This month the NoSPRIG Parkinson’s research podcast is taking an unusual step away from science and into the arts. We’re joined by Dr Bethany Whiteside, Senior Lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, to find out about her research into specially adapted dance for people with Parkinson’s. She has identified a huge range of benefits for people taking part in the classes, which have movements specially tailored for those with the condition, and why the benefits differ from those of exercis...
Jun 19, 2025•39 min•Ep. 30
Pain is the subject of this month's episode, something that can affect people with Parkinson's in a huge variety of different ways. Dr Jenni Naisby, Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy at Northumbria University has been collecting a vast array or personal experiences of pain in her research looking into how the condition can affect pain processing at multiple levels of the central nervous system, and then find ways of classifying it by its mechanisms. By understanding how pain behaves she hopes...
May 22, 2025•36 min•Ep. 29
In this special episode to mark World Parkinson's Day, we focus on something every person with Parkinson's can do to help in the quest to find new treatments and ultimately a cure. One of the biggest obstacles facing research is finding enough volunteers representing as diverse a population as possible, to help with studies and trials. We also hear first hand, the emotional story of how a patient participation role has led to a new treatment that is transforming the lives of people with Parkinso...
Apr 11, 2025•42 min•Ep. 28
This month we focus on bone health with the help of our guest Dr Alistair Mackett, a Consultant Geriatrician specialising in Parkinson's at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and Regional Clinical Lead for the East of England Parkinson's Excellence Network. People with Parkinson's are far more likely to to have poor bone health and a far higher risk of fracture than the rest of the population. We find out why, how this can be prevented and what treatments are available. Parkinson’s Excellence Ne...
Mar 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 27
Guests: Dr Bhanu Ramaswamy OBE, Independent Physiotherapy Consultant and Honorary Visiting Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University. Dr Alison Williams, Person with Parkinson's, Academic, Artist and Parkinson's Public Speaker This month's podcast sees us shift from the usual focus on quantitative evidence-based research to qualitative research surrounding the subject of self-management in Parkinson's. We find out what this can mean for different people and what research tells us about it....
Feb 20, 2025•44 min•Ep. 26
The benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson's are well known, but if you're struggling to stick to your New Year's resolution to be more active, this episode should give you all the motivation you need! Ledia Alushi Agley's doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, involving more than four hundred participants, saw her co-design a physical health programme for those newly diagnosed with Parkinson's. She shares with us some of the fascinating findings of her study. which also explo...
Jan 16, 2025•39 min•Ep. 25
In this special extended podcast we have three guests in our virtual studio to examine whether we're getting the messaging about Parkinson's right, be it reporting research findings or at a patient appointment. With the help of Prof David Dexter, Director of Research at Parkinson's UK and Professor of Neuropharmacology at Imperial College London, Dr Angus Macleod, Honorary Consultant Neurologist at NHS Grampian and Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, and former broadcast and ...
Dec 19, 2024•44 min•Ep. 24
Research already carried out by Rachael and her team discovered that people with Parkinson's are far more likely to experience delirium in hospital leading to far poorer outcomes on release. Now they are examining why this is and how this might be avoided. In this episode Julie and Helga find out more about this complex issue and the challenges of researching it.
Nov 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 23
This tremendous research collaboration at the London Metropolitan University aims to tackle one of the most distressing but neglected symptoms of Parkinson's - Facial Masking. Dr Cassie Terry, Reader in Protein Pathology and Dr Fiona French, Associate Professor of Computing and Digital Media, are developing a virtual reality application to rehabilitate facial muscles and help bring back the ability of a patient's face to reflect their feelings and personality. NoSPRIG member Neil Morrison, diagn...
Oct 17, 2024•41 min•Ep. 22
Welcome to part 2 of our special two part podcast to mark World Mental Health Day 2023 on 10th October. Julie Jones and Neil Morrison from NoSPRIG will be joined by Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Jennifer Foley and mental health specialist Parkinson’s Nurse Emma Edwards In episode 2, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at depression, another common mental health issue facing people with Parkinson’s. Dr Jennifer Foley is a senior clinical neuropsychologist at the National Hospital for Neurolog...
