LM April 2024

Parkinson’s ... cont’d.

Nevertheless, it’s possible to have a good to great quality of life with Parkinson’s disease. Working with your doctor and following recommended therapies are essential to successful treatment – as is the use of dopaminergic medications, which activate dopamine receptors in the brain and are taken lifelong to treat symptoms and slow the disease’s progress. Another beneficial treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease is exercise that promotes functional body movement and balance control. Participants are advised to seek out classes that accommodate individual strengths. Examples include: • Chair Yoga—freestyle class format. • Bands and Balance—freestyle class format. • Rock Steady Boxing—a national program that works to improve hand-eye coordination, footwork, core strength and balance, based on individual testing scores.

disease more than motor symptoms. Examples of nonmotor symptoms include: • Depression.

• Anxiety. • Apathy.

• Hallucinations. • Constipation. • Orthostatic hypotension. • Sleep disorders. • Loss of sense of smell. • A variety of cognitive impairments. Is there any effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease? Although there’s no cure, treatment options vary and include medications, lifestyle adjustments and surgery. While Parkinson’s disease itself isn’t fatal, disease complications can be serious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rates complications from Parkinson’s disease as the 14th leading cause of death in the U.S.

Podcast:

Cahokia Receives Federal TSL Grant In this episode, we highlight Cahokia CUSD #187. The district is set to embark on a potentially transformational journey after receiving a multi-million dollar federal grant. The program provides federal

support for high-need districts to implement, improve or expand their human-resources system, which must include a performance based compensation system. Our guests are Superintendent Curtis McCall, Dr. Patrick Rice and Dr. Constance Evelyn. Click here to listen.

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LM April 2024