Columns

In my recent column about oral health, I discussed how some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), such as facial stiffness and decreased tone and strength in the jaw, tongue, and facial muscles, can lead to dental problems. These issues, combined with dry mouth and decreased amounts of saliva, can…

While searching for a way to communicate telepathically, German psychiatrist Hans Berger invented the EEG machine to measure pulsating electrical brain activity in 1924. Professing my ignorance, I know more about telepathy as “advanced empathy” from my PhD thesis than I do about electroencephalography, or EEG. Seldom do I…

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is known to affect oral health because of disease-related symptoms. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, physical issues such as rigidity, shaking, uncontrolled movements, and even balance problems can prevent a person with PD from keeping up good oral hygiene. Increased or decreased amounts of saliva, which…

Someone once uttered the maxim, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” If we apply that notion to stress we could say, “Everybody talks about stress, but nobody seems to do anything about it.” This seems particularly true when Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and their…

Along with my fellow columnists at Parkinson’s News Today, I have previously written about the benefits of music and dance for those with Parkinson’s disease or other neurological conditions. Research has shown that dancing to music may slow the progression of both motor and non-motor symptoms by affecting gait,…

My sister Bev, who has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD), is a devout member of the Catholic faith. She clings to her beliefs and says, “Prayer and my faith have helped sustain me when dealing with my PD diagnosis and other medical issues…

I was surprised to discover a link between my chronic runny nose and Parkinson’s disease (PD) while I was doing research on the effect of over-the-counter antihistamines on PD medications. I have always thought that my chronic runny nose was because of allergies. I sneeze when I walk down the…

“I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it. I like to move it!” These dance tune lyrics, interpreted in the animated children’s movie “Madagascar,” reflect an unfortunate reality for many Parkinson’s patients. Some Parkinson’s patients appear to be constantly moving, which is known in…

My sister Bev, who has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD), loves to bake. Although she has moderate cognitive issues, baking and gardening are things she can still do well. Despite her Parkinson’s, these hobbies help her to focus and concentrate. Bev says that concentrating deeply on a task helps…

I don’t think a monkey should own a wrench. Monkey wrenches seem to be thrown from nowhere and land at the most unexpected and undesired moments. I’ve had several of these monkey wrenches land in my life recently, causing setbacks related to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Now, I’m back to more…