View Larger Image At last year's Parkinson's Symposium, many attendees used hand-held instruments to participate in an exercise used in music workshops for Parkinson's patients. A picture of people standing up in the auditorium and shaking instruments.
At last year's Parkinson's Symposium, many attendees used hand-held instruments to participate in an exercise used in music workshops for Parkinson's patients.

UAMS Hosts Free Parkinson’s Symposium April 21

By Linda Satter

| LITTLE ROCK — A free, public forum on Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s plus syndromes will be held April 21 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

The ninth annual Parkinson’s Symposium will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fred Smith auditorium on the 12th floor of the Jackson T. Stephens Neurosciences & Spine Institute. A virtual option is available for those who cannot attend in person.

UAMS experts will discuss the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of the conditions for an audience of patients, caregivers and family members, health care professionals and anyone else who is interested.

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements or rigidity and difficulty with balance and coordination. Parkinson’s plus syndromes, also called atypical Parkinson’s, have additional features such as dementia, cognitive deficits and cranial nerve impairment.

Topics will include new research updates, the physiological processes of the nervous system related to behavior and cognition, wellness activities, advanced care planning and updates on deep-brain stimulation and other surgical interventions. A panel will also discuss frequently asked questions.

Sue Fehlberg, a certified KonMari organizing consultant in central Arkansas, will discuss organizational tips to help people with chronic illness and disability.

To attend in-person or watch at home via Zoom, register at medicine.uams.edu/neurosurgery/ps2024.

Parking is available in Parking 3 at 4000 W. Capitol Ave. on the UAMS campus.

 

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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