Brussels, Belgium, 11th April 2012, 0700 CET - UCB is
announcing a new initiative for World Parkinson's Disease
Day 2012 that is designed to support communication around
all aspects of Parkinson's Disease (PD). The Parkinson's
Well-Being Map™ is a visual tool designed to help people
with PD discuss their health status and well-being with
their care teams. A new video 'Living with Parkinson's
Disease: Insights and Inspirations' is also shared today
and gives a voice to people with Parkinson's on the effects
of the condition on their lives.
The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ was developed by UCB in
consultation with people living with PD and in partnership
with the European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA),
the Cure Parkinson's Trust and the Spanish Federation of
Parkinson's Disease.
"The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ translates a complex issue
into an 'at-a-glance' summary of symptoms of an
individual's Parkinson's. By including both movement
related and underlying symptoms, it can help people talk to
their healthcare team about all aspects of Parkinson's
including symptoms such as sleep disturbances and mood
changes, which they may not have realised could be part of
their Parkinson's," said Knut-Johan Onarheim, President of
the EPDA.
Designed to be simple and easy to use, the Parkinson's
Well-Being Map™ should help people with Parkinson's monitor
and record their symptoms over time as well as summarise
their health and well-being in preparation for their
consultation with their healthcare team. The Map is already
available in paper format in certain countries worldwide,
and will be available in further countries during 2012.
UCB is committed to supporting educational programs that
inspire and encourage people living with Parkinson's
Disease to achieve their personal goals and to support
communication on their health and well-being with their
care team. The Parkinson's Well-Being Map™ builds on 'Today
I will…' an ongoing initiative from UCB which encourages
people affected by Parkinson's to make motivational pledges
to inspire and support others.
'Today I will…' pledges received to date include:
• "Today I will… take inspiration from other pledges, then
hopefully realise I'm not alone. I thank you all."
• "Today I will… totally forget my Parkinson's when walking
in the sun, the energy comes back, the winter time is over
and then I really enjoy my life!"
• "Today I will… ask my patient how they are living rather
than how they are moving."
"Parkinson's Disease is a complicated condition which can
have a significant impact on how people live their lives.
At UCB we are committed to supporting people with
Parkinson's by developing resources that help them to
communicate their full range of symptoms to their
healthcare teams and connect with each other for motivation
and inspiration," said Lode Dewulf, MD, Vice President,
Global Medical Affairs, UCB.
People can show their support on World Parkinson's Disease
Day by viewing 'Living with Parkinson's Disease: Insights
and Inspirations' at
http://www.youtube.com/user/UCB?ob=0&feature=results_main
or to learn more about UCB's educational initiatives to
inspire people with Parkinson's including the Parkinson's
Well-Being Map™ and 'Today I will…' visit www.parkinsons-voices.eu.
For further information
Eimear O Brien, Director, Communications, UCB
T +32.2.559.9271, eimear.obrien@ucb.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About World Parkinson's Disease Day
World Parkinson's Disease Day is marked on April
11 in commemoration of the birth of Dr. James Parkinson
(1755 - 1824) who established the disease as a clinical
entity.1 Activities on this day aim to raise public
awareness for one of the most common progressive
degenerative neurological disorders and to show support for
people living with the condition.
About Parkinson's Voices ( )
Parkinson's Voices (www.parkinsons-voices.eu)
is a UCB website created for people who want to know more
about PD, to share experiences with those who have the
condition, and to find out how different members of their
healthcare team can help them. www.parkinsons-voices.eu
About Parkinson's Disease
PD is a progressive neurological condition which
affects over six million people worldwide.2 It is
predominantly characterised by problems with body
movements, known as 'motor symotoms'.2 The classical
symptoms of PD are tremor, muscular rigidity and
bradykinesia including slowness and poverty of movement.3
Other underlying symptoms that are not related to movement
can also occur such as pain, sleep disturbance and mood
changes.2
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global
biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and
development of innovative medicines and solutions to
transform the lives of people living with severe diseases
of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With
more than 8 500 people in about 40 countries, the company
generated revenue of EUR 3.2 billion in 2011. UCB is listed
on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
References
1. European Parkinson's Disease Association Charter.
1997. Available at http://www.epda.eu.com/worldpdday/epda-charter/
Last accessed March 2012
2. European Parkinson's Disease Association - Life with
Parkinson's disease: What is Parkinson's disease? Available
at:
http://www.parkinsonsawareness.eu.com/en/campaign-literature/what-is-parkinsons-disease/
Last accessed March 2012
3. European Parkinson's Disease Association - Life with
Parkinson's disease: Symptoms Available at: http://www.parkinsonsawareness.eu.
Last accessed March 2012
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