The decision-making process around deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat Parkinson’s motor symptoms can be a complex and emotional journey. People often have questions about when – and whether – to have the procedure and what the experience is like, from the months of evaluation pre-surgery to surgery day to life with the device. In audio from this Third Thursdays Webinar, our panel of people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and a movement disorder specialist share their DBS stories and answ...
Jul 24, 2024•57 min
Identifying reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism would have substantial impacts on clinical trials and clinical practice. A particularly active area of research is the development of novel molecular imaging biomarkers that can be used in combination with common neuroimaging approaches. Dr. Antonio Strafella discusses current practices for using molecular imaging biomarkers in research and in the clinic, the process of developing new...
Jul 23, 2024•38 min
Just over a year ago, there was a major breakthrough in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research – a tool that could detect abnormal alpha-synuclein protein in the spinal fluid of people living with PD even before onset of symptoms. This discovery is already impacting the ways scientists conduct and think about Parkinson’s research. Tune into this episode of our award-winning “Parkinson’s Science POV” series to learn how researchers are using the test to better understand disease biology and what the f...
Jul 10, 2024•35 min
Prior studies have established links between poor olfaction and Parkinson's disease, and impaired sense of smell is a common prodromal symptom of Parkinson's disease. The causes and mechanisms of prodromal neurodegeneration are actively being researched. However, environmental exposure to pesticides or other chemicals may trigger or modify the course of neurodegeneration, potentially leading to the development of Parkinson's disease over time. In this episode, Dr. Honglei Chen shares his researc...
Jul 09, 2024•48 min
You might be interested in stepping forward for science to play a role in the next breakthrough in Parkinson’s research, but still have questions about how to actually participate. How do you pick the right study for you? How do you balance your life logistics and your medical care considerations? What rights do you have when you participate in a study? In audio from this Third Thursdays Webinar, our panel of people living with Parkinson’s and research experts discuss the practicalities and bene...
Jun 26, 2024•59 min
Gait impairments such as slow speed, small steps, and high variability from step to step are common in people with Parkinson's disease, and these changes begin to occur early in the course of disease. Freezing of gait may develop later for some individuals, and it has been linked to falls and other adverse outcomes. When the quality of walking declines, it can lead to a reduction in the quantity of walking and overall physical activity, which is also related to poorer health outcomes. To prevent...
Jun 18, 2024•44 min
Improving our understanding of the complex neural circuits involved in normal function of the basal ganglia and other parts of the brain impacted by Parkinson's disease is critical for developing more targeted and more effective treatment approaches. In this episode, Dr. Aryn Gittis discusses her research examining how the activity of specific basal ganglia circuits relates to motor control in both health and pre-clinical models of movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. She describes new r...
Jun 04, 2024•45 min
Many people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience pain as a non-motor symptom. Pain can arise from stiff muscles, dystonia, nerve pain and even the disease progression itself. It’s a symptom that some find difficult to talk about, but there are options for people to find relief. In audio from this Third Thursdays webinar, listen to our expert panel of people living with PD, movement disorder specialists, and an integrative pain specialist discuss pain and Parkinson’s – why it happens, ...
May 29, 2024•58 min
Demand for movement disorder specialists continues to grow, but not enough neurologists are receiving focused training in Parkinson’s and related conditions in order to meet the current and projected needs in the U.S. and around the world. In collaboration with longtime partner the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation created the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders with the goal of growing the global base of movement disorders specialists. In this episode Dr. Ra...
May 21, 2024•41 min
In this episode, hosted by Larry and Rebecca Gifford, members of The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Patient Council and their care partners share their honest reactions to their diagnosis — from panic and denial to sadness and loneliness. This group of men and women of different ages and backgrounds offers words of wisdom about what to consider, what they’ve lost and what they’ve gained – and you’ll be surprised to hear how, for some, what they’ve gained is more than what they lost. Like our podcas...
May 15, 2024•37 min
In this raw and emotional conversation, four women with Parkinson’s living in four different countries discuss the challenges faced because of delayed diagnosis, hormonal changes, lack of information and treatment, research inequity and gender biases. They share how they live better with the disease by advocating for themselves with their health care team and how they empower other women through awareness and activism. Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the...
May 08, 2024•44 min
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and related chemicals like perchloroethylene (PCE) have been used widely for a variety of commercial purposes over the past century, and these chemicals are prevalent in the air, water, and soil. Over the past several decades, mounting evidence has been published linking exposure to TCE/PCE with adverse health effects, including cancer and Parkinson's disease. In this episode, Dr. Sam Goldman discusses his research on environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s disease, fo...
May 07, 2024•40 min
Living with Parkinson’s comes with a variety of symptoms, some of which can be unexpected, and frankly, embarrassing. Drooling, bladder issues and sexual dysfunction are hard to talk about, even with loved ones or your doctor – and can affect your self-image, your intimate relationships or the way you move through the world. In audio from this Third Thursdays webinar, listen to our expert panel of people living with Parkinson’s, a care partner and a movement disorder specialist discuss Parkinson...
Apr 24, 2024•52 min
For over a century, different surgical interventions have been explored to address symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and researchers are continuing to innovate and improve surgical treatments today. With new technology and an ever-expanding understanding of the function of the nervous system and the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, neurosurgical interventions are becoming more effective and more personalized. Dr. Doris Wang joins us in this episode to discuss her work using focused ultraso...
Apr 16, 2024•41 min
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research established its Research Tools Program to address gaps in the field and common challenges surrounding the development of reagents and models that slowed the initial stages of promising research projects. In collaboration with many partners and stakeholders, the Research Tools Program helps ensure that scientists around the world have access to high-quality reagents, models, and more. These tools have been instrumental in launching novel rese...
