<p>The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) hosted a Parkinson&#39;s Unity Walk to raise awareness about this neurological disease that effects thousands of people and the numbers of which are set to double by 2030. Parkinson&#39;s is a neurodegenerative disease but the rate of decline for each individual is different. </p><p>Aziz Hussain, 76 was diagnosed with Parkinson&#39;s five years ago because of tremors in his hands, which is one of the more common symptoms of the disease. Over the years, managing the disease has become his primary focus. </p><p>&quot;I&#39;ve befriended the disease and I&#39;ve been lucky that I&#39;ve had good doctors looking after me. I know this disease is not my shame, but many others suffering from it either don&#39;t know they have it or they feel ashamed about their memory loss and this leads to depression.&quot; </p><p>The event featured talks by AKUH specialists including neurologists, psychiatrists and neurosurgeons after which the doctors answered questions on topics including management of the disease and its causes. The programme also offered a Mind and Brain health camp where patients consulted with doctors. This event is hosted every year at AKUH in partnership with the Pakistan Parkinson&#39;s Society (PPS), which was founded over a decade ago by a businessman who suffered from Parkinson&#39;s until the end of his life, Mr. Haroon Basheer. </p><p>Amongst Parkinson&#39;s patients, cognitive impairment is very common, in particular short-term memory loss, coupled with high levels of depression and anxiety. Dr. Qurat-ul-ain Khan who is an Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry at AKUH says, &quot;patients lose motivation both physically and cognitively. Anxiety is very common because of the fear of not remembering things and forgetting things and becoming physically immobile.&quot; </p><p>The need for holistic care is important to manage the disease, which includes addressing the disease neurologically but also through physiotherapy, speech therapy and through other support. At AKUH, all services are availble under one roof, making such care possible. </p><p>Marium Khan, 21 says her grandfather has been suffering from this disease for years and his condition has deteriorated overtime because he hasn&#39;t been able to have holistic care. &quot;They give him medication and say this disease is incurable but here I am realizing that holistic care is necessary and that his quality of life can be improved through it.&quot;</p><p>Besides the annual Parkinson&#39;s Unity Walk, PPS hosts a monthly support group at AKUH for patients and their caregivers where patients learn about techniques to manage daily issues such as swallowing and speech. </p><p>While awareness about the <a href="/pakistan/diseases-and-conditions/Pages">disease</a> is increasing especially amongst family practitioners who are the first point of contact for patients, there is a lot more left to be done in terms of better disease management. </p>