Parkinson Italia backs initiative focusing on Parkinson’s prevention

Parkinson Italia — a network of 30 associations for patients and caregivers in Italy — is backing an initiative by the Prada Foundation that seeks to highlight the importance of prevention and early treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

The campaign, dubbed Preserving the Brain: A Call to Action, launched in the fall with a two-day scientific conference, “Prevention on Neurodegenerative Diseases,” in October. That’s been followed by an exhibition accompanied by several meetings being held in Milan through April 7, Parkinson Italia noted in an organization press release.

The goal is to unite researchers, academics, health organizations, patient groups, and policymakers to promote brain health protection — and to also call attention to symptoms of Parkinson’s and other disorders beyond the hallmark motor signs.

Giangi Milesi, president of Parkinson Italia, who also lives with Parkinson’s, pointed to the disease’s often lesser-known nonmotor symptoms.

“Even today there is a lot of confusion about Parkinson’s, and people think that its only consequences are tremors, movement and balance problems — false beliefs that I myself came up against when – after the diagnosis – I experienced the many different manifestations of the disease,” Milesi said, noting the campaign’s work to “reveal the many different faces of Parkinson’s” among patients.

“In these various situations there is an essential common denominator: the desire to react and pursue one’s life goals and passions,” Milesi said.

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As part of the overall Prada initiative, Parkinson Italia in December hosted a one-day event focused on Parkinson’s, in which the organization shared images and stories of four people living with the disease. In roundtable discussions, talks centered on early diagnosis in Parkinson’s and how the disease affects patients’ daily lives.

The event also highlighted the importance of community and family support, as well as the need for care approaches considering both physical and emotional aspects of the disease. The role of research in advancing Parkinson’s treatments was also addressed.

The patients’ stories were first shared in a press campaign called “Parkinson’s Disease: A disease that is a 100 diseases,” launched on Italy’s National Parkinson’s Day, which is held each year on Nov. 30.

We have … focused on true stories of courage and patients’ reactions to show the true nature of the disease and restore its complexity.

The initiative was supported by the pharmaceutical company Zambon. The campaign was created by Roberto Caselli, a copywriter from Milan, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 16 years, and art director Elisa Roncoroni, both from Parkinson Italia.

“To bring to light the true, multiple faces of Parkinson’s and dispel the false myths that accompany it, we have chosen to focus on what unites them all. We have therefore focused on true stories of courage and patients’ reactions to show the true nature of the disease and restore its complexity,” Roncoroni said. “There is Carla, who challenges the limits of height and Parkinson’s with sport climbing, while Paolo uses the flight simulator to soar ever higher. Valentina caresses her belly during pregnancy, while Massimiliano looks straight into the eyes of the disease without fear.”

Neurodegenerative diseases are associated in part with modifiable risk factors. This includes environmental factors like air pollution and toxic chemicals, as well as occupation, diet, sleep, or physical activity.  The initiative is stressing the importance of acting on these risk factors, by protecting the environment, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and implementing educational activities.

The conference held by the Prada Foundation last fall was organized in partnership with research institutes, health organizations, patient associations, and politicians. It aimed to promote strategies for people to protect their brain health.

Divided into four thematic sessions, it addressed specific topics related to neurological diseases, such as epidemiology, genetic and environmental factors, diet, sleep, protective factors, and early disease detection. Keynotes from the conference included the role of artificial intelligence in preventing neurological diseases, how biological biomarkers may help identify people at risk of developing these conditions, and the impact of climate change.

Additionally, there was a roundtable with representatives from patient organizations and associations, health authorities, research institutes and universities, pharmaceutical companies, and service providers focused on priorities, actions, and challenges in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

The exhibition displays the main themes addressed in the scientific conference, through scientific data and materials, and includes a space that will host mediation activities for visitors. Additionally, eight meetings developed by patient organizations involve guided exhibition tours, roundtables, workshops, theatrical performances, and film screenings.