The 6th Euroyapmeet, Dublin, October 7th-9th 2005

Speakers included Mr. Steven Gill, neurosurgeon, who has pioneered new operating/imaging techniques for Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's, preceeded by Prof. Tipu Aziz. Both spoke of a new target area which is hopefully even better than the present ones.

Other speakers included Dr. Timothy Lynch, a neurologist here in Dublin whose special interest is in Movement Disorders, Canadian Specialist Dr. Jonathan Brotchie, Tom Isaacs, from the UK, who has had PD since he was 27, (charismatic, tirelessly works towards assisting in funding research, and lives in the optimistic expectation of a cure - he wants to be known as the "man who used to have Parkinson's"). Steven Gill says that Tom Isaacs is "determined" and "very driven". He is an inspirational speaker, and was named as the UK charity personality of the year in 2004. Talks on Sexuality (Gila Bronner, Israel), Wearing Off (Mariella Graciano, Luxembourg) were included.

The workshops went well with good reports back from the participants.

A host of other topics, including pregnancy (Dr. Edgar Mocanu, Ireland), where Dr. Edgar Mocanu reproted on cases from the available literature, and advised that amantadine (Symmetrel) should be avoided whilst pregnant.

In answer to a question on pregnancy and miscarriages and Parkinson's medication, he said that there was a 25% chance of miscarriage even when the mother was completely healthy, and that 86% of miscarriages were due to genetic malformation. The topc of Relationships was presented by a Dublin man, Dominic McGinley, a school Principal, and an ex-member of PALS Support Group - see the PALS site for more on that - and an excellent speaker!

"How do we lighten the load for our children!", he asked, and then continued: by adopting a positive attitude. "Life is no bed of roses, and even if it was, "we would still have to cope with the thorns".

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Heiner Ellgring spoke about the impact of Parkinson's on psychological functioning, and it is summarised in detail - see link to the right.

Links to pages and sites mentioned here are to the right in the LINKS MENTIONED box.

Mary Baker, the President of the EPDA, keeps her audience spellbound, and comes up with marvellous ways of saying things that are eminently quotable, and inspires her listeners, and delivered a moving address.

On Sunday, the Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney came to deliver the Closing Address, AND to sign the Patient Charter that forms part of the Global Declaration on Parkinson's.

On Monday, after everyone had departed, the General Assembly had three presentations, including one by Kirsten Bruun, a Danish woman who has been fitted with a Duodopa pump delivery system. A well thought out presentation, which electrified the audience - representatives to the EPDA from each of its member countries. This presentation was not included in the main conference because of pressure of time.

The hotel is newly built, state-of-the-art, and disabled friendly, and the staff were wonderful!

And the team - well, the core team has one representative from the PAOI, Una Anderson Ryan, assisted by Chairman Sid Rellis, one rep from PALS, Ann Keilthy, and was headed by the EPDA's Secretary General, Lizzie Graham, who, along with Carolyn Loveless steered us all in the right direction.

A member of the PALS group, Fr. Sean O'Neill, said Mass on the Saturday evening - our thanks to him for organising this.

Radio One's "This Week" programme on Sunday had a report on the event, and presenter Paul Maguire, who spent a large part of Saturday here, listening to speakers, and interviewing, gave a thoughtful and intelligent account of the day. On Sunday, RTE and TV3 reported on the conference, on the 6.01 News and News at 5.30 respectively, the former on the Global Declaration and the latter on the shortage of neurologists and on DBS.

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