Parkinson’s Disease symposium to address current treatments, lifestyle

Annual UCI Health event for patients, caregivers features national experts

UCI Health invites patients, caregivers and interested members of the public to attend a free special event, Parkinson’s Disease Symposium 2016: Current and Future Developments from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Dec. 3, 2016 at the UC Irvine campus.

“We encourage the attendance of anyone in the community interested in learning more about Parkinson’s Disease, recent discoveries, treatment and how to live the most productive life with Parkinson’s,” said Nicolás M. Phielipp, MD, symposium director, assistant professor, UCI Health Department of Neurology and Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program. “This year’s symposium will focus on lifestyle modifications, changes in memory, recent discoveries and ongoing research.”

More than 400 people attended last year’s event and feedback was very positive, Phielipp said. “We are looking forward to another great symposium.”

Parkinson's disease is a progressive movement disorder of unknown cause that currently has no cure. Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, medication and surgery to manage its symptoms. According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson's disease. 

“The UCI Health annual Parkinson’s disease symposium has an established tradition of dialogue with our community and leaders in the field about state of the art treatments and the latest developments in research,” said Neal Hermanowicz, MD, director, Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program and professor and vice-chair, UCI Health Department of Neurology.  “This year’s program promises to continue in that strong tradition. We welcome our previous attendees and look forward to meeting new ones.”

Symposium topics include:

• Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease, with Mark Mapstone, PhD, clinical professor of neurology,  UC Irvine and UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders.
• Current Treatments and New Developments in Parkinson’s Disease, with Nicolás Phielipp, MD, symposium director and assistant professor, UCI Health Department of Neurology.
• Lifestyle Recommendations in Parkinson’s Disease, with Cheryl Waters, MD, Albert B. and Judith L. Glickman Professor of Neurology, division of movement disorders, department of neurology, Columbia University.

Attendees are encouraged to participate in the several question and answer panels with the physicians.

The symposium is sponsored by the UCI Health Department of Neurology and will be held at the UC Irvine Student Center, ballrooms C and D, 311 W. Peltason Dr. at Pereira Drive, Irvine, 92697. Attendees may park in the nearby Student Center parking structure, and should inform the attendant that they are here for the symposium.

The UCI Health Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders, combining state-of-the-art clinical care and advanced technology in a warm and reassuring environment. Physicians are board-certified and fellowship-trained in treating Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, including Huntington's disease and dystonia. The program works in collaboration with physical therapists and nutrition counselors to personalize each patient’s care.

The program offers patients leading-edge clinical research and access to the latest trials. The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders team belongs to several national and international research consortiums on movement disorders, including the Parkinson’s Study Group, the Huntington’s Study Group and the Dystonia Study Group.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with UCI Health movement disorder specialists, please call 714-456-7720.

UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 411-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America’s Best Hospitals for 16 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and is the primary teaching hospital for UC Irvine School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.