First-Ever Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson's Disease to Lead to Consistent Diagnosis and Treatment Across Canada

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -06/19/12)- Parkinson Society Canada, in partnership with leading Canadian movement disorder specialists and neurologists, today launched the first Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson's Disease. The Guidelines aim to create, for the first time in Canada, a consistent standard for diagnosing and treating Parkinson's.

The Guidelines provide health care professionals with practical, clinical advice for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's, based on the best published evidence and on expert consensus. The 84 recommendations are designed primarily for family physicians, neurologists, and other health care professionals.

The Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson's Disease will be published July 2012 in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences and are available online today. The Guidelines have been endorsed by the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation and Parkinson Society Canada.

"Most Canadians with Parkinson's do not attend specialized Parkinson's or movement disorders clinics," says Dr. David Grimes, Director of the Ottawa Hospital's Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic and editor of the guidelines. "A tool was needed so that all health care providers who treat people with Parkinson's in Canada have a clear idea on how best to help individuals manage their disease. The guidelines are meant to improve the standard of care and access to care for people with Parkinson's in all regions of Canada."

The Guidelines were written collaboratively by neurologists and movement disorder specialists from across Canada, with input from people with Parkinson's, surgeons, family physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and Parkinson Society Canada.

"We are delighted to launch the Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson's Disease, which we believe will lead to better, more consistent and more accessible care for Canadians with Parkinson's," says Joyce Gordon, President and CEO of Parkinson Society Canada. "The Guidelines will result in earlier diagnosis, better treatment, increased awareness and better health care policies for Canadians with Parkinson's."

The Guidelines will be distributed to family physicians, pharmacists, nurses and allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech language pathologists. The Guidelines and supporting materials are also available online at http://www.parkinsonclinicalguidelines.ca.

Education materials related to the Guidelines were made possible through unrestricted educational grants from Abbott Laboratories, Limited, Merck Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Teva Canada Innovation and UCB Canada Inc.

About Parkinson Society Canada

Parkinson Society Canada, through 10 regional partners and 240 chapters and support groups, provides education, support, and advocacy on behalf of over 100,000 Canadians living with Parkinson's. Funding innovative research helps expand knowledge on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's and will ultimately lead to a cure. To find out more about Parkinson's disease and services available near you, call 1-800-565-3000 or visit http://www.parkinson.ca.

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First-Ever Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson's Disease to Lead to Consistent Diagnosis and Treatment Across Canada