Columns

Journaling can be therapeutic for all of us. For someone with a chronic illness like Parkinson’s disease, storytelling by way of writing can leave a legacy for friends and family, and it can even change a person’s perspective about facing illness. In explaining why she decided to keep a journal,…

One of the major goals I have for managing Parkinson’s disease is to decrease the frequency and intensity of the “ugly days.” Ugly days are episodic in my life but still require managing symptoms every day. If I can keep the worst of the symptoms at bay, I — and…

Can those of us with Parkinson’s disease blame the condition for all of our trials and tribulations? The quick answer often is “Yes. Absolutely.” However, it’s not always so black and white. While it’s true that Parkinson’s complicates things, it’s not responsible for every calamity in life. Various circumstances can…

As a moderator for the Parkinson’s News Today Forums, I recently posed a question that’s received several surprising responses. I asked our forum members about their greatest challenge as a caregiver for someone with Parkinson’s disease (PD). I had imagined they might cite medication management, doctor appointments,…

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…