Oct 07, 2024•37 min•Ep. 11
Welcome to part 1 of our special two part podcast to mark World Mental Health Day 2023 on 10th October. Julie Jones and Neil Morrison from NoSPRIG will be joined by Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Jennifer Foley and mental health specialist Parkinson’s Nurse Emma Edwards In episode 1, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at anxiety, one of the most common mental health issues facing people with Parkinson’s. Dr Jennifer Foley is a senior clinical neuropsychologist at the National Hospital for Ne...
Oct 07, 2024•31 min•Ep. 10
This episode focuses on the remarkable research being done by Dr Tom Gilbertson in Dundee, that suggests people with Parkinson’s may be able to reprogram new pathways in their brain to overcome the common symptom of apathy. He also describes his future work and the belief that non-invasive, reversible ultrasound therapies may one day be capable of modifying the function of neurons to provide symptom control.
Sep 19, 2024•38 min•Ep. 20
Dr Angus Macleod is a Honorary Consultant Neurologist with NHS Grampian specialising in movement disorders inc. Parkinson’s and also a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen. This podcast focuses on his own research and also his views on the most promising areas of research currently underway. The North of Scotland Parkinsons research interest groups: https://www.nosprig.org/ Research groups nationally: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/local-parkinsons-rese...
Sep 12, 2024•34 min•Ep. 21
With the help of Drs Rachel Hardie and Gillian Lyon, we examine Research Ethics - the standard of conduct ensuring scientific integrity and study participants' safety. We'll find out about the process of getting approval for a research project and what patients and the public considering taking part in research should be looking out for before signing up.
Aug 15, 2024•35 min•Ep. 19
In this episode we cover everything from dancing the Cha-cha to virtual reality, as we hear the innovative lengths Dr Will Young and his team go to in their research into the psychology behind freezing of gait and their development of strategies to overcome it.
Jul 18, 2024•34 min•Ep. 18
Without the generosity of the many people who give their time towards participating in research there would be no progress in our quest to find new therapies and hopefully one day, a cure for Parkinson's. Amelia Hursey has worked in the public and charity sectors for 12 years specialising in Patient and Public Participation. Now Research Manager for Parkinson's Europe, we talk to her about the challenges of recruiting people for this vital role. 1) Parkinson's Europe website: https://parkinsonse...
Jun 20, 2024•36 min•Ep. 17
In this episode we are delighted to have the opportunity to discuss the latest thinking on Diet and Parkinson's with someone uniquely placed to do so from both a professional and a personal perspective. Richelle Flanagan is not only a leading dietician in Ireland with nearly two decades of experience, but she also lives with Parkinson's Disease having been diagnosed seven years ago when she was expecting her second child.
May 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 16
Dr Kathryn Bowles explains her fascinating research into a little known gene that is thought to help protect the brain. It is hoped that discovering how this process works will provide vital new knowledge as to why some people develop Parkinson’s and others don’t. Kat also talks Julie and Helga through the complex world of genetic research, how it has developed over recent years, and why it can take so long to see progress. www.bowleslab.co.uk https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9284779...
Apr 18, 2024•42 min•Ep. 15
In this special episode of the North of Scotland Parkinson’s Research Interest Group podcast series to mark International Women’s Day 2024, we are delighted to have with us Richelle Flanagan from Ireland. Since attending the World Parkinson’s Congress in 2019 following her own diagnosis of Young Onset disease seven years ago, she has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of women with Parkinson’s. Now a leading advocate for females with the disease across the globe, her pioneering work is drivi...
Mar 08, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Sleep issues are one of the most widely reported non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's In this episode Dr David Breen explains the mechanism of sleep, talks us through some of the theories surrounding sleep as a possible predictor of disease or indicator of prognosis, and the challenges & of researching the science behind it.
