New Parkinson's doctor in town touts awareness month

Miami neurologist Dr. Cenk Sengun is spending three days a week in Boca Raton at his new Florida Center for Neurological practice on Ninth Court.

As a Parkinson's disease and movement disorder subspecialist since 2008, and picked as a National Parkinson Foundation Superstar, Sengun was already hooked into the South Palm Beach County Chapter, said executive director Stu Perlin.

The chapter's known for its Surf and Turf exercise program, support groups and living well classes at the Peter Blum Family YMCA and the Volen Center. And for National Parkinson's Awareness Month, there's a free Parkinson's Awareness Seminar at GigerMD Movement Therapy in Boca Raton at 6 p.m. April 17.

Perlin said they'll also have a presence at Forum Publishing Group's Young at Heart, a free day of activities and wellness, health screenings, a continental breakfast and light lunch, and prizes and giveaways from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 18 at the South County Civic Center in Delray Beach.

Sengun talked about the latest treatments and why diagnosis is often delayed.

Why do so many patients wait to be diagnosed and treated?

Usually that happens because mild symptoms are missed by the patient. Family and friends may notice you're walking differently, have a decreased arm swing and tremors, and your speech has changed. It may have gotten slower and the volume decrease. Some patients later on can get stuttering. There are changes with the posture. They can get stooped posture or lean over to one side.

Isn't it sensitive getting someone to see you?

The family members need to talk to the patients and see what the patient feels. Usually the patient is in denial and does not want to hear the bad news and avoids seeing the doctor. I'm usually the end point after the patient sees their regular doctors or other neurologists.

Why does getting diagnosed earlier make a difference?

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New Parkinson's doctor in town touts awareness month