LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 2016, as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing serious
diseases by proclaiming official months to increase awareness of such
critical concerns, which affect thousands of New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2016, as Parkinson's Disease
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurological condition
and movement disorder; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's Disease
are diagnosed each year, adding to the one million people who currently
have Parkinson's Disease; and
WHEREAS, Great progress has been made in the battle against
Parkinson's Disease yet there is still a new diagnosis every nine
minutes; Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month is committed to fighting
this debilitating disease by finding better ways to prevent, detect,
provide effective treatment, and ultimately find a cure; and
WHEREAS, Parkinson's Disease is a significant health problem in the
State of New York and throughout the United States; it strikes dispro-
portionately more men, but also women, with the average age of onset
being 60 years old; and
WHEREAS, The symptoms of Parkinson's Disease can vary from person to
person; early signs may be subtle and can go unnoticed; diagnosis can be
challenging as there is no diagnostic test or biological marker that
confirms a diagnosis of Parkinson's; and
WHEREAS, People suffering with Parkinson's Disease can exhibit many
signs and symptoms including common motor symptoms including tremor,
stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of movement, as well
as trouble with posture, balance, coordination, and walking; common
non-motor symptoms include sleep problems, speech changes, anxiety,
depression, and fatigue, among others; and
WHEREAS, While there is no cure for Parkinson's Disease, many differ-
ent medications and surgical options are currently available for its
treatment while researchers around the world relentlessly search for a
cure; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2016, as
Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.