportunity to participate in the work that we do, this is the day to join us. If you have read the Rainbow Books and found them to be helpful, if you have tucked your Aware in Care kit away in a handy place to grab if you need to go to the hospital, if you have come to a support group or lecture, if you enjoy a Surf ‘n Turf, if you listen to the Parkinson Radio Hour, this is a great opportunity for you to give a little back – and to pay a little forward. It is our equivalent of the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, and it is so easy to do something worthwhile: www.movingdaybocaraton.org has all the answers. Make a few phone calls. Let your friends and family know. It is our biggest fund raiser and it just about pays for all of our activities for the entire year. This year’s Moving Day will be especially wonderful. There have been a lot of dignitaries and celebrities invited – including Dolphin cheerleaders and alumni, so bring a camera and a book for autographs with you. Remember to tuck a lawn chair or two into the car trunk for the lawn concert after the walk. Donations can be made through the website, by check to the PO Box address, or at the registration desk that day. Robert Hale Paul Kelly BethAnn Krug Marilyn Perlin Phyllis Riesner Heidi Rosenberg Ray Schwartz Dr. Arlene Teichberg Board Members Other events will follow close behind. Last year, we started sponsoring a Fashion Show and we continue with that the week after Moving Day. This year’s Golf Tournament will be played on the St. Andrews Country Club course on December 1. Looking forward to next year, on January 25, we will again have our Zeke Jabbour sponsored Bridge Tournament. These are our fund raisers. If you want to have a great time and also know that your money is going to help a great cause, please join us for any or all of these activities. Every month we offer a lecture, with speakers that have not only the most relevant information, but also are often instrumental in our daily wellbeing. We have again changed our venue – this time to the Community Center in Boca Raton. We always provide a little something to eat, along with the education. In this intimate and informal setting you can come and meet some of the top movement disorder specialists, many LifeLines Autumn 2014 From the Executive Director of whom we have already spotlighted on our radio show. Don’t miss these opportunities. They are priceless! By Stuart Perlin This past summer has been an extremely difficult time for our Chapter. We lost Irving Layton, the President Emeritus and longtime leader of our Chapter. We can never repay Irving for what he has done for the Parkinson Community. Please see our the heartfelt tribute to Irving below. We will be varying the day and times of these monthly lectures to accommodate the speakers, but also to avoid interfering with other activities. They will always be in the afternoons now, so they don’t conflict with Surf ‘n Turf in Boynton Beach, but sometimes they will be on Monday and sometimes on Wednesday. Check the Activity Calendar in this issue and watch for our Save-the Date cards. If you have any questions, you can always call the Community Center at (561) 962-1702. Leave a message and I will get back to you. The Board of the South Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Chapter of NPF and I again would like to thank you for your Membership and support. Our Community Center is up and running. We are very thankful for our Partnership with National in Miami and the Center is a great example of that Partnership. We have moved our Monthly Seminars to our center. It has become our home. We have added new classes there as well, such as the Balance, Tai Chi, and Yoga classes. One of the other posters produced by the British Ministry of Information in 1939 read, “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory.” So, keep a British-style stiff upper lip, and together we will muddle through. Bless you all! Our radio show, The Parkinson Radio Hour, now has over 100,000 listeners in the US and over 10,000 outside of the country. We have become the voice of Parkinson Disease in the US, and are extremely proud of what the show has become. We receive calls from experts all over the world who want to be on our show. We are about to enter our most challenging time ever for our Chapter. We have Moving Day on November 16, at which time our Scholarship Program will be judged. Our fashion show, Fashion Under the Stars, takes place on November 20, and our 10th Annual Golf event follows on December 1, at St. Andrews Country Club. On January 27, we will host our annual Sanctioned Bridge event, Zeke Jabbour’s Play with the Stars, again at St. Andrews Country Club. We hope to see all of you at Moving Day and our other events as well. Please join us and support all of our major events, and continue to help us spread the word and fight the fight against Parkonson Disease. A Heartfelt Eulogy for Irving Layton By Stuart Perlin What do you say when you lose a hero? How do you express the sense of loss of a man who changed the world for the better? Irving Layton was such a man. In 2001, a neighbor of Irving asked him to help with a small Parkinson group. Before long, Irving was the president of the Chapter. That was the start of a Legend. Irving never had PD; he wanted to help his neighbor who no longer felt he could help the Chapter. By 2013, when Irving was in his mid-90s and in less than great health, he resigned the Presidency of our Chapter. In those 12 years, our Chapter raised over two-million dollars and granted over one million to support research and quality of life programs. Our Chapter, to this day, has raised more money and has more support groups and exercise groups than any Chapter in the country. We have expanded from South Palm Beach to the Treasure Coast. Irving was very close to the founder of NPF, Nat Slewett, as they were from the same time. There was a special kinship between the two and when Nat left, he took a piece of Irving with him. But nothing stopped Irving from his mission. The people who www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org knew Irving best had a saying – we were Irving’d. That meant you were chewed out by a 95-year old man who kicked your butt with love. I say this to his sons and friends: throughout