APDA partners with Smart Patients to build new online community that will give patients and families access to support and to learn from one another.

NEW YORK, NY, May 16, 2017 – The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) announces today a collaboration with Smart Patients, an online support site for patients and caregivers, to create a new Parkinson’s disease (PD) community where people impacted by PD can join the community for free to share, interact, and learn from each other in a safe, supportive environment. This network extends APDA’s resources to help those affected by PD no matter where they are located to live life to the fullest and connect to others who have extensive experience with the disease.

“We are thrilled with our partnership with Smart Patients to launch this community. This network is designed for people with PD, care partners, and family members. This innovative opportunity will further a dialogue to nurture the PD community, provide socialization, education, and critical access to information – and will allow us to expand our reach across the country.”
– Robin Kornhaber, APDA Vice President of Programs and Patient Services

Smart Patients believes that patients and caregivers are the most underutilized resource in medicine. By partnering with Smart Patients, APDA is empowering people with Parkinson’s to improve care for themselves and others.

We are proud to work with the APDA to connect people with Parkinson’s with one another. Community can provide peace of mind through social and emotional support, not to mention those practical tips patients and families learn through direct experience,” said Roni Zeiger, MD, CEO of Smart Patients.

The PD community is invited to visit the site through the following two links: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/resources-support/smart-patients/ or www.smartpatients.com/apda. Individuals can join the community by sharing their email address and setting up a free personal account. Once the account is confirmed participants will have access to information, resources, and be able to participate in community conversations on topics of interest.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting more than one million people in the United States. Approximately 60,000 people are newly diagnosed each year. Onset commonly occurs after the age of 60, however up to ten percent will receive a diagnosis before the age of 50. Parkinson’s is characterized by motor problems including slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremor with balance and gait problems sometimes occurring later in the course of illness. Some people may also experience a decrease in facial expression, low voice volume, small handwriting, and difficulty with fine motor movements. A number of non-motor symptoms are associated with Parkinson’s, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. It is important to understand that symptoms vary from person to person.

Contact: Stephanie Paul | 800-223-2732 | SPaul@apdaparkinson.org | www.apdaparkinson.org

About the American Parkinson Disease Association

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is the largest grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease (PD) and works tirelessly to assist the more than 1 million Americans with PD  live life to the fullest in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder. Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $170 million to provide outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevate public awareness about the disease, and support research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and ultimately put an end to this disease. To join us in the fight against Parkinson’s disease and to learn more about the support APDA provides nationally through our network of Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers, as well as our national Research Program and Centers for Advanced Research, please visit us at www.apdaparkinson.org

About Smart Patients

Smart Patients is an online community where patients and their families affected by a variety of illnesses learn from each other about treatments, challenges, and how it all fits into the context of their experience. While providing patients with safe and high quality peer support, we help the healthcare system learn from patients in order to serve them better.