From February 1 to 6, the annual collection week supports the Brain Foundation. This year, it's shifting entirely online, raising concerns about a potential drop in proceeds.
Typically, around 19,000 volunteers collect funds door-to-door for the 4 million Dutch people living with brain disorders. With the digital pivot, experts anticipate a 60% decline in revenue—critical funds for advancing brain research, improving treatments, and preventing future cases.
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"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many foundations, including ours, are adapting by prioritizing online collections over traditional door-to-door efforts," explains Merel Heimens Visser, director of the Brain Foundation. "As a health-focused organization, the safety of our collectors and donors comes first, so we've made this collection week fully digital. We're concerned about the financial hit: we usually raise about €1.5 million, but expect a roughly 60% drop. This funding is vital to prevent brain disorders from becoming the Netherlands' leading health issue."
RIVM data projects a sharp increase in brain-related conditions by 2040 compared to 2015: strokes up 54%, dementia cases by 115%, and Parkinson's by 71%.
Santé recently spoke with Annelien, diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 33.
"It's not glamorous to say, 'I have Parkinson's.' But I'm open about it—I'd rather people understand my tremors than assume I'm nervous. I want to raise awareness that it strikes the young too, breaking taboos and securing more research funding. It can happen to anyone, even someone young, athletic, and vibrant like me."
At the onset, Annelien was training as a gynecologist with three young children and a thriving career. She performed intricate keyhole surgeries, standing for hours with arms extended. Her left arm began failing, accompanied by shoulder pain diagnosed as frozen shoulder, plus a distinctive 'cogwheel' rigidity. Multiple doctors were stumped.
"Three months prior, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's. I joked, 'Bet I have it too,' but never imagined it. As a doctor, my image was the elderly professor at Erasmus University—stooped, shuffling, trembling. So my neurologist's diagnosis shocked me. I felt healthy otherwise. I later learned Parkinson's manifests uniquely in everyone."
The initial shock upended her life amid her training. Despite advice to pivot careers, her passion prevailed. She completed her specialization, avoiding keyhole surgery, and focused on obstetrics and prenatal diagnosis.
Parkinson's is among the fastest-growing neurological disorders, with some experts calling it a 'pandemic.' Projections suggest 17 million cases worldwide by 2040. Causes remain unclear, involving brain aging, protein metabolism issues, toxins, and gut-brain interactions via the microbiome.
It affects the young too—5% diagnosed under 40. Actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed at 28.
No cure exists yet, but research advances symptom management to enhance quality of life. For more info or to donate, visit Parkinson-vereniging.nl.