his life, if he loved you, you were Irving’d. There is a term: ‘an 800-pound Gorilla’, and there is a photo of Irving as a visual explanation. Yet, everyone loved him. Everyone! You couldn’t help it. He did things his way; if you could convince him to do something another way, you were real proud, as you knew you were correct. The times it happened were few and far between, but he did listen and let you know he was proud of you when you were correct. He was a legend in business and life. There was only one Irving; the mold was created and broken with him. What a man. To his family, we share in the tremendous loss of Irving. He taught me as much as anyone, except my Dad. I loved him like my Dad. The world spins a little slower today and the hundreds of thousands of people he helped, who did not know him, will feel his loss. page 3 Third Annual Boca Raton Moving Day is here! Are you ready? Sunday, November 16, 2014 In cities all over the United States, the NPF holds events designed to raise awareness and money to continue the fight against Parkinson Disease. But to us, the members of the South Palm Beach Chapter, it is much more than that. It is our way of saying: We will not give in to this! We will stand and fight together! You can join us to honor your own fight or the fight of a loved one affected by Parkinson Disease. There is still time to start a team made up of your friends, family, co-workers, or people from your place of worship. Invite them to join us for this one morning. You can start a team, join a team, contribute to an individual, or find and contribute to an existing team by visiting www.movingdaybocaraton. org. You can also contribute at the registration table on the morning of the event. Alternatively, you can bring a donation to the Parkinson Community Center any weekday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. or you can send a check made out to “SPBCC National Parkinson Foundation” to: National Parkinson Foundation PO Box 880145 Boca Raton, FL 33488 (If you want your contribution to be attributed to a walker or a team, just write the name on the bottom of the check.) Donations will be accepted for several weeks after the event. What you need to know: Date: Sunday, November 16, 2014 (We will walk, rain or shine!) Times: Registration starts at 8:00 a.m., Activities start at 8:30 a.m. The Solidarity Walk starts at 10:00 a.m. Walk one step, a mile, or just cheer on other walkers! Location: FAU Stadium, located in the center of the FAU campus! (Enter the campus at either entrance from Glades Road and follow University Drive around. The stadium is at the far north end of the loop.) Parking: Park in the new covered parking lot just to the west of the stadium! Awards, Prizes, Concert: Scholarship awards, raffle drawing, and lawn concert will begin immediately after the walk. Additional information & activities: Dress comfortably for MOVING! Our Solidarity Walk is short, just one turn around the FAU Stadium, but you will be walking on an asphalt pathway. Chairs will be provided in a shaded area for those who want to wait for the walkers. Bring a hat and, especially if you are using a Levodopa medication, use sunscreen! We will have food and water available and medical personnel available in case of an emergency. Please bring your children and grandchildren. There will be events and entertainment for their enjoyment. This is a family event and it does us all good to see the kids! Come sing with our Surf ‘n Turfers, dance with the Zumba pro, practice Yoga and Tai Chi, and learn about things you can do to improve your balance. The Movement Pavilion this year will include individual therapy stations manned by Nova Southeastern and Keiser University therapy students who will show you things you might be able to do for yourself. Our first annual Parkinson Scholarship finalists will be selected! Come meet all the participants and offer your encouragement. Pack some lawn chairs in the trunk of your car! After the walk, there will be a drawing for a wonderful raffle give-away and a two-BAND CONCERT on the grass! Come and meet the Dolphin Cheerleaders and Alumni players. Congressman Ted Deutch and Boca Raton Mayor Sandra Haynie will be walking with us! Put a couple of extra dollars in your pocket. NPF merchandise items will be available for sale. Get them here and avoid the shipping charges. page 4 LifeLines Autumn 2014 Our NEW Scholarship Program If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. -Thomas Paine The generations don’t stop coming and the best hope we have for a world that exists without Parkinson Disease may rest with our young people who are getting ready to graduate. The South Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation together with the School District of Palm Beach County have defined and set up a Scholarship Program to help support two deserving young people coming out of the Biomedical and Medical Sciences Academies and who plan to continue their education at Florida Atlantic University. The students must meet a minimum requirement of a 3.5 GPA and demonstrate exemplary community service. Thirty participants will be selected by their teachers, who will provide a written teacher recommendation to complement the student’s written biography. Each student is also required to submit a narrative in the form of an inspirational essay describing their own relationship to Parkinson Disease. Finally, each student will put together a project that will be reviewed and judged. The six finalists’ projects will be presented and judged in a special tent at the Moving Day event. We are grateful to Florida Atlantic University, Florida Power and Light, The Snow Foundation, and Scripps Foundation of Jupiter for financing the scholarship. These are organizations that see and understand what we are striving to do and why we do it. We are especially grateful to Dr. Miguel Benavente of the Palm Beach County School District Department of Choice for seeing and believing in our vision. Please stop by the Scholarship Tent when you join us at Moving Day. Say hello to our new young friends and their families, and let them know that we are grateful for their efforts to understand our pain and sense of urgency. With their help, maybe our generation will be the last to experience PD! Balance Workshop with Allegiance