Ally

Are you familiar with the term “chronotype”?

Recently I learned about The Power of When, which is a book all about chronotypes, or the natural waking and sleeping rhythm for each individual person. If you know your chronotype, you can also figure out when it’s the best time of day for you to work and be productive.

The 4 chronotypes are:

• The…

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Caring for someone else can take a physical and emotional toll on the caregiver. Caregiving can feel rewarding and meaningful, it also has its costs. Favorite hobbies, free time, time with friends, energy and money can all be sacrificed in order to care for someone else.

What are some things you have lost or given up in order to care for…[Read more]

Do you have grandchildren or school-aged children in your bubble? What is the plan for them this fall? Will they be returning to the classroom or learning virtually?

A friend of mine’s parents, who are in their late 60s and have some health challenges, have told her that if she decides to send her 5- and 6-year-old children to school in the fall,…[Read more]

A few months ago we released a flash briefing about how weighted blankets can help people with Parkinson’s get a good night’s sleep. You can listen to it here.

Have you tried sleeping with a weighted blanket, and did it help? For those who haven’t tried sleeping with a weighted blanket, does this idea appeal to you?

Has anyone heard of the over-the-counter sweetener, mannitol? Dany Vesely is a 63-year-old person with Parkinson’s and he says that mannitol has helped him combat the disease.

You can learn more about the new documentary that covers Dany’s story and mannitol by clicking here.

What do you think of Dany’s story? Do you think mannitol holds…[Read more]

I’ve been working from home since March 16th and it’s only now starting to feel normal and routine. That said, I’m a little worried about what working working from home will be like once the days become shorter and winter rears its ugly head. I know it’s a few months away, but I think I need to start preparing mentally for working from home in the…[Read more]

Some people with Parkinson’s have issues with sweating and regulating their body temperature, and it can be easy to get overheated if you’re not careful. We recently published a flash briefing on preventing dehydration and heatstroke in the summer.

Have you ever experienced heatstroke? If it’s hot and humid in the summer where you live, how do…[Read more]

My sleep is one area of my life that has been significantly and adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and I think it’s partly because I’m experiencing more stress than usual (anxiety/worry about the future and health of my loved ones; stress related to working from home and never truly being “off the clock” with my laptop always in view;…[Read more]

It’s Thursday and the weekend is just around the corner! Let’s take a moment to celebrate some wins from the past week. For me, one big win was closing on my first home with my partner – it still feels surreal. A small win was scoring a hair appointment at my salon for tomorrow at 9am. Two very different things but both highlights of my…[Read more]

Did you know that ParkinsonsNewsToday.com publishes two flash briefings (or short podcast episodes) every week? On Mondays you can hear an article about new PD research, and on Thursdays you can hear a personal perspective piece from someone living with Parkinson’s.

Full disclosure: it’s my voice reading the content (which, if you prefer to read,…[Read more]

There is a lot of bad and misleading information on the Internet about a lot of topics, and Parkinson’s alternative treatments is one of them.

How do you evaluate if something you read online is trustworthy? What are some red flags you look for when reading about alternative treatments for PD?

Have you come across any health scams…[Read more]

In Toronto, where I live, and other places across Ontario, local governments are mandating that folks wear a mask in public spaces, including restaurants and stores. I’m happy to oblige, and I’m trying to use cloth/washable masks as much as possible to mitigate my waste production. I’m still getting used to seeing only half of people’s faces…[Read more]