Oct 9, 2018
While Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects all races and ethnicities, not all communities recognize the disease equally. There is a perception in the African American community of PD as a disease attributed to older white men, and thus people may delay getting a diagnosis and help, leading to greater disability. These misperceptions may exist among healthcare professionals as well. Dr. Reversa Joseph, a movement disorders specialist and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, says one approach to this problem is outreach and education, particularly when it comes to recognizing early symptoms of the disease. She describes the perceptions in the community and her efforts to raise awareness of PD.