Home Health and Rehab Afraid of falling? It could be a disaster and something that PD’ers especially need to be concerned about! Please mark your calendar: The wonderful Balance Workshop activity will continue on the following dates: November 26, December 3, December 17, January 14, January 28, February 11 and February 25. Join Allegiance at the Parkinson Community Center on these Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. From the Clipboard of Jack Mueller Jack’s Story! My story starts in November 2000, when I tripped and fell on my right side and bruised my shoulder. About mid-December, I started getting an slight tremor in my right hand, but I didn’t think anything of it. When that once-in-a-while tremor became an everyday thing I started to get worried that something was wrong. My annual exam at my doctor was set for April, so I waited till then. When I told my doctor what had happened she sent me to the orthopedist for my shoulder and a neurologist for the tremor. At that point I didn’t know a single thing about PD, and did not even have the slightest hint that I might have PD. Once diagnosed, over the next five to six years, my wife and I went to every type of meeting to learn more about PD, so I could try to keep active and stay fit in body and mind. All the groups that I joined (Take Charge, A.P.D.A., N.P.F., and SPBCCNPF) all agreed: #1 Keep yourself busy! #2 Take your meds on time. #3 Keep exercising at least 3 to 4 days a week, What does it mean to keep yourself busy? Find a hobby or find a student that you could teach that hobby. An active mind and a good outlook mean no room for depression. When you are on time with meds it means your mind and body are both on an even keel. When you exercise you keep your body and mind in shape. Now for the #1 thing to remember: I MAY HAVE PARKINSON, BUT PARKINSON DOES NOT HAVE ME! I will never give up my body and mind to PD. Try to remember those last two lines and say them every day Find one thing that makes you happy to do and you will get loads of pride from it! I feel that by me getting PD, it was like a blessing, because I am able to help many more folks through the learning phase of PD. THINK POSITIVE AND YOU GET A GREAT FEELING! Call Bonnie at (561) 445-3708, for more information. www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org page 5 People with PD Can’t Sing and Dance! Have I got your attention? This prejudiced lie is the theme for our musical theatre presentation, Sing Anyway. One of the most meaningful lines of the song, which shares the same name as the skit, is “Life isn’t always what you had in mind. Some of the harmony gets left behind. Sing anyway!” Music therapy has become a mainstream treatment to help people with Parkinson Disease maintain their breathing and vocal quality. Our approach offers patients an outlet to practice the skills that they learn from speech pathologists through therapy. It is threefold: First, we have a support group meeting led by licensed social worker Arlene Teichberg, who is well-versed as both a counselor and patient of 29 years. Second, we teach vocal aerobics, which helps us to maintain our speaking and singing voices. And finally, we sing! …And now we will act! Similar to the Tremblecleffs and the Sing for PD program in Brooklyn, we work on specific breathing techniques and clear pronunciation of the lyrics. Most importantly, we have a lot of fun. Yes, we serve breakfast refreshments, too. Parkinson Disease Exercise Program BIG & LOUD Presented by BETHESDA HEALTH OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION In Partnership with South Palm Beach County Chapter NATIONAL PARKINSON FOUNDATION Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. COST: FREE Class Schedule November 11, 25 December 9, 23 Please note: Dates are subject to change Location: Bethesda Hospital East 2815 S. Seacrest Boulevard Bethesda Heart Hospital 3rd Floor Conference Center Boynton Beach, FL 33435 (561) 292-4950 Program: 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. LSVT® BIG Rebecca Latino, PT LSVT® BIG certified 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Voice/Music Program BethAnn Krug Our Surf ‘n Turfers meet every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Parkinson Community Center, located at 21301 Powerline Road (at Boca Grove Boulevard), Suite 300. Come and see whether people with PD can sing and dance! It will be a happy surprise. Call BethAnn Krug at (561) 573-6387 for more information. Because We Can ••• We’ll Sing Anyway! The Surf ‘n Turfers have prepared some songs that will inspire you and encourage others with PD, to Sing Anyway! Our vocal aerobics class invites you to join us and enjoy a musical production of songs, theater, and even a little dance. Sunday, November 9, 2014 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Parkinson Community Center 21301 Powerline Road, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL Light refreshments served. Donations will be appreciated. All donations for this event will go toward Moving Day. Call BethAnn Krug (561) 573-6387 if you would like to reserve seats for your group. page 6 LifeLines Autumn 2014 Joys of Aging Paradise Home Health Care Invites you to spend an evening with awardwinning author Harry J. Getzov and “2,000 of his closest friends.” “gOLD – The Extraordinary Side of Aging” Wednesday, January 21, 2015 – 7:00 p.m. At Abbey Delray South 1717 Homewood Blvd. Delray Beach, 33445 Raffle Prizes include: a 2-Night Stay at the Boca Raton Marriott & More! Tickets: $25.00/two for $40.00. Refreshments served. Make Checks & Donations payable to: SPBCC National Parkinson Foundation. All proceeds will benefit persons and families living with Parkinson Disease through the South Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation. Young Onset Parkinson Disease The South Palm Beach Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation invites you to our support group for people affected by Young Onset Parkinson Disease. Our support group offers emotional support, guidance, and hope to those individuals affected by Young Onset PD. We also provide vital information on new medications, upcoming treatments, and new techniques associated with Parkinson Disease. Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of the month 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Parkinson Community Center 21301 Powerline Road, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33433 Our primary goal is to improve the quality of life for those who have Parkinson Disease, including their care-partners, and family members. An estimated 60,000 people in the Parkinson community can benefit from our Chapter's work. Support programs of the South Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation are available throughout Palm Beach County and in St Lucie County. For more information, contact Paul Kelly: (954) 684-4703 or Lilli Gallego: (718) 749-2863. Passionate and Precise, the Tango is Also Therapeutic By Amy Ellis Nutt The Washington Post Scientists in the United States have confirmed what researchers around the world have suspected for some time: "Slow ... slow • quick-quick-slow,” the basic steps to the dance pattern known as the tango, are good for your mental and physical health. At the University of Washington School of Medicine, Gammon Earhart, a professor of physical therapy, found that tango dancing in patients with Parkinson Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, improved their motor symptoms and balance over a two-year period. Parkinson patients have trouble walking and especially turning while walking. "Participation in community-based dance classes over two years was associated with improvements in motor and non-motor symptom severity, performance of activities of daily living, and balance in a small group of people with PD,” the study's authors noted in the September 5 online edition of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. "This is noteworthy given the progressive nature of PD and the fact that the control group declined on some outcome measures over two years.” This is not the first time the tango has made headlines. In 2005, a study out of McGill University in Montreal found that after ten weeks, elderly tango dancers showed boosts in everything from self-esteem and multitasking to memory and motor coordination. In 2009, patients in Buenos Aires' largest psychiatric hospital took part in regular tango sessions where they danced with doctors and nurses. "Treatment is not just about therapy and drugs, it's about giving them a nice time to enjoy themselves,” Trinidad Cocha, a psychologist who taught the weekly tango class at the hospital told reporters at the time. "They relax and all the labels disappear. We're not doctors, nurses, musicians or patients. We're just tango dancers.” The therapeutic effects of tango span Alzheimer's patients, where it helps memory, to couples undergoing counseling, where the tango's tight embrace and backward walk require not only intimacy but communication and trust between the dance partners. ''With tango, you have the advantage of having many different styles of dancing to fit each specific patient,” Martin Sotelano, founder of the International Association of Tango Therapy, told Reuters in 2009. "You focus on the embrace and communication for couples’ counseling; the eight basic steps of tango for Alzheimer's; and the tango walk that requires so much grace and rigidity can help a patient with Parkinson.” www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org page 7 Chapter Activity Calendar BOCA RATON (a SPBCC NPF program) When Where Contact Info. PD Education Wed, Nov 19, 2:30 p.m. Dr. Sengun Mon, Dec 8, 1 p.m., Dr. Moore Mon, Jan 12, 1 p.m., Dr. Luca Parkinson Community Center 21301 Powerline Road, Ste. 300 Boca Raton, FL Office: (561) 962-1702 Bonnie: (561) 445-3708 Surf n’ Turf Caregivers Support Group Every Thursday, 11:30 a.m. when Palm Beach schools are in session Peter Blum Family Center 6631 Palmetto Circle South Boca Raton, FL Eunice: (914) 282-7791 Karen: (561) 385-3487 Caregivers only Support Group Concurrent with Balance Workshop: Wednesday, 1 p.m. 11/26, 12/3, 12/17, 1/14, 1/28 Parkinson Community Center (561) 962-1702 Early Onset Support Group 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. Parkinson Community Center Paul: (954) 684-4703 Activities Surf n’ Turf: Tuesday and Thursday – 11:30 a.m. Peter Blum Family Center Office: (561) 962-1702 Yoga: Fridays, 11:00 a.m. Tai Chi: Fridays, 12:00 p.m. Parkinson Community Center Office: (561) 962-1702 Vocal Enhancement: Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. Parkinson Community Center BethAnn: (561) 573-6387 Balance Workshop: Wednesdays 1 p.m., 11/26, 12/3, 12/17, 1/14, 1/28 Parkinson Community Center Office: (561) 962-1702 DELRAY BEACH – Abbey Delray South PD Education When Where Contact Info. Last Friday, 12:30 p.m.* (except Dec) 10/24, 11/21, 1/30, 2/27 1717 Homewood Boulevard Delray Beach, FL Ron Arflin: (561) 454-5242 * Please RSVP one week ahead for lunch count. DELRAY BEACH/BOYNTON BEACH When PD Education Support Group Caregivers-only Support Group Activities (a SPBCC NPF program) Where 2nd Thursday, 10:00 a.m. 11/13, 12/11, 1/8, 2/12 2nd Thursday, 11:00 a.m. 2nd Thursday, 11:00 a.m. Surf n’ Turf: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10:00 a.m. Weisman Delray Community Center 7091 W. Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach, FL Weisman Delray Community Cntr. Weisman Delray Community Center DeVos-Blum Family Y 9600 So. Military Trail, Boynton Bch. Contact Info. (561) 558-2157 Kosher Karen: (561) 385-3487 Karen: (561) 385-3487 (561) 738-9622 ROYAL PALM BEACH When PD Education/ Support Group 1st Monday, 10:30 a.m. Caregivers Support Group 4th Monday, 10:30 a.m. Activities Chair-based exercise: Mondays, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Where Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center: 151 Civic Center Way Royal Palm Beach, FL Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center Contact Info. Bernice: (561) 798-7798 (561) 798-7798 (561) 798-7798 LifeLines Autumn 2014 WEST PALM BEACH (a SPBCC NPF program) When Where Contact Info. PD Education 3 Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. YMCA of the Palm Beaches 2085 S. Congress Avenue, WPB Christina: (561) 968-9622 Activities Surf n’ Turf: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.