SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) –Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre recently announced that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The South Dakota Parkinson Foundation (SDPF) spoke on what it means for people to come forward with their Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. About 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s and 10 million people worldwide.
The exact cause isn’t known but Parkinson’s develops when cells that produce one of the brain’s chemical messengers, called dopamine, begin to deteriorate and die. Dopamine transports signals to parts of the brain that control movement.
The SDPF is an organization that seeks to provide people with Parkinson’s and their families with education and support. This includes providing various programs and services, along with raising awareness of the disease.
Board Member of the SDPF Katlin Johnson said they act as a central hub for resources.
“People can connect with the foundation and we have the resources and know where people can go to get certain supports that they need if it’s not something we directly can do,” Johnson said. “The SDPF is separate from the Parkinson’s Foundation so it’s important to know that our dollars stay in South Dakota and the surrounding area.”
Johnson said there is only so much the medical community can do with these kinds of diseases.
“A lot of it is unfamiliar to people unless they are living it and so it’s uncomfortable for people to admit they have it or to feel comfortable talking about it and how it’s presenting to them,” Johnson said. “Often it kind of a silent disease, it’s not really talked about,” said Johnson.
In South Dakota around 6,000 are formally diagnosed individuals with Parkinson’s. According to the SDPF, there are many that go undiagnosed and could have Parkinson’s.
Johnson said they hope Favre’s announcement inspires others to seek help.
“We understand that in this case with Brett coming out and sharing that he has this disease that it does help bring awareness to it, we hope that more people feel comfortable knowing that there are places that they can go to to get that support.”
Board Member of the SDPF, Julie Eggebraaten-Nord, said announcements like Favre’s help shine a light on Parkinson’s.
“I do believe that every time that someone comes out and says they have Parkinson’s, whether it be Neil Diamond, or Brett Favre it brings attention,” Eggebraaten-Nord said. “All of us sincerely want to help people and we don’t want them to battle this alone and anything that brings attention to it is great.”
Johnson said Parkinson’s is typically tricky to identify.
“I think for Parkinson’s the diagnosis is symptom-based, it’s not like you can just take a test and know that you have Parkinson’s like some other things,” said Johnson. “If you are noticing that your body’s not functioning the way that it normally would or something off it never hurts to go get checked.”
