Finding agency amid the threat of Parkinson’s disease psychosis
There’s a particular kind of fear that creeps in when living with Parkinson’s disease. It’s not the shaking or the stiffness that haunts me the most; it’s the quiet dread that my own…
The Impatient Patient — Doc Irish
Doc Irish is a “patient research scientist,” not a real doctor. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 49 in 2020. He has an amazing family, is married with four children, owner of a healthcare market research firm. Believed to have eventually developed the disorder due to herbicide exposure while working for a landscaping company in high school and college – initial concerns were all about possible causes and trying to rule out genetic links. Now, focused on how can we try to make sense of brain-body dynamics… and how to accelerate real-world therapies.
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Thoughts on broadening Parkinson’s stimulation treatments
In recent columns, I touched on my frustrations with clinical trials and how, as a patient, I felt out of the loop regarding meaningful research and development. Despite all my efforts to get…
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Running slower, loving deeper: A reflection on aging with Parkinson’s
We all age, but some of us — human or not — seem to do it a little faster. Our dog, Jax, turned 10 this year. He’s a cockapoo mix with an easy smile…
The gift of letting people in
Living with Parkinson’s disease means constantly negotiating the unpredictable: tremors that come and go without warning, stiffness that turns a short walk into a major expedition, fatigue that hits like a wave. It’s…
In my quest for therapeutics, necessity is the mother of invention
In my columnist profile, I describe myself as a “patient research scientist,” although I’m not a real scientist (and I’m not patient). This description probably applies to most people with neurological disorders, as we’re…
Heightening patients’ contributions to Parkinson’s research
I became extremely frustrated with the whole treatment and research system when I was denied access to the Parkinson’s disease clinical trial I wanted to participate in. That prompted many questions: Why does…
Once patients find a clinical trial, they still face challenges
What’s the best way for people with Parkinson’s to contribute to research? I recently talked about how there are always more questions than answers and how there must be better ways to…
As I continue to study Parkinson’s, I see more questions than answers
Since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago, I’ve become obsessed with trying to understand everything about it. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I question and test…
The importance of ‘seeing the field’ in life with Parkinson’s disease
I was watching my youngest daughter’s high school lacrosse game the other night and commented to my wife, “She’s seeing the field really well right now.” We talked a bit about how it’s obvious,…
Exploring the right combination of treatments for Parkinson’s disease
In my last column, I discussed the importance of pursuing a collaborative effort with healthcare providers to develop a holistic and personalized approach to managing Parkinson’s symptoms. Today, I’ll delve into the…
Treatment for Parkinson’s requires a nuanced and integrated approach
Living with Parkinson’s disease is an intricate dance of challenges. For me, pain has been a persistent partner on this journey. For years, my coping strategy was to try to push the…
Refereeing basketball has helped me keep Parkinson’s on the sidelines
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, one of my fears was that I would have to stop refereeing basketball. The game of basketball has been a big part of my life since…
