Parkinson's Disease Foundation Highlights Under-recognized Aspects of Disease with New Online Educational Series

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Disease Foundation® (PDF®) is pleased to announce the launch of its latest series of PD ExpertBriefings — six free online seminars designed to shed light on under-recognized aspects of Parkinson's disease. The series, presented by leaders in Parkinson's research and care, begins today, Tuesday, September 15 at 1:00 PM ET at www.pdf.org/parkinsononline.

"Many people living with Parkinson's disease experience symptoms we may not initially understand, such as changes in our mood, motivation or our ability to multi-task. It may take years to realize these changes are part of our disease," says Karen Smith of Evansville, IN, Vice Chair of PDF's People with Parkinson's Advisory Council. "Through PD ExpertBriefings, PDF is raising awareness of common yet under-recognized aspects of the disease and ensuring that people with Parkinson's have the tools to manage them."

The latest series kicks off today by approaching a commonly-discussed topic, "Nutrition and Parkinson's Disease," from a rarely-discussed viewpoint: weight management. In Parkinson's disease, issues related to nutrition, appetite, swallowing and medications can lead to unwanted weight loss and gain. The seminar, led by Heather Zwickey, Ph.D., Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, Director of the Helfgott Research Institute and Professor of Immunology at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, will provide practical strategies for managing both aspects of the disease.

The series includes additional seminars discussing other often overlooked aspects of Parkinson's disease such as cognitive issues, dementia, anxiety, apathy and depression. It also includes PDF's annual update on experimental treatments in the pipeline for Parkinson's disease, with a special focus on gene and cell therapies.

"The Parkinson's Disease Foundation is working each day to end this disease and put ourselves out of business," said PDF President Robin Anthony Elliott. "Until the day comes when we close our doors, we tell our community: they are open to you. Please take advantage of our free programs, including this latest series of educational PD ExpertBriefings, to find the tools for living your best life with Parkinson's disease today."

Qualifying health professionals have the opportunity to earn free continuing education credits by participating live or within 30 days of any PD ExpertBriefing. The full schedule appears below.

PD ExpertBriefings Schedule

Nutrition and Parkinson's Disease
Tuesday, September 15, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Heather Zwickey, Ph.D., Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, Director of the Helfgott Research Institute and Professor of Immunology, National College of Natural Medicine

Cognitive Issues: Advice for Parkinson's Care Partners
In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month
Tuesday, November 10, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Rebecca Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, NYU Langone Medical Center & NYU Langone Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center

Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease
Tuesday, January 5, 2016, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Joseph H. Friedman, M.D., Director, Movement Disorders Program, Butler Hospital and Professor and Chief, Division of Movement Disorders, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University

Dealing with Dementia in PD
Tuesday, March 1, 2016, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Jennifer G. Goldman, M.D., M.S., Associate Professor, Section of Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurological Sciences, PDF Research Center at Rush University Medical Center

What's in the PD Pipeline? Gene and Cell Therapies
Tuesday, April 12, 2016, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Roger Barker, M.B.B.S, M.R.C.P, Ph.D., Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Honorary Consultant, Neurology, University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital

Apathy or Depression: Which One Is It?
Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM ET
Dawn Bowers, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology; Area Head, Neuropsychology; Director, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida

To participate online or by mobile device, visit www.pdf.org/parkinsononline or contact PDF at (800) 457-6676.  Pre-registration is highly recommended. Online viewers can submit questions during the seminar.

About Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the US. Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease.

About PD ExpertBriefings
PD ExpertBriefings are free interactive seminars that provide people with Parkinson's disease, families and health care professionals with first-hand access to leaders in research and care.  Since 2009, PDF has offered more than 40 PD ExpertBriefings, which are available on its website at www.pdf.org/parkinsononline and via DVD. PDF offers continuing education credits to health care professionals who participate in PD ExpertBriefings through its sponsorship of the American Society on Aging. The 2015-2016 series of PD ExpertBriefings covers topics chosen with the help of the Parkinson's disease community, including more than 1,000 survey respondents and seven regional Parkinson's disease organizations, having been designed in collaboration with the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS); Houston Area Parkinson Society (HAPS); Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF); Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC); Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR); Parkinson's Association (PA) and Parkinson Support Center of Kentuckiana (PSCKY). The series has been made possible by educational grants from Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Lundbeck LLC.

About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation
The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy. We are working for the nearly one million people in the US who live with Parkinson's by funding promising scientific research while supporting people living with Parkinson's through educational programs and services. Since its founding in 1957, PDF has dedicated nearly $110 million to fund the work of leading scientists throughout the world and nearly $47 million to support national education and advocacy initiatives.

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SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation

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