Hand tremors could be just one of the signs of Parkinson’s disease. Every April 11th (next Tuesday, World Awareness Day about this health problem), there is an opportunity to bring more visibility, reduce stigmas and, thus, promote prevention. The date is one of the most important this week, and is highlighted in the Today is the day.
Journalistic products and programs EBC are guided by informing and discussing Parkinson’s disease to promote this public health theme. In the materials, experts explain that the problem is caused by the loss of neurons that produce dopamine in the brain.
Even without a cure, doctors argue that the sooner treatment is started, the better the results can be. For nearly a decade, the program Reporting Paths, from the TV Brazil, highlighted the story of colonel aviator Carlos Pattofrom the Air Force, who, at first, had a moment of denial when he learned of the Parkinson’s diagnosis, when he was 43 years old.
Afterwards, he explains that he started to comply with the doctors’ recommendations to face the disease and reduce its damage.
Check out this and other stories of overcoming challenges below. Reporting Paths which aired in 2014:
Another special program on Parkinson’s disease shown by TV Brazil it was the Know morein the year 2019.
The edition interviewed the neurologist Nasser Allam, which estimated that at least 200,000 people had the disease in Brazil. He highlighted that it is a chronic and progressive health problem, and it is the second most recurrent neurodegenerative disease in the world, behind only Alzheimer’s disease.
The doctor explains that, although there is no cure, there are treatments to improve the patient’s life condition. The disease is related to a lack of dopamine, a neurotransmitter “related to motor and emotional functions”. Therefore, the lack of this substance causes harm to the person.
The specialist explains that the disease may have a genetic origin. Among the symptoms, slowness of movement, difficulty walking, imbalance, postural instability, muscle stiffness, changes in speech and swallowing, problems with movements such as writing, depression and tremors of the limbs at rest may be linked to the disease. “A characteristic is to start on one side”, says the doctor in the interview.
Check out the full program below:
Another reference to understand more about the disease was shown in 2018, on program Chat Dot Comwhich aired on EBC Radios and on the web:
Since the lightness of the diagnosis can make all the difference, science has been the source of the vehicles of EBCas shown by TV Brazil last year, when students developed a different method of diagnosisor us signal recognition processesas highlighted by special materials from the EBC Radios.
A Brazil Agency has detailed each of the discoveries and advances about the disease. Check out some of these news below:
Study identifies substance that may slow down Parkinson’s progression
Fiocruz incorporates technology to manufacture medicine for Parkinson’s
Vagus nerve stimulation improves gait in patients with Parkinson’s
memory of the stars
This week we also remember the contributions of stars of radio and Brazilian dramaturgy, such as actress Vida Alves, who was born on April 15, 1928 (95 years ago). She died in 2017.
The star starred in the first kiss on TV, along with colleague Walter Foster, in the soap opera Sua Vida me Pertence (1951). A Brazil Agency reminisced about his career when the actress died.
Her daughter, Thais Alves, fights to preserve the television memory of those times, including her mother’s historical trajectory. Check below an excerpt from the interview made with Thais by Brazil Agencywhich can be read in full here:
The same April 15 also marks the 10th anniversary of the death of the historic actress Cleyde Yáconis . She performed on stage for over 50 years and founded the Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia.
Gun is not a toy
It is also on April 15 that an annual date is set aside to promote child disarmament. The theme discusses the sale and purchase of toy weapons for children, a factor that can promote a culture of violence, especially if combined with other violent stimuli that occur socially. This is what explains the coordinator of the Center for Culture and Research on Play at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), Maria Ângela Barbato Carneiroin an interview with Brazil Agencyin 2013.
To detail the concept of this Child Disarmament Day, the program National Afternoon interviewed civil lawyer and master in civil procedural law Ana Carolina Victalino in 2021.
Check out the weekly list* of Today is the day with dates, historical facts and holidays:
April 9th to 15th, 2023
9
Death of the plastic artist from Pernambuco Augusto Rodrigues (30 years old)
Birth of composer and broadcaster from Rio de Janeiro Evaldo Rui Barbosa (110 years old) – he was head of the disco at Rádio Nacional
Death of French Renaissance writer, priest and physician François Rabelais (470 years old) – went down to posterity as the author of comic masterpieces Pantagruel and Gargantua, which explored popular legends, farces and romances, well wrote classic works
Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq comes to an end (20 years)
Series of protests and repression known as Bogotazo, in the city of Bogotá, triggered by the death of candidate for president of Colombia, Jorge Eliéser Gaitán (75 years old)
Easter (movable date)
10
Birth of singer, composer and guitarist Mário de Souza Marques Filho, known as Noite Ilustrada (95 years old) – in 1958, hired by Rádio Nacional and TV Paulista
Birth of coach and former soccer player from São Paulo Roberto Carlos (50 years old) – was world champion with Brazil in the 2002 World Cup
11
Launch of the film Carandiru (20 years)
World Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Day
12
Birth of the lyrical singer, Spanish soprano María de Montserrat Bibiana Concepción Caballé i Folch, to Montserrat Caballé (90 years old)
13
Philosopher, politician, botanist, and paleontologist Thomas Jefferson (280 years old) – third President of the United States (1801-1809), and principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) of the United States of America
Brazilian National Anthem Day
Kiss day
14
Genome Project is considered complete, with 99.99% accuracy (20 years)
world coffee day
15
Death of São Paulo actress Cleyde Yáconis (10 years old)
Birth of actress Vida Alves (95 years old)
Birth of the composer and conductor from Rio de Janeiro Francisco Braga (155 years old) – his name was marked in the history of Brazilian music as composer of the Hino à Bandeira, which received verses from the poet Olavo Bilac
World Designer Day – the date was created to celebrate the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci
National Child Disarmament Day
National Soil Conservation Day
*The dates are selected by the team of researchers from Projeto Efemérides, from the Collection Management of the Brazil Communication Company (EBC), which brings themes related to culture, history, science and personalities, always highlighting national and regional milestones. The Collection Management also responds to research requests from the external public. Just send an email to [email protected].
