HONOLULU (KHON2) — There are an estimated 8,000 people in Hawaii who are living with a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis. Some of them are Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease {YOPD) which effects people under the age of 50.
That number is expected to increase to 16,000 in the next few years, that’s according to Glen Higa who is the President of the Hawaiʻi Parkinson Association.
Higa was diagnosed with YPOD in 2018, and he has been working with the Hawaii chapter since.
“I got involved with the Hawaiʻi Parkinson’s Association in 2018 or 2019 about a year after I was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s,” explained Higa. “I started out as an administrative and marketing support person; and then, in 2023, I was I was elected president of the organization.”
Like many with YOPD, it took him a while to come to terms with the fact that he needed to be tested.
“I didn’t feel right for at least a couple of years before I got diagnosed,” explained Higa. For me, my journey with Parkinson’s probably started around 2014 or 2015. It started with some pain in my wrist and some minor shaking. I just noticed that something just didn’t feel right. So, I went to the primary care doctor.”
At first, his primary care physician didn’t recognize the signs of YOPD. So, she told him he could see a neurologist but that in her opinion, it wasn’t anything that he needed to be worried about.
“I said fine that I didn’t want to go, and I just left it at that,” Higa revealed. “But for a couple of years, it just never got any better. In fact, it starting to get worse. So I ended up going back to the doctor and she said, ‘ok, let’s get you an appointment with the neurologist just to rule things out’.”
Again, like many who are experiencing the symptoms of YOPD, It took Higa six months to make the decision to get an appointment to see a neurologist. This is when he heard the three words that would change his life forever. “You have Parkinson’s.”
Higa along with so many others who are living with Parkinson’s Disease, it can be an isolating experience. There aren’t many places that advertise they are Parkinson’s friendly.
It’s even worse when our physicians don’t understand the full scope of how this disease is diagnosed.
So, the Hawaiʻi Parkinson Association is offering a symposium.
You can join HPA at their annual educational Parkinson’s Symposium. There will be panels of experts who will answer your questions on exercise, diet, and speech/swallowing with Parkinson’s Disease.
This will be, followed by a Parkinson’s research update. This is a free event that is open to the public, but you do need to register ahead of time. Click here to RSVP.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet Higa as well as others who are living with Parkinson’s Disease. It’s also a great time for the loved ones of those who have been diagnosed to network and find support.