Italy observes International Parkinson’s Day on April 11, 2024, in an effort to raise awareness about the neurodegenerative disease that affects over 300 thousand people in the country. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential for controlling automatic movements in the body.
The typical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremors at rest, rigidity, slowness of movements, and loss of balance. Patients may experience freezing episodes, where they feel unable to initiate movement, particularly while walking. Pharmacological therapies, such as levodopa, are commonly used to manage symptoms. However, recent advancements have led to the approval of a new therapy based on foslevodopa/foscarbidopa in continuous subcutaneous infusion to provide better symptom control for patients in the advanced stages of the disease.
Non-pharmacological interventions, such as speech therapy, psychological therapy, and physiotherapy, are also beneficial in managing specific symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. For some patients, deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery may be an option to alleviate severe symptoms that are no longer responsive to traditional treatments.
As the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease continues to rise globally, efforts to improve treatments and raise awareness about the condition are crucial. International Parkinson’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting individuals living with this debilitating disease and advancing research to find a cure.