No Matter What campaign
inspires hope and resilience

Parkinson Canada advocates for more awareness and support in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

By Lisa Mintz

April is Parkinson Awareness Month, dedicated to bringing awareness to the disease and celebrating the volunteers within our communities who are committed to supporting the resilience of those affected. COVID-19 has taken the focus as an acute world crisis, overshadowing various life-threatening illnesses, postponing treatment, and essential support.

Those within the Parkinson’s community have been hit particularly hard, creating a potential wave of health consequences. Despite the misconception that Parkinson’s Disease only affects those older than 60, it is a complex brain disease that can impact adults of all ages with varying symptoms.

Glenn Hogan is a Montrealer who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 44. At first, he refused to give up his active lifestyle and job, but the disease is progressive and, a few years later, he was taking 20 pills a day to help control the symptoms and had to take a leave of absence from his job.

Parkinson’s disease is on the rise globally with Canada experiencing among the highest rates of prevalence worldwide. More than 25 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s in Canada every day. By 2031 that number is expected to double.

After about seven years, Glenn learned he was the candidate for an invasive but promising procedure known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). He had the surgery and was improving, but his body rejected the device and he had to go through the whole 12-hour brain surgery a second time.

Glenn Hogan

Glenn said, “I feel it is very important for me to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease because there are so many people misinformed out there and I believe that my experience can be of great value to help others, especially those considering going for DBS. The surgery has given me my life back – I can work again. It has allowed me to have literal control over my motor symptoms through the DBS technology, which I can fine-tune.”

Parkinson’s is notoriously difficult to detect, which can lead people to go years before being diagnosed. Glenn’s doctors acted quickly, allowing him to begin the journey of accepting his diagnosis and managing his care a lot sooner. He uses his voice to advocate for the Parkinson’s community and help others struggling with their diagnosis.

Parkinson’s disease is on the rise globally with Canada experiencing among the highest rates of prevalence worldwide. More than 25 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s in Canada every day. By 2031 that number is expected to double.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only made accessing care, support services, therapeutics, and other resources more difficult for those living with the disease. The pandemic has severely backlogged our healthcare system. Canadians in some regions were already facing wait times upwards of two years before they can see a specialist to determine if they have Parkinson’s, and the current public health context has only made matters worse.

‘The surgery has given me my life back – I can work again. It has allowed me to have literal control over my motor symptoms through the DBS technology, which I can fine-tune.’

– Glenn Hogan, DBS recipient

Parkinson Canada advocates for those living with the disease and provides ongoing support while funding innovative research that will provide Canadians with improved treatment options, access to care, and improved quality of life.

Parkinson Canada’s newest campaign, No Matter What, inspires hope and resilience for Canadians living with Parkinson’s and their families, further communicating the commitment to overcome obstacles and support Canadians living with Parkinson’s to live well today while working together on the path to a cure.

Parkinson Canada brings together the best in Parkinson’s research as a founding partner of the Canadian Open Parkinson Network (C-OPN). This network gives researchers in the field the platform to make new connections and share findings leading to innovative advancements for Parkinson’s disease.

During Parkinson Awareness Month and throughout the year, stay connected with Parkinson Canada by visiting parkinson.ca or calling 1 800 565 3000.

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Images: courtesy of Parkinson CanadaRead also: other articles by Lisa Mintz

Parkinson Canada is the national voice of Canadians living with Parkinson’s disease. From diagnosis to discovery, the organization provides education, advocacy and support services to people living with Parkinson’s, caregivers and health care professionals. The Parkinson Canada Research Program funds innovative research to search for better treatments and a cure. Parkinson Canada pursues a pan Canadian mandate while keeping regional specificities through its eight offices in Canada. The Quebec office is based in Montreal. Visit parkinson.ca