Dr. Salima Brillman, Movement Disorder Specialist

The October meeting of the Santa Cruz County Parkinson’s Group will welcome Dr. Salima Brillman, Movement Disorder Specialist, now in private practice in Menlo Park. She will speak on Non-Motor Symptoms of PD. There will be a presentation followed by a Q & A.

Dr. Brillman is a board certified neurologist with a fellowship in movement disorders, which include Parkinson’s Disease, Atypical Parkinsonism, Drug Induced Parkinsonism, Essential Tremor, Dystonia, Lewy Body Dementia and other Neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Brillman has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all forms of movement disorders and is proficient in DBS, Duopa and Neurotoxin therapies. She is not only interested in the motor aspects of movement disorders, but the vast non-motor elements that accompany each disease state and recognizes the importance of following those as well.

While identifying the fact that no two people have exactly the same disease States and therefore will not have identical therapeutic regimens, she emphasizes the importance of taking the time to meet the specific needs of each person and their family.

Non-motor symptoms have been in the news a lot more recently. The Davis Phinney Foundation describes the wide variety of possible non-motor symptoms: “...from physiological effects like trouble swallowing, pain and fatigue, to mental and emotional impacts, such as mood changes, cognitive challenges and anxiety. Just as Parkinson’s affects everyone differently, the type, frequency and severity of non-motor symptoms each person experiences vary…. Non-motor symptoms also tend to cause more stress and frustration in everyday life than the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. Recognizing and discovering how you can best manage your non-motor symptoms is critical for learning to live well with Parkinson’s.”

HISTORY:
The Santa Cruz County Parkinson’s Group (SCCPG), a program of the not-for-profit EASE PD, Inc. (www.easepd.org), has been a long-standing community organization whose mission is to foster a supportive environment for People with Parkinson’s disease (PwP), their families, friends and caregivers. For more than 25 years, it has been providing a venue for them to meet, socialize, and learn, both from each other and from outside speakers. It also provides community outreach in the form of a newsletter called Movers and Shakers and via informational brochures placed in local physicians’ offices.

The group is committed to disseminating the latest scientific information about the disease and in supporting access to much-needed exercise and other therapeutic activities.

The vibrant Santa Cruz Parkinson’s community of those with PD, their family members, and volunteers continues to welcome new members, and hopes to increase its impact in Santa Cruz County.