NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The 30th annual Parkinson's Unity Walk, hosted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, will return to Central Park this Saturday, following the foundation's recent biomarker discovery providing hope for patients and families.
This year's walk is both a fundraiser and a celebration of progress in finding a cure, with over 5,000 participants expected to join. Like previous years, the walk aims to raise $1 million for Parkinson's research and public policy.
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease vary widely from person to person, affecting each individual differently.
Carol, who has been living with the disease, described her challenges to 1010 WINS reporter Carol D'Auria. "My left arm doesn't swing when I walk, and when I want to turn around, my right leg shakes and freezes," she explained.
Arnie, who has battled Parkinson's for at least eight years, talked about his struggles mainly with coordination. "It's very frustrating,” he said. “The body doesn't cooperate. I've found that boxing helps get coordination back in my hands and feet."
Both Arnie and Carol participate in a Rock Steady Boxing class at the Meg-N-Fit gym in Oceanside, Long Island which is designed specifically for those with Parkinson's.
Jim, who has lived with Parkinson's for 24 years, emphasized the importance of staying active. "The most important thing that they can do is really make a commitment to exercise," he said. According to Jim, movement is crucial for managing symptoms and improving quality of life for those diagnosed with the disease.
Dr. Mark Frasier, chief scientific officer at the Michael J. Fox Foundation, discussed with 1010 WINS the latest advances in Parkinson's research and a new biomarker that could transform diagnosis and treatment.
“A real watershed moment for Parkinson's disease,” Frasier said.
This biomarker test, called the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay, allows early detection of Parkinson's, possibly even before symptoms appear.
Parkinson’s is typically diagnosed through clinical symptoms such as stiffness, slowness, and tremor, which are highly variable and can make diagnosis challenging.
“The challenge is that these symptoms are variable from day to day and even from person to person. So, getting a clear diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be quite challenging,” Frasier said.
The breakthrough also involves a test that detects an abnormal protein that misfolds in Parkinson's disease, currently analyzed in spinal fluid but soon to be available through simpler methods like skin or blood tests. “This test is very accurate, over 90 percent accurate in diagnosing people with Parkinson’s,” Frasier added.
What excites Frasier most is the potential for early intervention. “It's already changing research and the way clinical trials are run, and we think this is moving towards an opportunity to potentially screen people of a certain age that might be at risk for developing Parkinson's disease to really identify someone that might be on the road to developing Parkinson's and intervene earlier,” Frasier said.
The event will be held on April 27 at 8:30 a.m. at Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell with the entrance at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue.
To register and donate and for more information about how to join us for the 2024 Parkinson’s Unity Walk, visit unitywalk.org or call (866) 789-9255.