More than a Disease: Navigating Life with Parkinson’s

At Denali, our drive to defeat degeneration is personal. This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we met with Allan Aks, Senior R&D Finance Director at Denali, to hear more about his experience living with Parkinson’s disease. Allan's journey and those of so many others like him are a driving force behind our efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of people and families affected by neurodegenerative diseases.

What drew you to Denali?

I was drawn to Denali’s vision to tackle the challenge of discovering, developing and commercializing medicines to defeat neurodegenerative diseases – including Parkinson’s. Throughout my time here, I’ve experienced Denali’s commitment to bringing meaningful therapies to individuals like me and my family.

What has your experience been with Parkinson’s disease?

I was diagnosed in 2011 when I was 43 years old and quickly learned that there was no cure for my condition. I suffer from significant motor fluctuations, including slowness, freezing, trouble walking and severe medication-induced dyskinesias. Eventually, my symptoms became so bad that I struggled to function independently. In June 2022, I had deep brain stimulation surgery, which has had a transformative impact on my motor symptoms. However, my disease will continue to progress.

How does your diagnosis influence your views on the work you do?

I lead our internal Patient Connection Team, which creates experiences that connect Denali team members with patients, caregivers and communities to deepen our resolve to deliver effective therapies. As a patient and employee, I feel that the more we connect our work to the people we are trying to help, the better chance we have of succeeding.

What is a challenge you have faced with your diagnosis and how did you overcome it?

Having Parkinson’s can automatically make you feel like a victim. I have to dig deep to feel empowered each day to continue to appreciate and enjoy life. I do this through exercise, being present with my family and my community, engaging in meaningful work at Denali and by maintaining hope and positivity.

What is a misconception about individuals living with Parkinson’s disease?

There’s a severe social stigma surrounding people with Parkinson’s. What others see on the outside does not accurately represent who the person is on the inside. Problems with facial expression, slowness, speech, tremors and side effects of medication create an image that does not necessarily reflect my thoughts and feelings. It requires effort and patience to get beyond what you see when interacting with someone living with this disease.

What does Parkinson’s Awareness Month mean to you?

As a person living with Parkinson’s Disease, every month is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. I hope that raising awareness leads to more meaningful progress on treating Parkinson’s and other debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.