Apr 02, 2024•35 min
The biology behind what causes Parkinson’s is complex, with only about a quarter of cases with clear genetic drivers. The environment – where you live, the air you breathe, the food you eat, the world around you – plays a key role in PD. Emerging research is showing environmental exposures to things like pesticides and pollution may interact with a person’s genetics and contribute to the disease. And there’s a myriad of other factors still being investigated, from the forces that drive your acce...
Mar 27, 2024•59 min
Increasing evidence supports the presence of sex and gender differences in neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. There is a critical need to more closely examine sex and gender differences in all stages of research, therapeutic development, and clinical treatment to enable better outcomes through precision medicine approaches. This episode focuses on the relevance of sex and gender factors in Parkinson's disease and efforts to transform scientific r...
Mar 19, 2024•48 min
Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and dementia with Lewy bodies are often initially diagnosed as Parkinson's disease. Incorrect, incomplete, or delayed diagnoses are barriers to beginning the most appropriate treatment early in the disease course. More research is needed to facilitate early diagnoses, understanding of disease pathogenesis, and monitoring of disease progression. However, l...
Mar 05, 2024•45 min
The drug development pipeline is key to bringing new therapies to people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). With major breakthroughs in research in the past year, including a new biomarker for PD, The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) study and other initiatives can be leveraged to create better designed trials. This audio from our Third Thursdays Webinar features a conversation about all the ways clinical trial design is changing, and why leaders in the s...
Feb 28, 2024•59 min
For many years, Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies have been defined using clinical features. With recent advances in biomarkers, particularly the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay that allows us to detect misfolded and aggregated alpha-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid, it is now possible to identify the presence of pathological neuronal alpha-synuclein in living patients. With input from diverse stakeholders, a new biological definition of neuronal alpha-synuclein disease ...
Feb 20, 2024•39 min
Dating and beginning new relationships with Parkinson’s involve distinct challenges, joys and fears. In this frank and funny podcast, our experts discuss how they face considerations like building and maintaining confidence, disease disclosure, and the importance of self-knowledge and self-care in new relationships. They remind us all that no matter what we’re facing, dating and finding love can be fun and fulfilling. Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the ...
Feb 14, 2024•34 min
There is a pressing need to develop safe and effective disease-modifying and symptomatic treatments for Parkinson's disease. Through improvements in our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as genetic risk factors, new potential treatment targets have emerged. However, bringing a promising new compound from the lab through all of the steps of drug development is a long, difficult, and resource-intensive process. In recent years, collaborative efforts and advances in bioma...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 8 min
We know exercise is important for people with Parkinson’s. Once you’ve decided to move more, what next? In this audio from our Third Thursdays Webinar, our experts discuss strategies for making exercise a meaningful part of your life. They present ways to make time for exercise and to make the most of it, including being aware of different types, frequencies and intensities. This discussion will help you find a way to get moving and stay motivated. Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a ra...
Jan 24, 2024•59 min
One key pillar of The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s research strategy is a focus on “de-risking" potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease. This episode of our award-winning “Parkinson’s Science POV” series explains how lowering the risk associated with developing new therapies leads to a more robust pipeline of treatments. The episode details several recent successes of the strategy. Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your network. https:/...
Jan 17, 2024•33 min
In neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD), patients often do not receive a diagnosis until the hallmark motor symptoms begin to manifest. This can be a decade or more after substantial changes start occurring in the brain. A major goal of the PD research field has been to develop methods for earlier detection and intervention. Over the years, there have been substantial advances in neuroimaging techniques and biological biomarkers that have allowed us to more accurately id...
Jan 16, 2024•54 min
Doctors have been using DaTscan brain imaging as a tool to help diagnose the Parkinson’s disease (PD) for more than a decade, but even people who know a lot about the disease often still have questions about its role — and the role of other imaging tools — in diagnosis and care. What’s a DaTscan, and how does it relate to PET, SPECT and MRI? When is a DaTscan or other brain imaging tool used in PD? Are there any risks? In this audio from our Third Thursdays Webinar, experts and people with PD of...
Jan 03, 2024•56 min
A substantial portion of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a family history of the disease, and new findings continue to improve our understanding of relevant genetic variants. These discoveries are key for clarifying the mechanisms that lead to Parkinson's disease as well as the development of new therapies. The Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) was established to gather and integrate genetic and clinical data from diverse participants around the world to expand our knowledge of...
Jan 02, 2024•46 min
The holidays can be a time of joyful celebration with those we love. They may also come with the stress of travel, disruptions to your regular routine or even loneliness. For those living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), or those taking care of someone they love with the disease, these feelings can be intensified. This podcast offers tips to people living with PD, as well as their care partners, friends and family, for how to prepare — mind, body and suitcase — to make your holidays happy. Like ou...
Dec 20, 2023•37 min
A growing body of evidence is expanding our understanding of the links between inflammation, our immune responses, brain health, and neurodegeneration. In particular, several genes associated with Parkinson's (including LRRK2) are known to be involved in inflammation, and peripheral inflammation has been shown to influence brain function and contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Better understanding the roles of inflammation and our immune responses in Parkinson's disease ...
Dec 19, 2023•53 min
Mutations in the LRRK2 gene were first linked to Parkinson's disease (PD) risk in 2004. Since then, researchers from around the world have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms through which LRRK2 may contribute to PD, leading to the development of three potential LRRK2-targeted therapies that are now being evaluated in clinical trials. Along with colleagues and collaborators, Dr. Dario Alessi has pioneered new research and approaches that have aided in the development of drugs to inhibit...
Dec 05, 2023•49 min
