Parkinson Society Canada is working diligently to achieve positive change for people living with Parkinson’s disease, as well as dementia. Up to 70 per cent of people with Parkinson’s disease will develop some form of cognitive impairment or dementia in their lifetime. The following are some of our recent initiatives to raise awareness among parliamentarians, global policy makers and the general public of the complex impact of dementia on the Parkinson’s community.
Café Scientifique
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, in collaboration with Alzheimer Society of Canada and Parkinson Society Canada, hosted a Café Scientifique on September 4, 2014 in Ottawa for a public discussion on dementia. Patricia Doucette, caregiver to her husband Dennis with Parkinson’s and dementia, was part of the expert panel sharing insights and first-hand experience about life with dementia.
G7 meeting on dementia
Joyce Gordon, President & CEO, was joined by Parkinson’s researchers Drs. Susan Fox and Oury Monchi at the Canada-France Global Dementia Legacy Event on September 11and 12, 2014 in Ottawa. The event, which stemmed from the G8 Dementia Summit in London, UK, last spring, explored how partnerships between industry and academia can be leveraged to support the global fight against this pressing health issue. The National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions was also released at the meeting, providing new information on the impact of Parkinson’s disease in Canada.
Guest editorial in Show Me the Evidence
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research invited Joyce Gordon to write a guest editorial in their online publication Show Me the Evidence. The guest editorial was featured in the fall issue and emphasized the power of partnerships and collaboration in the discovery of research breakthroughs in dementia and Parkinson’s disease. To view the full article, click here.
Moving forward with a national dementia strategy
The Minister of Health Rona Ambrose’s recent announcement about the development of a national dementia strategy provides Parkinson Society Canada the opportunity to continue collaborating with the Government of Canada. We look forward to working with government representatives on this initiative to develop a comprehensive and integrated response to the needs of all Canadians affected by dementia, including those living with Parkinson’s.