Mary Chapman, features writer —

Mary graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in journalism. She began her career at United Press International, then spent a decade reporting for the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (now Bloomberg Industry Group). Mary has written extensively for The New York Times, and her work has appeared in publications such as Time, Newsweek, Fortune, and the Chicago Tribune. She’s won a Society of Professional Journalists award for outstanding reporting.

Articles by Mary Chapman

Pingpong for Parkinson’s disease may help patients as PT

Note: This story was updated July 26, 2023, to correct two errors from the source material: “Parkie Pong” is available at West Hartford Senior Center’s Elmwood location, and Laini Weitz announced the program’s creation during a support group meeting. When a knee injury limited newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease…

Parkinson Voice Project grant aids SPEAK OUT! at Northeastern

The Parkinson Voice Project (PVP)’s SPEAK OUT! Therapy & Research Center at Northeastern University will receive a $280,000 PVP grant for training, services, equipment, and supplies over the next five years. The four-week program, running at the university’s Speech-Language and Hearing Center for more than two years,…

DBS helps grandfather, 77, struggling with Parkinson’s off times

Carl McLain, a grandfather and Parkinson’s disease patient, reports enjoying a much-improved quality of life since undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical treatment generally advised for those failing to respond to other disease therapies. McLain 77, said he began experiencing mysterious leg pain, anxiety, depression, and…

Parkinson’s Foundation publishes guidelines for exercise programs

A framework set up by the Parkinson’s Foundation can help therapists and other professionals design more personalized exercise programs for people with Parkinson’s disease. The competency framework, as it is called, outlines programs, courses, and approaches that help to educate and train movement specialists, given the…

Grant to Parkinson’s Foundation to expand genetic research access

A grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation to the Parkinson’s Foundation will expand PD GENEration genetic testing and counseling opportunities for African Americans with Parkinson’s disease in Georgia. Through a partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine, the funding also will support efforts to boost participation…

Closing Parkinson’s care gaps is aim of new, free course for providers

To help offset the lack of specialty care in Parkinson’s disease, the Parkinson’s Foundation is offering providers who aren’t experts in the progressive neurodegenerative disorder access to the virtual course, “Utilizing Quality Measures to Improve Parkinson’s Care: What Every Neurologist Needs to Know.” The course, which is…

AT-HOME PD2 to use digital tools to better understand Parkinson’s

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are hoping to use digital tools, including the smartphone app mPower, to collect more precise and comprehensive long-term data about Parkinson’s disease. The study, called AT-HOME PD2, is supported by a $4.9-million grant from the National Institutes of Neurological…

National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act reintroduced

With bipartisan support, the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House and Senate. The legislation aims to unite the federal government in a coordinated effort with the private sector to cure and prevent the neurodegenerative disease. Said to be the first legislation devoted…

Student creates Parkinson’s app that monitors falls

Interface Systems has awarded Northwestern University student Laura Felix a $5,000 “Tech for Good” scholarship for creating an app that helps caregivers manage falls by Parkinson’s disease patients. Felix is studying computer science and physics at the university and the one-time scholarship is for the 2022-2023 academic year. Interface also…