Maria De Leon

The past several weeks have been a harsh reminder of what could happen when the person we depend on the most, our Parkinson's disease caregiver/partner, suddenly becomes ill. My husband...

To avoid caregiver burnout especially during stressful times, we as caregivers must maintain our wits about us if we are to come out unscathed on the other side. It is...

I have been extremely blessed to have been given the privilege to work in all spheres impacting the global Parkinson’s community. Over the last decade, I have advocated as a...

I thought that I would revisit some of the questions that people have when it comes to knowing when medications are working, not working, causing side effects, or are ineffective...

Most of us who live with a chronic illness like Parkinson’s know firsthand what a struggle it is to find the right combination of medication. It seems once we do...

The word "hallucination" can evoke as much or greater fear than the word "dyskenesia" among those of us with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The mere mention seems almost taboo for fear...

When I was in private practice, the holidays were always a very busy time for me because of the increase in number of hospitalized patients. The majority of patients were...

Summer is upon us which means traveling with family for many of us. It also is a time to get away from the heat and head to cooler climates. You...

Over the years, I have noticed as a physician and a patient that many of us don’t pay close attention to what our bodies are telling us until it is...

Establishing a conversation regarding Parkinson's disease (PD) is an important part of parenting in the midst of illness. My conversations with my daughter have been evolving over time. As she...

Those of us who live with a chronic illness, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), know from experience that having a sluggish bowel can be one, if not the MOST devastating...

Deciding when and if we should have children is a very personal decision for every woman. The reasons are as varied and as unique as snowflakes. It is also true...

Recently, in a weekend retreat with both patients and caregivers the two biggest complaints I heard from both parties were 1) my significant other gets mad at me because I...

One of the biggest complaints I hear from people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is severe leg pain. As a fellow, if I had heard someone complain of pain in their...

They say the gut is the second brain in our bodies because of all the complex neuronal connections it possesses. Furthermore, the latest theory is that PD may have its...

I am sure that all of us who live with this illness have experienced times of extreme hardship. These experiences in turn have made us wonder how and if it...

I have been a migraineur since childhood. As expected, my migraines lessened as I entered adulthood. However, when I developed Parkinson's disease (PD), my migraines resurfaced with a vengeance. The...

Although Parkinson’s is believed to be an illness which affects older individuals, it does not discriminate based on social status, ethnicity, gender, or religious beliefs. As the world population ages...

As we start a new year, many of us might have enrolled in new insurance programs and discovered that their doctors are no longer in-network, even worse, not covered by...

After seeing, caring, and treating strangers, patients, and loved ones with devastating brain illnesses such as Parkinson’s, I felt compelled to help in whatever way possible to advance the knowledge...