Medical appointments can feel overwhelming – there may be many questions on your mind and not enough time to address everything with your doctor. Preparing a list of questions and concerns ahead of time can help you focus on what matters most to you and ensure you’re actively advocating for your care. To support this process, the Parkinson’s Foundation created a worksheet that offers a step-by-step guide for identifying and prioritizing your top concerns. Advocating for yourself during appointme...
Jun 24, 2025•26 min
Las caídas y los problemas de equilibrio son frecuentes en el Parkinson, sobre todo a medida que avanza la enfermedad. Estos síntomas pueden dificultar las tareas diarias al afectar su capacidad para caminar y moverse con confianza. Comprender cómo afecta el Parkinson al equilibrio y reconocer otras posibles causas es esencial para encontrar las estrategias adecuadas para controlar los síntomas, mejorar la movilidad y mantener la independencia. En este episodio, hablamos con el Dr. Daniel Martin...
Jun 10, 2025•29 min
Depression, anxiety, and apathy are common symptoms that are often overlooked in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Nearly half of those living with PD are likely to experience depression or anxiety at some point, but these non-motor symptoms often go unrecognized and undertreated. Because their signs can overlap and mimic one another, it can be challenging to pinpoint exactly what someone is going through. Depression is known for feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness. Anxiety might ...
May 06, 2025•23 min
Living alone with Parkinson’s disease (PD) presents daily challenges, but it also offers certain benefits, such as the independence to control your own schedule. Whether you choose to live alone, or find that nearby friends and family aren’t as close as you would like, there are resources to support you. Living alone can also bring physical and emotional hurdles. You may experience feelings of isolation or loneliness, and everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning can become more difficult while j...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min
La línea de ayuda de la Parkinson’s Foundation cuenta con personal de enfermería, trabajadores sociales y educadores de la salud. Están disponibles por teléfono y correo electrónico para responder a sus preguntas e inquietudes acerca de la enfermedad de Parkinson, tanto en inglés como en español. Nuestros especialistas de la Línea de Ayuda responden llamadas de personas de toda la comunidad de Parkinson, incluyendo a quienes viven con la enfermedad, sus seres queridos, proveedores de atención mé...
Apr 08, 2025•30 min
Thinking and memory changes, also known as cognitive changes, may become more noticeable as Parkinson’s disease (PD) progresses. If these symptoms begin to interfere with everyday tasks, it may be a sign of dementia. Understanding the signs of dementia in Parkinson’s, along with its different names and variations, is essential for tailoring treatment options to your specific symptoms. The early signs of dementia may be hard to notice at first. Often, it is the care partner or family member who w...
Mar 25, 2025•31 min
Allied health professionals are a group of healthcare providers whose role and expertise complement the work of physicians. These include specialists such as physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, and many more. They are just as important as your Movement Disorders Specialists and Neurologists, and play a vital role in creating a comprehensive, well-rounded Parkinson’s care team that caters to your individual needs and addresses your overall well-being...
Feb 11, 2025•25 min
Mindfulness is the intentional act of paying attention to one’s body, sensations, thoughts, feelings, or surroundings in the present moment, without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can give a sense of calm, help manage pain, reduce stress, and improve clarity and mental well-being. In being aware of and calmly accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations in a non-judgmental way, individuals can reshape their thoughts and expectations into something more manageable. For people with Parkin...
Jan 28, 2025•23 min
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. The Foundation recognizes the importance of funding and supporting research studies dedicated to better understanding the causes of PD, developing more effective treatments, and ultimately finding a cure. The Foundation awards research grants to support investigators working on diverse research projects, along with collaborating with other institutions to ...
Dec 31, 2024•26 min
Los profesionales de la salud aliados son un grupo de profesionales médicos cuya función y conocimientos complementan la labor de los médicos. Entre ellos se encuentran los fisioterapeutas, terapeutas del habla y el lenguaje, nutricionistas y más. Son tan importantes como sus especialistas en trastornos del movimiento y neurólogos y desempeñan un papel vital en la creación de un equipo de atención al Parkinson integral y completo que atienda sus necesidades individuales y se ocupe de su bienesta...
