Dominion Hills Woman Becomes Advocate for Parkinson’s Disease Research

ARLINGTON, Va. — A Dominion Hills woman diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease has gained national recognition for her advocacy work in the medical community. Allison Signorelli, who received her diagnosis in 2022 at the age of 47, was honored last month for her involvement in various research trials related to the disease.

Signorelli has spent the last three years raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease and has built a significant online following, with over 65,000 followers on Instagram. “We need more awareness. We need more funding for research. We need more answers,” Signorelli told ARLnow. “I just try and put a face to this disease that people may not expect, so that they continue to seek answers and understand that this community really needs support.”

The accolade she received celebrates contributions from participants in research trials aimed at understanding neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which have similar symptoms. Signorelli’s advocacy efforts began after she first noticed symptoms in 2018 while watching her daughter’s high school soccer tryouts.

“I was like, ‘Oh, that’s weird,’ like, I had a little muscle spasm in my right ankle,” she recalled. “But then it never went away.” At the time, doctors attributed her symptoms to stress or a vitamin deficiency, and with a family history of benign tremors, she initially dismissed it. However, as the tremors persisted and worsened, she found herself struggling with basic tasks, including holding a pen or eating.

By 2020, the symptoms escalated, culminating in a visit to a specialist at GW University Hospital in 2022, where she received her early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis. “I experienced a moment of grief and fear,” Signorelli admitted. “But I heard a quote once that said, ‘the antidote to despair is action,’ and that really has been my guiding light.”

Following her diagnosis, she joined a clinical study and connected with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to explore how she could contribute further. “I just try and spread the word and do my part,” Signorelli said. “I consider this to be sort of like a team relay race.”

Signorelli now serves as a patient council member for the foundation, acting as a disease research ambassador. She was featured in an event last April, advocating for the National Plan for Parkinson’s disease, which was signed into law in July and aims to create guidelines for prevention and treatment.

Through her advocacy, Signorelli has met other notable advocates, including celebrities Christina Applegate and Jamie Lynn Sigler. She also had the opportunity to meet Michael J. Fox himself. “I’m a child of the ’80s, and I was obsessed with him when I was young,” she said. “I thanked him on behalf of all of the patients and families. It was really great.”

Utilizing her blog and Instagram platform, Signorelli aims to break down stigmas surrounding neurodegenerative diseases and create a supportive community for early-onset patients. This Saturday, she will embark on a new role as the host of a speaking tour series with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Over the course of two years, she will share her own story and facilitate panel discussions designed for patients and their families.

The first talks will take place in Orlando, Minneapolis, Nashville, and Honolulu. “One of the mottos of the Fox Foundation is, if not us, then who?” Signorelli noted. “That’s sort of how I feel about it — if not me, then who? If I leave it to the next generation, then my kids are going to have to deal with it, and I don’t want that.”