The Parkinson’s Association of San Diego is holding its sixth annual Empowerment Day event on Wednesday to educate those diagnosed with the chronic health condition and their family caregivers about living with the disease.
The all-day event at the Marina Village Conference Center in San Diego will feature a series of 15- to 20-minute sessions led by a team of experts in the field of Parkinson’s disease. This year’s lectures will include discussions on treatments like deep brain stimulation, the benefits of exercises like boxing and yoga, ongoing Parkinson’s disease research and tips to help people cope with symptoms.
Lunch will include a performance by the Tremble Clefs, a group of performers diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who sing as part of their therapy for the voice symptoms associated with the disease.
Although registration is full for the Empowerment Day, all of the event’s speaker lectures will be available online for the general public to view following the event.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by the gradual degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain, leading to a variety of symptoms including tremors, stiff muscles, confusion, sleep problems and difficulty with balance and coordination.
In addition to its educational programming, like Empowerment Day, the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego has a mentor program for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their family caregivers to connect with those who share the experience of living with the disease. The organization also publishes a mini podcast series and offers free devices like wheelchairs, canes and walkers to help those whose mobility is affected by the disease.
For more information about the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego, its educational programming and support initiatives, visit parkinsonsassociation.org.
