Parkinsons Disease

Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. Sometimes known as Shaking palsy, Parkinson’s disease affects about two of every one thousand people, most often after age 50. It affects both men and women and is one of the most common neurologic disorders of the elderly. The disease occurs when the brain nerve cells that control muscle movement are gradually destroyed. The damage gets worse with time. The disorder may affect one or both sides of the body, creating varying degrees of loss of function.

In Parkinson’s disease nerve cells, which are dependent on a brain chemical called dopamine, gradually decrease, disturbing the balance between nerve-signaling substances (transmitters). Loss of dopamine in certain brain areas affects pleasure and mood as well as motivation and the ability to make voluntary movements. Common symptoms include muscle rigidity, stooped posture, loss of balance, shuffling walk, muscle aches, tremors, voice or speech change and loss of fine motor skills which can affect eating and writing. Depression, memory loss and confusion are also possible. Medications are used to control symptoms primarily by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain.

Florida Hospital Parkinson's Outreach Center

Florida Hospital’s Parkinson’s Outreach Center is the only center in Central Florida dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones. The center offers a variety of services including support group meetings, an online support group, exercise and dance classes, music therapy sessions, educational materials and clinical referrals.

The Parkinson’s Outreach Center has three convenient support group meeting locations to best serve the Central Florida community including Florida Hospital Orlando, Florida Hospital Altamonte and the Renaissance Senior Center in East Orlando. Please call 407-303-5295 or e-mail fh.parkinson@flhosp.org for more information. We also have a unique online support group which members can use to interact with each other. To become part of the family, sign up at http://groups.google.com/group/orlando-parkinson-support. Let the Parkinson’s Outreach Center help you stop suffering and start living.

To learn more about our Parkinson's Outreach Center and services provided, see our flyer or contact us.