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On the 11th of this month the World Parkinson's Disease Day was celebrated, and Joaquim Ferreira, professor at FMUL, marked this day with an opinion article published in Raio X.

It is estimated that, in Portugal, this disease afflicts more than 18,000 people. This number may increase further.

There are treatments that improve the quality of life of these patients but unfortunately these are not easily accessible in all regions of the country.

“By being unaware of the characteristics of this disease, we may be adopting behaviours that do not help the people afflicted. This happens when we do not comprehend that the patients may be slower performing daily tasks; when we honk at someone slowly walking on the crossing or just standing with their feet apparently glued to the ground; when we think that the switch between moments when patients are very ill (OFF) and moments when they are doing fine (ON) is an option and not something uncontrollable; when even the healthcare professionals do not understand the need for taking medication every 2 hours”, says Professor Joaquim Ferreira.

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Read the full article here

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Source and image: Raio X

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Cristina Bastos

Editorial Team