Parkinson’s disorder is no longer a condition affecting only the elderly, as young people under the age of 40 are increasingly being diagnosed with the disorder, the founder of the Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson’s Foundation (ADPF), Mrs. Omorinsojo Desalu has said.
She spoke during a walk organised by the ADPF in Lagos over the weekend. Themed “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: Stepping Up for Parkinson’s,” the event aimed to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and support those affected by it.
The walk commenced at the ADPF Centre in Alaka Estate and concluded at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Mrs. Desalu highlighted an alarming trend of younger individuals being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. “In our health center, we have four women under the age of 40. We even have a 20-year-old with Parkinson’s. It is becoming more prevalent,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of raising awareness, particularly as life expectancy in Nigeria has significantly increased. “Life expectancy in Nigeria when I was young was, like, 42. It’s moved into the 60s now and by the special grace of God, we’re all going to live to, like, 90 years old,” she noted.
Mrs. Desalu explained that Parkinson’s disease generally affects people over 60 and is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, second only to Alzheimer’s disease.
She speculated that the rise in cases could be linked to factors such as diet, genetically modified foods, and environmental toxins like weed killers.
She stressed that Parkinson’s is not genetic but can strike anyone randomly. “It doesn’t matter who you are; it doesn’t know your economic or social status. You can get Parkinson’s disease,” she said.
Sharing her personal experience, Mrs. Desalu recounted how her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s without any prior indication. “My husband didn’t ask to get Parkinson’s, and he did. It is important to know that if you do have Parkinson’s disease, it is not an end; it is the beginning of a new journey, and that is why we are stepping along with them on that journey,” she explained.
The ADPF aims to help individuals living with Parkinson’s have a good experience despite the challenges.
The foundation provides various support services, including access to medication, low-impact gym facilities, physiotherapy, handwriting and dancing classes, and a boxing studio.
They also offer informational resources in different Nigerian languages to make knowledge about Parkinson’s more accessible.
However, Mrs. Desalu highlighted the financial challenges the foundation faces. “We work to support patients to get the medicine they need because medicine is expensive. We are a poor country with poor people,” she explained. Despite these challenges, the foundation continues to provide essential services to those in need.
The foundation relies heavily on donations, particularly from high-net-worth individuals, as corporate support is limited. “A lot of corporates are saying, ‘Oh, it’s not a pandemic. It’s not malaria. It’s not sickle cell. It’s not polio.’ So a lot of the big charities are not ready to support us,” she said.
Addressing the misconception that Parkinson’s is a “big man disease,” Mrs. Desalu noted that out of the 70 people at their center, only five are affluent. The rest often struggle even with transport costs to the center, relying on donations from the wealthier patients.
She concluded with a plea for more support: “Please help us help these people. We depend on some high-net-worth Nigerians who support us, but we don’t have enough. So we’re still crying out for support.”
