Parkinson’s Disease Exercise, Fitness, Inspiration + Motivation

I was trapped near the inner circle of thought. I knew that being apathetic was a pathetic way to be, but I didn't care. If there was any hope for escape, I had to think fast ... literally. If I didn’t get my thoughts racing faster and faster, I would never be able to achieve escape velocity. A panic attack might be my only way out.

Last week, I spent the week at PD Summer School, a full week of Parkinson’s wellness education. Dr. Laurie Mischley has spent the last 2 decades studying lifestyle and nutrition factors associated with either slower (better) or faster (worse) progression of Parkinson’s disease. The goal is to identify and implement positive deviance strategies that can be used to slow Parkinson’s disease progression.

This is a test of an emergency broadcast system. If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to place your head between your legs, and kiss your keister goodbye.

This Week’s Highlights: PD vs. Sleep (Sleeping with the enemy); smart watch fall detection; Every Day is Opening Day; Could an existing prostrate drug really slow down PD progression?; Can exergaming really motivate couch potatoes or is it an excuse for overpriced exercise equipment that gets used for only a few months before it becomes a dust collecting eyesore in the corner of the room?; and more PD news

I used to worry about how much the exercise I did slowed the progression of PD. Not any more. I mostly just want to be the best I can possibly…

Sleep disorders are one of the most common problems experienced by people with Parkinson’s Disease. A major study concluded that more than 60% of people with PD experience sleep-related difficulties,…

“Where do you see me in five years?” I had been waiting a long time to ask that question.  At the top hospitals you don’t just get in next week,…

During the recent Apple product update announcements, something caught my eye and might be of interest to others with Parkinson's – Fall Detection. This watch can now detect if you have fallen and, in reaction,…

I decide how I will live life to the fullest despite Parkinson’s disease. I control my thoughts, which in turn control my emotions, which in turn control my actions. Video transcript: This is not a…

Male sexual health is an awkward topic to discuss, but I feel compelled to share this, because for some people this information may be extremely helpful. One of the most unusual facts that I learned…

If you have Parkinson’s disease and pain or discomfort that interrupts your sleep, then I think I have some fresh insight, and for some, something to discuss with your doctor. (I can’t believe I’m writing…

A friend forwarded me a video of an excellent inspirational and entertaining commencement address by legendary college football coach Lou Holtz. On the surface, it has nothing to do with living with Parkinson’s. He does…

Vitamin D is another nutrient where deficiency and lower levels of the nutrient may be associated with worsening Parkinson’s disease symptoms. It may be a good idea to ask your doctor to include Vitamin D…

Virtual Reality (VR) technology offers interesting possibilities for Parkinson’s disease therapy. University of Southern California engineers are teaming with researchers and VR game designers to help Parkinson’s patients walk steadily with confidence, creating a VR…

Conventional wisdom holds that far more than half of my dopamine-producing neurons were dead by the time of my Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2008. I’m guessing that death toll has risen to about 95% now. The…

The Davis Phinney Foundation (DPF) has an article on their website that is an interesting read. Apparently, one of the most common questions they receive from friends and care partners of people with Parkinson’s is this:…

This latest Parkinson’s Disease research is too important not to be shared. Published in the European Journal of Neurology, a new study indicates that an active sex life is linked with lower disability and better…

Held annually since 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Ray Kennedy Cup is an international football tournament for people with Parkinson’s. Organizers expect this year’s tournament…

The Parkinson’s Disease is like a snowflake analogy was cute the first time we heard it. But after a few repetitions, it got a bit…

We think that regardless of your age, you’re always too young to have Parkinson’s. When someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s at a younger age, it…

Medications for PD fall into three categories. The first category includes drugs that increase the level of dopamine in the brain. The second category of…

[Editor’s Note: A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but the majority of thoughts are expendable … brief neuronal impulses that fire, flash, flicker…

I’ve been thinking a lot about Parkinson’s and pain lately…not because it is a particularly fascinating topic, but let’s just say that it is a…

Wendy Suzuki is a neuroscientist at New York University who studies brain plasticity (the ability of the brain to change over time) and how aerobic…

From the first time I saw stories about Ping Pong Parkinson, I was sold. I’ve always enjoyed ping pong, even though I’m horrible at the…

My wife went to one session at the World Parkinson Congress 2019 without me.  It is my fault. I suggested it. I had another time commitment,…

My favorite part of World Parkinson Congress is the people with Parkinson’s, particularly the ones you encounter in the Book Nook and Poster Hall. Yesterday,…

Wow…my words are inadequate to describe the inspirational intensity of WPC2019 opening session keynote speaker Linda K. Olson. In 1979, at the age of 29,…

Lyndsay Isaacs speech was one of the highlights of the WPC2019 opening session.  A large portion of the WPC2019 opening, not just Lyndsay’s portion, was…

As the Parkinson’s community prepares to convene in Kyoto next week for #WPC2019 (World Parkinson Congress 2019), my observation for today is that there is…

Losing your grip is more than just an analogy about Parkinson’s Disease. Quite literally, it’s a physical manifestation of the disease, and one of the…

This title sounds like something Yogi Berra might have said. Like baseball, Parkinson’s Disease is 90% mental and the other half is physical. (I think…

A Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University) student project to help a local military veteran has become a business designed to help patients with Parkinson’s…

Mayo Clinic has published a research commentary that analyzes the relationship between low levels of Vitamin B-12 and Parkinson’s Disease. While the paper does not…

Muscle weakness is an almost universal symptom in Parkinson’s Disease. Or is it? This is actually a topic of some debate. People with Parkinson’s certainly…

The dog ate my homework, and gut bacteria ate my Parkinson’s meds. I'm glad it wasn't the other way around. In spite of my poor…

Researchers hate the placebo effect, but for many of us with Parkinson’s, placebos help get us through the day. Maybe it’s a vitamin & supplement…

A recent study reminds us that exercise does more than just improve motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, such as tremor, gait disturbances, and postural instability.…

There was a recurring theme in some of my dreams when I was younger…I’d try to run, but despite my best efforts, I was unable…