April 11 is World Parkinson’s Day, and to mark the occasion, the Centre for Parkinson and Movement Disorders at National Taiwan University Hospital, in collaboration with the Taiwan Parkinson’s Disease Association and Bora Health, hosted a special event titled “Move Your Body and Mind: A Collaborative Treasure Hunt Adventure for World Parkinson’s Day.” Nearly a hundred patients, accompanied by their family members, participated in treasure hunts, fun physical activities, and a choir performance to showcase the results of their training. The event aimed to encourage more patients to step outside, stay active, and face the challenges of Parkinson’s disease with confidence.
One night, Mr. Chang, a man in his 60s, suddenly needed to use the restroom. As he got out of bed and hurried toward the bathroom, he froze after just a few steps—as if he were stuck in place, much like a game of “Red Light, Green Light.” Unable to move further, he soon lost control of his bladder. Dr. Ruey-Meei Wu, Professor of Neurology at National Taiwan University College of Medicine, explained that this is a common experience for patients in the mid-to-late stages of Parkinson’s disease. Many patients lose their ability to move at night due to waning medication effects, severely affecting their quality of life. As Taiwan’s population continues to age, over 2,000 new Parkinson’s cases are diagnosed annually, with the total number of patients now approaching 80,000.
Dr. Ruey-Meei Wu, who also serves as Chairperson of the Taiwan Parkinson’s Disease Association and Director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at NTU Hospital, pointed out that Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition. It involves the premature aging and reduction of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra, leading to a dopamine deficiency that disrupts the brain’s communication pathways and impairs motor coordination. Early symptoms include tremors in one limb, joint stiffness, slower movement, stooped posture, smaller steps, reduced facial expression, soft speech, smaller handwriting, poor balance, and joint pain. If two or three of these signs appear, it’s essential to seek medical evaluation.
Treatment for Parkinson’s disease primarily relies on dopamine-related medications, such as Levodopa, dopamine agonists, COMT inhibitors, and MAO-B inhibitors. Dr. Ruey-Meei Wu noted that after prolonged use, many patients encounter diminishing drug effectiveness. While their movements may be smooth during periods of sufficient medication, once the effect wears off, especially in more severe cases, patients may feel like their battery has run out—becoming stiff, slow to respond, and nearly immobilized. These so-called “power-off” periods significantly increase the risk of falls and injuries.
Achieving effective symptom control hinges on maintaining adequate drug levels, especially ensuring steady blood concentrations of Levodopa. Thanks to advances in pharmaceutical formulations, extended-release Levodopa can sustain therapeutic blood levels longer and reduce symptom fluctuations. However, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance currently imposes strict limits, reimbursing only up to four pills per day, while the effective dosage typically requires six to eight. This restriction makes medication adjustment difficult and leaves patients vulnerable to motor shutdowns.
Bora Health is calling on the public and health authorities to use World Parkinson’s Day as a moment for action—not only to encourage patients to stay mentally and physically active, but also to advocate for updated insurance policies that expand medication coverage and subsidize treatments like focused ultrasound therapy. These changes would give physicians more tools to help patients regain mobility and reduce the burdens of freezing and tremors in their daily lives.
