Columns

One common but frustrating symptom of Parkinson’s disease is what’s known as “off periods.” These happen when medication, such as Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa), wear off — sometimes suddenly — and other Parkinson’s symptoms that had been under control show up again or get worse. During off periods, you…

One of the more challenging Parkinson’s disease symptoms that my dad navigates is stiffness or rigidity, which makes the mornings hard on him. He does his morning stretches to counteract the problem, but it puts a hamper on his groove. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the stiffness comes…

Every time I enter the password on my laptop to begin writing a column, I’m hit with a powerful wave of emotions. There’s a sense of fulfillment — a chance to reflect on my late father’s life, to honor his memory. But alongside that fulfillment, there’s an undeniable pang of…

I read an article this year on Parkinson’s News Today about a recent study on how men and women differ in their approaches to the decision to undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery to treat Parkinson’s disease. Having decided to have DBS surgery in 2019, I found the…

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having my entire family around me. But now that my three children are grown and living on their own, having everyone together is rare for my husband, Arman, and me. When the kids were growing up, we planned a yearly winter vacation to…

Earlier this month, on Jan. 17, we celebrated the 83rd anniversary of boxer Muhammad Ali’s birth. Ali remains a towering figure worldwide, even years after his death in 2016 at the age of 74. He was a fighter both by occupation and in spirit. He stood up for peace and…

Do you remember those early days when you were newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease? Can you think of anything someone could’ve said to make you feel better? What do you wish they would’ve told you? I was asked this question a couple weeks ago by someone who had recently…

The word “fine” can mean many things, from superb to satisfactory to precise, and even delicate, depending on its usage. Merriam-Webster also lists its synonyms, which include acceptable, decent, middling, and passable. When I look at these words, “fine” seems to cover many conditions. That’s why it’s a handy word…

Happy 2025 to all! Wishing all of you a happy and healthy year ahead. The time has come for the oft-dreaded New Year’s resolutions. The idea is to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new one. I’ve made many resolutions, but the majority of them failed…

One of the many annoying, frustrating, and mysterious symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is micrographia. Micrographia is when your handwriting gets teeny-tiny and illegible over time. Like gait freezing, it’s one of those odd motor symptoms of Parkinson’s in which your mind knows what it wants to…