Parkinson’s Disease Blogs

Living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been a curse and a blessing. The curse is a progressive chronic illness, and the blessing is being able to write creatively about the experience in a way that helps others. Writing for Parkinson’s News Today provides worthiness, pleasure, and self-expression for me. It’s the reason I call my column “Possibilities with Parkinson’s” and ... read more

Receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis immediately prompts a cascade of questions encompassing all aspects of life, including career choices. This can be especially challenging with young-onset Parkinson’s disease. What will I look like? Will I be able to care for myself and my family? Should I keep my diagnosis private? Can I still do my job, or can I find a ... read more

My latest talk with my Neurologist and Movement Disorder Specialist, Dr. Randolph Stephenson, is so much more than a patient, a care partner, and a neurologist having a chat. ... read more

As one of my sister Bev’s caregivers and a former nurse, I try to educate family members and friends about Parkinson’s disease (PD) to increase awareness and understanding and advocate for my sister. Bev was diagnosed in 2017. She’s now 83 and has stage 3 PD. I am especially interested in learning how to deal with Bev’s cognitive issues. Her ... read more

When you are ill, it is not selfish to be focused on improving your health and healing. For you to be your best – do what is best for you, even if others do not understand. #MotivationMonday ... read more

Several things have been all over the Parkinson’s world this week that I would like to share with you. A study at York University in Canada was published that shows the long term benefits of dancing to music for Parkinson’s Brains. Another article reviews some apps designed to make life better with PD. And just for your enjoyment, a music ... read more

When I was growing up, my brother and I loved playing video games. We would go to the local arcade and plucked coin after coin in the slot to keep on playing classics like Pac-Man or Mario bros.  Then came the evolution of video games with the release of Atari, Sega, and Nintendo home gaming systems.  Now, there has been a debate ... read more

As a 31-year-old, I spend a lot of time on my phone, whether that means talking to my friends, researching something for work, or playing a mindless game. I think about the difference I could make by spending more time improving my mind and working on my health instead of wasting my time on my phone. But many apps can ... read more

Recently, I spent a weekend at a cabin in northern Arizona with some of my SisterChicks friends, as we call ourselves. We were escaping the Phoenix metro area, with its soaring 100-plus-degree temperatures and desert landscape, to experience the ponderosa pine trees and cooler weather. After we’d had some wine one evening, we played a game called Eyetoons, in which ... read more

Keep inspired! Amazing events are happening all around us - all the time. See the morning sunrise. Watch the night sky. Observe! #MotivationMonday ... read more

We need to give our bodies a better chance of performing. It doesn’t matter what you’re faced with…if you make your body healthier, you are going to feel better.Jimmy Choi Three years ago, I was introduced to Jimmy Choi through a mutual Parkinson’s friend in Chicago. Several weeks later I received an email from Jimmy, of American Ninja Warrior fame, ... read more

Neo, Dr. C’s imaginary talking neocortex, sees the delivery truck headed down the driveway toward the house, followed by a loud knock at the door minutes later. With excitement, he says to Dr. C and Mrs. Dr. C, “I think the copies of your book have arrived!” Neo brings the box filled with copies of “Possibilities with Parkinson’s: A Fresh ... read more

When I was newly diagnosed, one of my physicians asked me, “What brings you peace?” I don’t remember my answer, but I do remember that he told me to find something. Recently, while sitting outside on a beautiful day, I realized that finding peace is not as complicated as I’d perceived it to be. Actually, it can be rather simple. ... read more

Hi, everyone! If we don’t know each other already, I’m Mary Beth. I’ve been working as a columnist and a forums moderator for Parkinson’s News Today for a fair amount of time now. But I’m still learning. I set out here to explore my dad’s journey with Parkinson’s disease in a literary format. I wanted to create a platform to ... read more

How do I know that my family members are receiving the best care for their Parkinson’s disease (PD)? What criteria should I consider when choosing a disease management strategy? Given my nursing background, I asked myself these questions when my sister, Bev, was diagnosed with PD in 2017. Fortunately, Bev, who was also a nurse, lived near Cleveland, Ohio, and ... read more

Recently, the Parkinson’s Foundation partnered with the American College of Sports Medicine to provide new exercise recommendations for people with Parkinson’s and certified exercise professionals. The goals of this collaboration are admirable and long overdue. They seek to: Ensure standards of care for exercise professionals working with people who have Parkinson’s Ensure exercises are safe and effective at improving the quality ... read more

“Mindfulness is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves.” Nhat Hanh “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung Introduction: This post is one of my repeating themes. This one is on mindfulness meditation. Why would someone keep repeating a topic? Well, why do I do it? For the following reasons. First, I believe in the topic. I ... read more

COVID-19 has amplified the clarity of what is truly important in our lives. #MotivationMonday ... read more

Take a walk.  It’s good for your physical and mental health.  A walk in the woods is even better. Let’s take a walk on a trail near my house.  The trail used to be part of the Croton Aqueduct, which was built in the mid-1800s to carry water from an upstate reservoir at Croton, New York, to midtown Manhattan.  The ... read more

Here is my most recent article written for ParkinsonsDisease.net. Enjoy! ParkinsonDisease.net I often receive emails from people who have specific questions about Parkinson’s disease (PD). Today I heard from a woman who introduced herself as a non-Parkinsons gal who has PD women friends. Very dear friends for whom she would want to help in whatever capacity she can.  She asks: “What’s the ... read more

“Resilience is not what happens to you. It’s how you react to, respond to, and recover from what happens to you.” Jeffrey Gitomer “Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.” Yasmin Mogahed Introduction: Several years ago, someone gave me or sent me a drawing of ... read more

Most people associate Parkinson’s disease (PD) with shaking, tremors, balance, and gait issues. However, we don’t often consider the impact of PD on vision. According to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), vision issues may cause a number of symptoms. Not every person with PD experiences these issues, but it is important to know what they are and which treatment ... read more

Even a brief vacation into nature can bring clarity, relaxation, and renewal! #MotivationMonday ... read more

I’ve never been devout. I was raised in a secular Jewish home. For my parents being Jewish meant a connection to a people, not to any creed or book. I owe my life to that distinction. Most of my great grandparents were devoutly religious. When the Nazis occupied Poland in 1939 their children, my grandparents, saw the writing on ... read more

My ultimate goal is to reverse the effects of Parkinson’s and help other people conquer it tooTrent MacLean, Ping Pong for Good As an avid tennis player all my life, some of the first signs of Parkinson’s, looking back, occurred on the tennis court long before my diagnosis. I was having trouble with my grip on the racket. ... read more