Nov 26, 2024•34 min
Each November, the Parkinson’s Foundation joins organizations across the country to honor care partners for National Family Caregivers Month. In this episode, we highlight the stories and experiences of two people who care for a person with Parkinson’s disease. Ripley Hensley is an emergency room nurse and a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. Although she currently lives in Connecticut, she manages to find ways to help support both her mother, who is the primary...
Nov 12, 2024•18 min
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a “clinical” diagnosis, based on a person’s medical history, symptoms, and physical exam. Although certain laboratory or imaging tests can be helpful in reaching a diagnosis, no single test can confirm PD. Among the tests currently used to support a PD diagnosis, or to rule out other conditions that can mimic PD, are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, the dopamine transporter scan (DaTscan) to look at how dopamine is transported in certain areas of the bra...
Oct 22, 2024•23 min
Alrededor de un 20-40% de las personas con Parkinson experimentan algún tipo de alucinación o delusión en algún momento de su recorrido por la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Aunque en la actualidad los estudios no indican que la comunidad hispanohablante de la EP corra un mayor riesgo de desarrollar estos síntomas, sigue siendo importante conocer los posibles signos para estar mejor preparado para manejar situaciones de emergencia. Las alucinaciones y delusiones en sí pueden asustar, pero cuando ...
Sep 10, 2024•21 min
Allied health professionals are a group of healthcare providers whose role and expertise complement the work of physicians. These include specialists such as physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists, and many more. They are just as important as your Movement Disorders Specialists and Neurologists, and play a vital role in creating a comprehensive, well-rounded Parkinson’s care team that caters to your individual needs and addresses your overall well-being...
Aug 13, 2024•22 min
A hospital stay can be a stressful situation for everyone, whether you are the person receiving care or the support person providing comfort. People with Parkinson’s (PD) are at a higher risk of hospitalizations, so it is crucial to be prepared ahead of time for when the situation arises. The Parkinson’s Foundation recently created the Hospital Safety Guide, which is the updated and improved version of the former Aware in Care kit. The Guide incorporates information from the kit, but now highlig...
Jul 09, 2024•21 min
Los trabajadores de salud comunitaria (TSC o CHW, por sus siglas en inglés) o promotores ayudan a cerrar la brecha entre los profesionales de la salud y los miembros de la comunidad proporcionando educación y recursos culturalmente competentes y relevantes a la comunidad local. Desempeñan un papel vital en la interacción con la comunidad para identificar necesidades, proporcionar educación sanitaria y servir como recurso. Generan confianza y un sentimiento de conexión con los miembros de la comu...
Jun 25, 2024•24 min
Gene-based therapy for Parkinson’s disease is an area of research that is currently being developed. It works by introducing genetic material into the brain, which can then “instruct” cells to produce compounds that can potentially alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s. Although years have gone by since the first gene-based clinical trial, there is still much to learn before fully realizing its potential impact to treat Parkinson’s disease. In this episode, Movement Disorders Neurologist, Andrew Fei...
May 28, 2024•23 min
This month, we are honoring and celebrating our Parkinson’s Foundation volunteers. Every volunteer helps make a difference in the everyday lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease, whether it’s by helping organize a local community walk, serving as a research advocate providing feedback and collaborating with scientists on research studies, or speaking at a panel for a community education program. There are many opportunities to get involved with the Foundation. In this episode, we highli...
Apr 02, 2024•23 min
Carbidopa-levodopa is considered the “gold standard treatment” for Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa works to replace levels of dopamine in the brain, thereby alleviating PD symptoms, while Carbidopa works to reduce adverse effects in the rest of the body. Although years have passed since the creation of this treatment, it is still commonly known to be an effective drug for reducing PD symptoms in a majority of people living with Parkinson’s. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Emily Peron, PharmD and...