** YMCA of the Palm Beaches (561) 968-9622 Tai Chi: Mondays 12 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. YMCA of the Palm Beaches (561) 968-9622 Qi-Gong: Saturdays 8:15 a.m. YMCA of the Palm Beaches (561) 968-9622 rd ** This Y has opened all of their activities to our chapter members. Call Christina for more information. JUPITER, NORTH PALM BEACH, PALM BEACH GARDENS AND TEQUESTA When Where Contact Info. PD Education/ Support Group 3rd Friday, 12:30 p.m. Jupiter Community Center 200 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL Nancy: (561) 744-1442 Social Support Group 1st Friday, 2:30 p.m. Jupiter Community Center (561) 744-1442 Activities Surf n’ Turf: Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Jupiter Med Cntr, Outpatient Rehab (located behind the main hospital) 1004 So. Old Dixie Hwy., Jupiter (561) 263-5775 STUART When Where Contact Info. PD Education 2nd Monday, 1:00 p.m., 11/10, 1/12, 2/9 On 12/16 join with Port St. Lucie for a holiday party! Movers and Shakers Grace Place Church 1550 SE Salerno Rd., Stuart, FL Laura: (561) 209-6124 Support Group: Following PD Education Laura: (561) 209-6124 PORT ST. LUCIE When Where Contact Info. PD Education 3rd Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. 11/18, 12/16, 1/20, 2/17 Harbor Place 3700 SE Jennings Road Port St. Lucie, FL Laura: (561) 209-6124 Activities Surf n’ Turf: Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. Brennity at Port St. Lucie 10685 SW Stony Creek Way (772) 345-2700 gram) VERO BEACH (an NPF-supported program) When Where Contact Info. Support Group Last Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. Alzheimers & Parkinson Assoc. 2300 5th Avenue Vero Beach, FL Peggy Cunningham: (772) 563-0505 Activities Surf n’ Turf: Mondays, 11:30 a.m. Brennity at Vero Beach 7975 17th Lane Vero Beach, FL VIP America Home Health Care, Janet Wild: (772) 631-4458 Qi-Gong: Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. Alzheimers & Parkinson Assoc. (772) 563-0505 Parkinson Exercise: Tuesdays, 2:45 p.m. Tremble Class Voice Enhancement: Fridays, 1:00 p.m. Alzheimers & Parkinson Assoc. (772) 563-0505 Alzheimers & Parkinson Assoc. (772) 563-0505 Visit the Alzheimers & Parkinson Association website at http://www.alzpark.org/ The Effectiveness of Exercise in Slowing Parkinson Disease By Arlene Teichberg, Ph.D, ACSW This is a mini report on the effectiveness of exercise in slowing Parkinson Disease. The background of this study is as follows: The South Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Parkinson's Foundation runs Surf n’ Turf Programs at several YMCAs in Palm Beach County; Surf meaning the aquatic component and Turf meaning the land exercise component. At the Boca YMCA, Noah Fields, the aquatic instructor, presented an idea for an exercise program to Irving Layton, then President of the Chapter. Anna Palermo, the exercise instructor for the Turf part of the program at the Boca Y began testing participants in the land exercise program every five to six months, from 2009 to May 2014. These records suggest that continuous exercise plays a role in slowing down, and in a few cases, improving standardized test scores. Eighteen subjects were listed as having Parkinson and completing testing three or more times over a period of at least 17 to 18 months. (This was my criteria.) Anna listed 45 people who participated, but were not included because they either dropped out of the exercise program, were snowbirds that left Florida, or they had died. Six standardized tests were included: (1) chair sit to stand for 30 seconds; (2) arm curls eight times for women with a 5 lb. weight, eight times for men with an 8 lb. weight; (3) being timed when getting up from a chair, walking eight feet, turning around a cone, walking back to the chair and sitting down; (4) sitting and reaching forward with the same arm and same extended straight leg; (5) the back scratch: placing one arm over the back of your neck and the other arm under your back trying to make both hands touch; and (6) step-ups, where you stand and march in place, timed for 30 seconds (instead of 120 seconds). The scores were then multiplied by four. Parkinson's is a variable disease. Some people could not perform certain tests because they had walkers or wheelchairs, and they received non-applicable scores for those tests. Some people were at the end of their medication dose when they took the tests. For others, the slide in scores was due to the progression of their illness. Other significant factors influencing test outcomes related to the small sample size and rater reliability. Four questions were asked and each person's score for each test during the two or more years of testing was separately measured. No comparison was made between test subjects, because they were all at a different level of disease progression. Preliminary observation sought the following information: Question 1. How many people showed four or more improvements in the six categories of tests? Question 2. How many people showed three or more improvements in the six categories of tests? Question 3. How many people had three or more stable scores? Question 4. How many people had three or more scores that declined? There was a high rate of variability in test scores between subjects, possibly relating to the degree of Parkinson's symptoms present. Approximately 50 percent of the people maintained relatively stable test scores and about 6 percent showed improvement in four out of six test scores. Exercise programs highlight the need for expanded studies to determine the relationship between stable or improved test scores and Parkinson's quality of life. This local Chapter is to be commended for developing a preliminary research design, which warrants expansion into a larger study with more recruits and more tailored exercises. page 10 Is Parkinson Disease Hereditary? Did you know that about 10% of all cases of Parkinson Disease (PD) are genetic? In fact, a gene called LRRK2 is the greatest known genetic contributor to PD and is found more commonly in some ethnic groups than in others. For example, a mutation in the LRRK2 gene is found among 15 percent of Parkinson Disease patients of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. While having a mutation in the LRRK2 gene can increase your chances of developing Parkinson’s disease, many people with the mutation will not go on to develop the disease. The LRRK2 gene is the subject of intense investigation by Parkinson Disease researchers