Feb 15, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 2
As a member of the Parkinson's Disease guideline committee of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Clare Johnson explains the vast number of ways Occupational Therapists help patients and their families cope with the everyday motor and non-motor challenges of living with Parkinsons. We hear about the benefits of multi-disciplinary clinics and why standard measurement scales can fall short compared to individualised evaluation.
Jan 18, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Speech and language issues can affect many people with Parkinson's at any stage of the disease. In this episode Dr Anja Lowit, Professor of Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Strathclyde talks Julie Jones and Helga Macfarlane through the various interventions that can help, the challenges of carrying out and analysing research into speech and language and how technology is developing to help.
Jan 03, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Based in the Centre for Regenerative Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, Professor Kunath is Chair of Regenerative Neurobiology. The focus of his laboratory addresses two key areas: (i) understanding how the protein, alpha-synuclein, causes degeneration of neurons in Parkinson’s, and (ii) producing a cell-based therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. The North of Scotland Parkinsons research interest groups: https://www.nosprig.org/ Research groups nationally: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/researc...
Dec 20, 2023•32 min•Ep. 4
Ed Newman is a Consultant Neurologist based at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He has a specialist interest in movement disorders and Parkinson’s Disease. He is part of the National Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) service in Scotland and runs a Parkinson’s Disease telemedicine service to the Western Isles. He is also interested in medical education and runs the clinical neurosciences teaching programme for University of Glasgow’s Medical School. If you want to know ...
Dec 20, 2023•38 min•Ep. 9
Professor David Dexter, Parkinson’s UK’s Director of Research shares his optimism over current trials that are nearing completion. He explains the charity’s research strategy, the roles and importance of volunteers, and the challenges the disease presents researchers in their quest to find new treatments and a cure.
Nov 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 12
We are delighted to have Alan Main on this month’s NoSPRIG podcast, who hails from Aberdeen, but whose 30-year career working for multinational healthcare companies has taken him all round the world and to the very top of the pharma industry. His career has focused mainly on consumer healthcare and medical technology, and he is a former Global President of Bayer Medical Care and Head of Consumer Healthcare at Sanofi. The North of Scotland Parkinsons research interest groups: https://www.nosprig....
Oct 11, 2023•34 min•Ep. 5
Listen in to hear Helga Macfarlane chat to Jo Holland and Alison Williams, who have been involved with the Parkinson’s Beats programme. As Julie Jones explains, it is widely accepted that exercise is beneficial for people living with Parkinson’s, but finding a form of exercise that you enjoy and can do regularly can be challenging. Parkinson’s Beats is a form of cardio drumming which has been adapted to meet the needs of people with Parkinson’s. Jo Holland attended a locally run cardio drumming ...
Aug 17, 2023•34 min•Ep. 8
In this episode of the North of Scotland Parkinson’s Research Interest Group podcast, Julie joins Professor Gareth Jones who is epidemiologist based at the University of Aberdeen. In this pod Julie and Gareth demystify key research terminology such as what is a randomised controlled study? Why sample size is important in research? What is peer review? What involved in the ethics process. So, a research 101 on key research terminology to help people make more sense of research jargon. Enjoy. The ...
Jun 15, 2023•38 min•Ep. 7
Julie Jones meets James Jopling, Parkinsons UK’s Scotland Director. James joined the charity a year ago in the wake of the Covid pandemic and just as the cost of living crisis began to bite. In this episode he talks about the challenges facing the charity, the unique way Parkinson’s U.K. encourage public involvement in research and he takes a look forward to the future. The North of Scotland Parkinsons research interest groups: https://www.nosprig.org/ Research groups nationally: https://www.par...
May 18, 2023•36 min•Ep. 6
Julie Jones is a Physiotherapist & Senior Lecturer at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. She is passionate about improving services for people with Parkinson's & the benefit of exercise. Helga Macfarlane was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017 aged 52, and devotes much of her time to helping raise awareness of the disease and how it impacts the lives of people with PD. In this podcast Julie shares her perspective on Parkinson's research. The North of Scotland Parkinsons research in...
Feb 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 3
