Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC) is hosting a free Parkinson’s disease support group from 4 - 5:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 8 in Conference Room C. The meeting is open to patients, family members, caregivers and anyone interested in learning about Parkinson’s disease.

This meeting, “Ask the Neurologist,” is presented by Neurologist Maria Cristina Ospina, M.D., and is a collaboration between VVMC and the American Parkinson Disease Association. Dr. Ospina is trained in the administration of botulinum toxin, commonly know as Botox. Botox has been found to decrease the pain and muscle spasms contributed with Parkinson’s. She also is trained in deep brain stimulation, which allows for certain parts of the brain to be “shut off” without being damaged. Deactivating the globus pallidus, a structure in the brain which regulates voluntary movement, is normally done when deep brain stimulation is performed as a treatment for the disease. Dr. Ospina also promotes in an individualized patient-centered approach to Parkinson’s treatment.

Parkinson’s disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is both chronic and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse and continue over time. Some common symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremors of the hands, arms, legs or jaw; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.

As many as 1 million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. On average, the onset age for Parkinson’s disease is 60 years old; however, an estimated 15 percent of Parkinson’s disease patients are diagnosed before the age 50.

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Verde Valley Medical Center, visit VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com. For more information about VVMC’s Parkinson’s support groups or to learn about other support groups held at VVMC, please call 928 639-6383.