Mar 05, 2024•31 min
Black and African American people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) face disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, potentially leading to decreased access to care, resources, and research opportunities. It is crucial to recognize their unique needs and experiences so that scientists can better understand how PD impacts diverse communities. The Parkinson’s Foundation aims to identify these healthcare disparities to better serve and support the community. In this second episode of our B...
Feb 27, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Black and African American people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) face disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, potentially leading to decreased access to care, resources, and research opportunities. It is crucial to recognize their unique needs and experiences so that scientists can better understand how PD impacts diverse communities. The Parkinson’s Foundation aims to identify these healthcare disparities to better serve and support the community. In this first episode of our Bl...
Feb 20, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4
As we start the new year, we wanted to turn the tables on our podcast host and moderator, Dan Keller. Dan has hosted our Substantial Matters podcast series since it began more than five years ago. In this episode, we share some insight into his background, his experience, and how he came to host this series, starting as a laboratory researcher, to journalism student, to medical journalist and broadcaster. He talks about the rewards of reaching the Parkinson’s community through podcasts, and shar...
Jan 09, 2024•21 min
Recibir un diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) puede ser una experiencia que cambie su vida, pero hay pasos que puede tomar desde el principio para ayudar a crear y mantener una vida de calidad con la EP. Aprender más acerca de la enfermedad, identificar una red de apoyo y formar un equipo de profesionales de la salud son algunos de los primeros pasos que hay que dar. Aunque pueda estar atravesando una oleada de emociones, no está solo y hay recursos disponibles para ayudarle a vivir ...
Dec 12, 2023•22 min
Los cuidadores y aliados de cuidado brindan un apoyo inestimable a las personas que viven con la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Con el tiempo, el papel del cuidador puede tener que ajustarse y adaptarse a medida que avanza la enfermedad. Aunque el cuidado pueda parecer la tarea principal que lo abarca todo, es vital que usted sea capaz de encontrar el tiempo y los recursos necesarios para cuidar de sí mismo, antes de poder cuidar de su ser querido con la EP. Como parte del Mes Nacional de Cuidado...
Nov 28, 2023•27 min
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive disease that affects both the person with Parkinson’s and the care partner. Considerations need to be made to deal with the present challenges, while also anticipating future caregiving needs. Patsy Ponder Dalton was the caregiver for her husband, David, since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 44. Even after David’s passing, she is still a highly engaged facilitator for two Parkinson’s support groups in Missouri. In this episode, she...
Nov 14, 2023•24 min
Early-onset, also called Young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD), affects about 4% of the one million people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the United States, with a diagnosis before age 50. Although there are many characteristics similar to late-onset PD, there are a few differences such as disease progression, response to medications, and genetic risk factors. Because of the earlier age of onset, YOPD may also differ in how it affects an individual’s social relationships, marriage, parenting,...
Oct 31, 2023•18 min
Considered “atypical Parkinsonian syndromes,” over half of people with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are initially misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to similarities in early symptoms as well as lack of awareness of these rare, neurodegenerative diseases among many healthcare professionals and the general public. This is the third of three podcast episodes within our atypical parkinsonism podcast series, organi...
Oct 17, 2023•32 min
Considered “atypical Parkinsonian syndromes,” over half of people with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are initially misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to similarities in early symptoms as well as lack of awareness of these rare, neurodegenerative diseases among many healthcare professionals and the general public. This is the second of three podcast episodes within our atypical parkinsonism podcast series, organ...
Oct 03, 2023•30 min
Researchers have discovered several genes that are associated with the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). To better understand this relationship, the Parkinson’s Foundation is conducting a large population study, PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease, a national initiative that offers genetic testing and counseling for Parkinson's-related genes at no cost for people with PD. Since different ethnic groups may have differences in their genetic backgrounds, possibly aff...
Sep 19, 2023•22 min
Considered “atypical Parkinsonian syndromes,” over half of people with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD)/corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are initially misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to similarities in early symptoms as well as lack of awareness of these rare, neurodegenerative diseases among many healthcare professionals and the general public. This is the first of three podcast episodes within our atypical parkin...
Sep 05, 2023•33 min