around the world because of its potential to lead to medical breakthroughs for all people with PD, not just those with a genetic form. Over the past decade, studies focused on the genetics of Parkinson Disease have revolutionized the pursuit of a “disease-modifying treatment” – a therapy that can slow or stop the progression of PD. To date, no disease-modifying treatment has been discovered – it is the single greatest unmet need of Parkinson patients today. For this reason, families of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage that carry a LRRK2 mutation have a vital role in this research. One study in particular, the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (or, PPMI for short), is seeking to learn more about how the LRRK2 gene can sometimes lead to Parkinson Disease. PPMI is the landmark study of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and is taking place at 32 clinical sites worldwide. The goal of PPMI is to identify indicators of PD progression to ultimately enable early and accurate detection and potentially help identify new and better treatments for future generations of people with Parkinson. Today, PPMI needs volunteers to participate in this study and is seeking individuals who meet either of the following criteria: • People with PD who are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry • People without PD who are related to someone with PD AND who are of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry Because PPMI is an observational study, participants do not take any experimental drug or placebo. Individuals who meet either of these criteria may be eligible to receive genetic counseling and testing at no cost to determine if they may qualify to participate in PPMI. Find out how you can get involved by visiting www.michaeljfox.org/ FLgenetics or calling (888) 830-6299. LifeLines Autumn 2014 There’s a New Movement Disorder Neurologist in Town! Meet Dr. Arif Dalvi Arif Dalvi, MD, MBA is leading the Comprehensive Movement Disorders Program at Palm Beach Neuroscience Institute and has recently joined the Advanced Neuroscience Network – an integrated delivery system of medical professionals and hospitals focused on offering a full continuum of neurological care throughout South Florida. He is a board-certified neurologist and has conducted research for more than 15 years on the surgical and pharmaceutical treatments of Parkinson disease. He is a member of the International Parkinson Study Group and is on the advisory board of the International Essential Tremor Foundation. He has been awarded the Doctor of Excellence Award by the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. He was formerly Director of the Neurology Residency Program at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Dalvi is fellowship trained in Parkinson Disease from Columbia University in New York. His research interests have included novel treatments such as deep brain stimulation and nerve growth factors, e.g. glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) for Parkinson disease. He has also worked on clinical trials for many of the recently FDA-approved drugs for Parkinson Disease, as well as on the study of genetic factors in Parkinson Disease. Dr. Dalvi has published widely on Parkinson Disease in a number of peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Neurosurgery, Annals of Neurology and Movement Disorders. He also has published book chapters on Parkinson disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson-plus syndromes, tremor disorders, normal pressure hydrocephalus and dystonia. Controlling the Causes of Drooling In patients with Parkinson Disease, drooling may occur due to "hypersalivation," but more often, it occurs because one forgets to swallow as often as needed. Phlegm and mucus are not at all uncommon among PD sufferers. Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the problem: 1) Alkalol: Medications, breathing through the mouth, sleeping with the mouth open, using medications that cause dry mouth, and other conditions can sometimes lead to a buildup of sticky mucous that is difficult to swallow. If drooling occurs, ask your dentist whether it might be helpful to try swishing the mouth, or gargling, with Alkalol, a mucous solvent. Its ingredients include thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, camphor, benzoin, potassium alum, potassium chlorate, sodium, bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and oils of sweet birch, spearmint, pine, and cinnamon, plus 2/100 of one-percent alcohol. It is commonly used as a mouthwash, nasal spray, and gargle, to cut mucous. People with sleep apnea, singers with throat irritation, and others use Alkalol, but it is fine as a daily mouthwash also. Alkalol is available at most U.S. drugstores; if your dentist agrees it might be useful, ask the pharmacist to point it out. If they don't carry it, the pharmacist can order it from The Alkalol Company, Taunton, Massachusetts 02780-0952. 2) Sips of pineapple juice (not pineapple drink or juice with sugar…just plain juice) or papaya (the fruit) will help relieve the throat of mucous and excess saliva. 3) The combination of fenugreek and thyme has helped a number of people who have problems with drooling or excess mucous. It can be obtained in capsule form at many health food stores. Dr. Dalvi has three convenient locations in Palm Beach County, with the main location in West Palm Beach at 901 Village Boulevard, Suite 702. His Palm Beach Gardens office is at 3375 Burns Road, Suite 101, and the Delray Beach office is at 5162 Linton Boulevard, Suite 106. Dr. Dalvi is also on staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach. www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org page 11 Genetic Variations Related to Gastrointestinal System Linked to Parkinson Disease A new study bolsters the theory that Parkinson Disease (PD) may begin in the digestive system. In research published in the May 17 online edition of Movement Disorders, scientists report that variations in the genes for certain intestinal proteins responsible for keeping the gut healthy may be associated with an increased risk of PD. The human intestines are lined with trillions of microorganisms, some helpful and others harmful. Several lines of evidence point to a