Parkinson’s Awareness Month

WHEREAS, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological movement disorder of the central nervous system, which has a unique impact on each patient; and

WHEREAS, according to the Parkinson’s Action Network, the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, the National Parkinson Foundation, the American Parkinson Disease Association and the National Institutes of Health, there are over one million Americans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, symptoms include slowness, tremor, difficulty with balance and speaking rigidity, cognitive and memory problems; and

WHEREAS, although new medicines and therapies may enhance life for some time for people with Parkinson’s, more work is needed for a cure; and

WHEREAS, increased education and research are needed to help find more effective treatments with fewer side effects and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, a multidisciplinary approach to Parkinson’s disease care includes local wellness, support and caregiver groups; and

WHEREAS, April has been designated as Parkinson’s Awareness Month for all to recognize the need for more research and help in coping with the devastating effects of Parkinson’s disease:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2014, as

Parkinson’s Awareness Month

in the state of Alabama.