Today, April 11th is World Parkinson’s Disease Day: Gait Up supports research in the field of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), to improve quality of life of patients. Take a look at the Parkinson’s Disease section of our Science Page [under Neurologic & Chronic Conditions] to read publications validating our Gait Analysis system on patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a long-term degressive, degenerative neurological disease. It is a movement disorder; as the disease progresses, body movements such as walking and talking become affected. It is associated with motor symptoms such as tremor, freezing and rigidity. But people who develop the condition also suffer non-motor symptoms such as fatigue, depression and sleep disturbance. Around 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease.

April 11th was chosen in commemoration of the birthday of Dr James Parkinson, the English doctor who described the disease in a paper entitled “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy”, in 1817. Every year following, the World Parkinson’s Disease Day raises awareness and support for people living with this neurological disorder.
The symbol of World Parkinson’s Disease Day is a red tulip from 2005. This dates back to 1980 when a Dutch horticulturist who had Parkinson’s disease, developed a red and white tulip, that he named the ‘Dr James Parkinson’ tulip.

Today is an opportunity to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms, and improve the lives of patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

[Source: Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Wikipedia]