role for the digestive tract early in PD. For example, clumps of alphasynuclein – the hallmark of PD in the brain – have been found in nerve cells of the colon in people who later developed PD. In addition, constipation is a common early symptom of PD, as are inflammation of the gut and an overgrowth of certain bacteria in the small intestine. Researchers, led by Samuel M. Goldman, M.D., M.P.H., at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, wanted to understand whether genetics can explain why some people develop PD and others may not. Following up on the gut-PD link, they asked whether variations in the genes encoding key proteins in the intestines may be correlated with increased or decreased risk for PD. These gut proteins are called peptidoglycans and help the body’s immune system recognize and respond to bacteria. But the components of these proteins can vary slightly from person to person. To test whether variations in the genes for the peptidoglycans proteins were associated with PD risk, the researchers analyzed DNA in blood samples collected from 518 people with PD and 543 healthy individuals. Participants were drawn from two earlier studies. Results • Common variants in three of four genes encoding peptidoglycan proteins were associated with an altered risk of PD – both decreased and increased risk. • The results were similar in two distinct populations of people with PD. What Does It Mean? This study is the first to link genetic variations in bacteria-responsive gut proteins called peptidoglycans to Parkinson Disease. In light of other associations between the gut and PD, the authors suggest that peptidoglycan proteins may play a role in causing the disease by influencing a person’s immune response to bacteria in the gut. Because this epidemiological study did not actually demonstrate that these genetic variations actually precipitated PD, further research is needed to discover the mechanisms by which these proteins are linked to PD. Nevertheless, this study helps define a new direction for scientists to pursue an understanding and potential treatment for Parkinson disease. This article was originally published as part of Parkinson’s Science News: What Does It Mean? on the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF) website on June 17, 2014. page 12 LifeLines Autumn 2014 Treating Hearing Loss May Help Prevent Falls Hopeful News from the Foxfeed Blog Every year, approximately one-third of American adults 65 and older experience a fall, according to a report from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. The direct medical costs for fall-related injuries among the elderly exceeds $20 billion annually, and is expected to increase as the U.S. population continues to age. Parkinson Vaccine Safe in Phase I Trial A treatment that could slow or stop Parkinson Disease today took one step closer to pharmacy shelves when the Austrian biotech AFFiRiS AG announced positive results of its Phase I safety trial of a vaccine against alpha-synuclein. In discussing how to prevent falls, we typically talk about obvious causes, such as uneven floors or outdoor surfaces, slippery bathtubs, loose rugs, and health conditions. New research points to another possible cause: hearing loss, which affects an estimated 10 percent of the U.S. population and nearly one-third of adults 60 and older. People with even a mild hearing loss of 25 decibels are three times more likely to fall than those in the normal-hearing population, and each additional 10 decibels increases the risk of falling by 1.4 times, according to a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researcher who studied 2,000 adults ages 40 to 69. Researchers aren’t certain why hearing loss contributes to the risk of falling. They hypothesize that people who can’t hear well may not have a good overall awareness of their environment, making them more susceptible to tripping and falling. Hearing loss may also place a large “cognitive load” on individuals, interfering with their ability to maintain balance and gait. Lastly, people who cannot hear well tend to stay by themselves and may be less active, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Reduced physical activity, in turn, may increase the likelihood of a fall. If you suspect hearing loss, HearPO providers are qualified to test your hearing and, if necessary, provide treatment with hearing aids. Call (888) 689-6281 or visit www.hearpo.com/legion to schedule an appointment. Alpha-synuclein is the sticky protein that clumps in the cells of people with Parkinson, and AFFiRiS hopes to stop disease by inducing antibodies against alpha-synuclein accumulation. The Michael J. Fox Foundation funded this work. This is the first drug against alpha-synuclein to reach clinical testing. "A treatment that could slow or stop Parkinson's progression would be a game changer for the five million worldwide living with this disease and the many more who will become at risk as our population ages," said MJFF CEO Todd Sherer, PhD. "This trial is one of the most promising efforts toward that goal." A Few Ways We May Stop Parkinson Disease Scientists think that aggregates of alpha-synuclein – called Lewy bodies –- are toxic, killing off cells and leading to PD symptoms. Therefore, avoiding or breaking up Lewy bodies is a major focus of research. Projects that target alpha-synuclein to stop or prevent Parkinson disease may take one of four approaches: • Lower alpha-synuclein levels overall: Scientists hypothesize that less alpha-synuclein means less opportunity for Lewy bodies, so they are exploring ways to prevent the body from making this protein, such as interfering with gene signaling. • Break up Lewy bodies in the cells: Since clumps of alpha-synuclein clog up cells, researchers are working on a therapy that would break up Lewy bodies (like untying a knot) and allow the cells to function properly. • Help the cells clear out Lewy bodies: A cell may stay healthy if it is able to rid itself of the Lewy bodies before they have harmful effects. • Catch Lewy bodies on the move: One theory proposes that Lewy bodies are released from cells and infiltrate others to spread the disease. Another suggests that the diseased cells give off a signal to other cells that makes the alpha-synuclein in those secondary cells start to