When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at a young age, many thoughts swirl through their head. Once the dust starts to settle, they’ll likely start thinking about their career. Will they be able to continue working? If so, how long? What will happen when they can’t? Will they…
Caregivers for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) know the physical and emotional toll it exacts on those who suffer from it. The financial burden from Parkinson’s disease is less well known. My sister Bev has stage 3 PD and struggles with balance, cognitive, and falling issues. She also…
The power of the human mind to reshape itself, adapt to even the most traumatic of events, is a gift given to me by the head injury patients from my past clinical experience. Their courage inspired me to find a scientific model to help me with my own Parkinson’s disease…
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, it can become harder for someone to find physical activities they can do with others, which can affect their social life. However, a few years ago, my husband, Mike, and I discovered something we could do together: kayaking. Like other paddle sports, kayaking incorporates many…
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a serious illness that can have major effects on a person, both physically and emotionally. As a caregiver to my older sister, Bev, I have witnessed those changes in her after she was diagnosed in 2017. But can there be a lighter side to the disease?…
“Why are you standing on top of that chair?” Dr. C sees Neo precariously balanced on the chair under the kitchen ceiling light. Neo is the part of Dr. C’s brain that functions as his inner voice. “This lightbulb has been flickering. It’s so annoying! I’m trying to fix that.”…
Dear Parkinson’s disease (PD), Wow, I can’t believe that we’ve been together for nearly 10 years. Our relationship has been a roller-coaster ride, that’s for sure. We’ve had our ups and downs — well, mostly downs when you’re around. It’s time for me to take a stand and tell you…
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many of us to realize how much relationships, interactions with others, and social support mean to us. We as humans were created to be social. For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other chronic illnesses, the isolation, anxiety, and depression may feel even greater. During…
I once had to attend a team-building and stress-reducing exercise event for work that involved immersing ourselves in nature. Yes, there was tree hugging, leaf exploration, trail walking, and stargazing. The point of the exercise was for nature to help us get in touch with ourselves and each other. And…
Previously, I wrote about the role of the second dopamine center in Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is to monitor homeostasis regulatory systems. Regulatory system malfunction is connected to PD due to insular cortex damage. In early-stage PD, this leads to episodic symptom presentation. At first, these regulatory systems…
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