2024 -- S 2939

========

LC005701

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2024, TO BE “PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH” IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senator Jessica de la Cruz

     Date Introduced: March 29, 2024

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

1

     WHEREAS, Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease and is the

2

second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, second only to Alzheimer’s

3

disease; and

4

     WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Parkinson’s is

5

the 14th leading cause of death in the United States; and

6

     WHEREAS, Approximately one million people in the United States are currently living

7

with Parkinson's Disease. Every six minutes there is a new Parkinson's Disease diagnosis, every

8

day 240 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and each year there are nearly 90,000 new

9

diagnoses of Parkinson's Disease which represents a 50 percent increase from previous years. In

10

Rhode Island, one in every 2,000 people suffer from Parkinson's Disease; and

11

     WHEREAS, Approximately ten percent of Parkinson's Disease diagnoses occur before

12

the age of 50, with the onset of Parkinson's Disease commonly occurring between the ages of 55

13

and 65; and

14

     WHEREAS, Although research suggests Parkinson’s results from a combination of

15

genetic and environmental factors, the exact cause and progression of the disease is still unknown

16

and there is no objective test or biomarker with which to diagnose the disease; and

17

     WHEREAS, Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease vary from person to person and can

18

include tremors, slowness, difficulty with balance, swallowing, chewing, speaking, rigidity,

19

constipation, skin problems, cognitive problems, dementia, and mood disorders such as

 

1

depression and anxiety; and

2

     WHEREAS, Currently there is no known cure or drug to slow or halt the progression of

3

Parkinson’s Disease, and available treatments are limited in their ability to address the medical

4

needs of patients; and

5

     WHEREAS, Increased efforts and awareness are desperately needed to help expedite

6

research efforts for better treatments, and ultimately a cure, as well as creating enhanced

7

programs and services to help those impacted by Parkinson’s Disease to improve their quality of

8

life until a cure is found; now, therefore be it

9

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims April of

10

2024, to be "Parkinson’s Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

11

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

12

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the American Parkinson Disease Association,

13

Rhode Island Chapter.

========

LC005701

========

 

LC005701 - Page 2 of 2