clump. Either way, if a drug could stop the disease from spreading between cells, it would stop its progression. www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org page 13 Tribute Program The South Palm Beach County Chapter gratefully acknowledges the following gifts received through October 15, 2014. These contributions will help support research designed to find more effective treatments and a cure for Parkinson Disease, and will provide programs and services to improve the lives of Parkinson patients and their families in our community. Memoriams In MEMORY of Irving Layton Jack Mueller Marilyn Perlin Paula and Jerry Greenblatt Jeff and Bonnie Austin Mr. and Mrs. Peter J Weidhorn Wendy and Bob Steinert Carol Goldstein Marilyn Rudne & Seth Schlegel In MEMORY of Marian Brems Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pollock Robert E. Kinker Ann Jamo Jeanne and Don Kiser Patricia Dahl Connie and Mike Haglage The Management and Staff of Azimuth Capital Management Mr. and Mrs. Henry C Gessing Mr. and Mrs. Mark Stebbin Veo and Jim Martin Robert & Ann Iams Donald & Jeanne Kiser Margery Walz Kathleen Brickley In MEMORY of Howard Isaacs William & Elaine Goldstein Bobbie & Allen Pilnick Robert & Jerome Bernstein Pearl & Leon Hyman Rochelle & Irwin Kossack In MEMORY of Bill Weil Lucille Wisbaum Leah and Allan Lipman Sheila Trossman and Bud Anthone Neil and Judy Kugel The Saperstein Family Susan Howard (Mehr) In MEMORY of Norman Hernberg Renee and Alan Miller Lila Bashe and Seymour Sarrel Joan and Fred Brunswick David and Joan Demyan Janice and Bernard Berger Ms. Ricky Rapoport Royal Lakes Community Edith Klein Rita and David Wachs In MEMORY of Evelyn Greenberg From Ruth Palefsky In MEMORY of Janet Levy Helaine Gurgold In MEMORY of Vivian Snyder Ms. Ricky Rapoport In MEMORY of Ruth Weinstein Sylvia Weiss Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Kershanbaum In MEMORY of Evelyn Imperial Ray Imperial SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY CHAPTER N.P.F. I want to support the mission of the National Parkinson Foundation by becoming a MEMBER of the South Palm Beach County Chapter. Name: Address: City: State/Zip: Phone: Email: page 14 In MEMORY of Robert S. Levy The Seattle Mariners In MEMORY of Miriam Sobel Carol Goldstein In MEMORY of Norman Hernberg Muriel Hernberg Rita Wachs David & Joan Demyan Haskell & Ricky Rapoport In MEMORY of Anna Yang Margaret Chowdhay Donations Renee Miller Norman Nirenberg Shirley Vallieres Dona Kahn M. Berman Mary Roderick Joyce Heitner Allan Katz Elaine Christman Raza Waseeman Sylvia Weiss Lila Bashe Veo Martin Sally Stebbins Raymond Imperial Ruth Palefsky Mary Roderick q $25 per person, Annual Membership q $_________________ Additional Contribution (optional) q $200 per person, Lifetime Membership Enclosed is my check payable to the SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY CHAPTER N.P.F. Return to: P.O. Box 880145, Boca Raton, FL 33488-0145. For more information, call (561) 306-2090. STOP PARKINSON’S DISEASE BEFORE IT STRIKES SOMEONE WE LOVE! THANK YOU FOR CARING. LifeLines Autumn 2014 Holiday Gift Ideas The holidays are just around the comer. Here are some gift suggestions that are both thoughtful and beneficial. National Parkinson Foundation Featured Products: Smart Spoon Lift Labs' Liftware – The vibrating spoon/fork makes eating easier by counteracting tremors. Whatever It Takes Bracelets (20-pack) $20 A Special Cup So Her Grandpa with Parkinson Disease Can Drink Without Spilling – Lily, an l l-year-old Skokie, Illinois girl, designed the Kangaroo Cup. It has three legs to stabilize it, preventing spills. Weighted Pen – Makes writing easier. Made for those who have difficulty controlling their movements. There is an option to add weight according to your comfort. Ring Pen – These pens are useful for those who have problems gripping a pen. Inserting your index finger in the ring space on the pen, will give more control when writing. MagnaReady Shirts – Maura Horton designed shirts with magnetic buttons to help her husband diagnosed with Parkinson Disease tackle his clothes. Pretzels for Parkinson – For a special treat, Pretzels for Parkinson sells scrumptious delicacies that everyone will enjoy. Food Warmer Dish – This dish is designed for individuals who require extra time to finish a meal. The plate is kept warm by filling a chamber beneath it with hot water. It includes a funnel and is dishwasher safe. Whatever It Takes Men and Women T-Shirt $18 Whatever It Takes Hat $16 Whatever It Takes Bag $12 Whatever It Takes Mug $11 Whatever It Takes Buttons (5-pack) $10 Massage Therapy Sessions – Massage reduces symptoms of Parkinson Disease, Massage Magazine. Health Benefits of Laughter – Studies have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, brings happiness, and even increases immunity. Laughter is healing. Purchase/rent a comedy DVD or go see a funny movie. Yoga Classes – Music, meditation and deep breathing can help restore a sense of calm. There are Yoga classes tailored to Parkinson patients. Renew your Annual Membership to our Chapter or make a contribution in your name. Honor someone for a special achievement or occasion, encourage a speedy recovery from illness, or pay homage to a person in memory, and give that tribute meaning by making a donation in his or her name, to the South Palm Beach County Chapter National Parkinson Foundation P. O. Box 880145, Boca Raton, FL 33488-0145, Or contact Amy Cohen at (954) 415-9996 or [email protected] We will be happy to send a card letting that person know that you made a contribution in their honor to HELP FIND A CURE. What better way to say how much they mean to you! www.npfsouthpalmbeach.org Volunteers Needed… The South Palm Beach County Chapter of NPF asks for your help: With administration • With pre-event planning • With event activities You can devote as much time as you can spare, and make a valuable contribution to our community. If you can help in any way, please call Bonnie Austin at (561) 445-3708. page 15 South Palm Beach County Chapter NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOCA RATON, FL PERMIT NO. 1949 P.O. Box 880145 Boca Raton, FL 33488-0145 Celebrate victory – don’t dwell on defeat, and count your blessings every day!
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