Head Injuries, Boxing Linked To Parkinson's Disease
Released
on: February 08, 2010, 4:06 am
Author: Arbor Books
Industry:Sports, Healthcare
People who have suffered head injuries are four times more
likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (also known as “PD”) than those
who have never had head trauma, according to Mayo Clinic researchers.
This finding might have far-ranging implications for sports such as
boxing and football.
The Mayo Clinic research team focused on boxing as they sifted for clues. They knew
that boxers who have repeated head injuries often get Parkinson’s-like symptoms. The
most famous connection is professional boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who now suffers
from advanced Parkinson’s disease.
“Parkinson’s is devastating,” says Kay Mixson Jenkins, author of the new children’s
book Who Is Pee Dee? “The good news is that because of research like this, people
might be able better protect themselves from the devastating, chronic disease.”
Ms. Jenkins was diagnosed with PD when she was just thirty-four. She decided to
write her book to help her children understand the disease. The story follows a
young boy named Colt as he tries to deal with his mother’s chronic illness.
Parkinson’s disease affects up to 1.5 million people in the US. The illness
typically develops in later life and often impairs motor skills, speech and other
functions.
While the causes of PD are still unidentified, many researchers believe that head
traumas can raise the chances of getting the disease and suggest avoiding such
injuries by:
• Wearing a helmet when biking, riding a motorcycle, or playing sports like
football, ice hockey, skiing or snowboarding.
• Wearing a seatbelt while in a car.
• Buckling your child into a safety seat.
• Preventing falls.
“Boxing and football remain dangerous sports that can have serious effects on the
health of their players,” says Ms. Jenkins. “The government must enact safety
regulations for these sports in order to protect athletes from injuries and
traumas.”
In addition to creating Who Is Pee Dee?, Ms. Jenkins is a leader in a nationwide
effort to raise awareness about PD. As the founder of Parkinson’s in the Park, an
affiliated chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation, Ms. Jenkins has created an
outreach program that encourages families and friends to participate in the
treatment of PD patients.
Kay Mixson Jenkins is the Georgia state co-coordinator for the Parkinson’s Action
Network, leads the Effingham County Parkinson’s support group and was selected as a
Parkinson’s patient advocate for UCB, Inc.
Who Is Pee Dee? Explaining Parkinson’s Disease to a Child by Kay Mixson Jenkins is
available on Amazon.com.
For more information, contact the author directly at kmj@ParkinsonsInThePark.org.
Contact Details: Arbor Books, Inc. (ABI)
244 Madison Avenue, #254
New York, NY 10016-2819
PH: 212-956-0950
info@arborbooks.com
http://www.arborbooks.com
2010
