Rogue Genes or Personal Responsibility?

Posy has pondered whether she should blame her sweet tooth and carb-rich diet for her Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis. Maybe that is a possibility. But then again, was the culprit that other sore point ... her lack of formal exercise?

We all know the health benefits of exercise, especially to someone with Parkinson's. On a good day, we wear the T-shirt saying, "Use it or lose it! Prioritize exercise!"

However, on a difficult day when feeling unwell or exhausted, or even dealing with the inconvenience of working long hours, exercise can become a rather hit or miss affair.

No interest in sports

There was no obvious genetic excuse for either Posy or her sister to shun participating in sports. The family had produced several professional sportsmen. It was always a "thing." And it had certainly upset Posy's dad that his 2 daughters were not interested in team sports.

He loved sports. He confessed that he had joined the Royal Air Force (and became a Spitfire pilot) just because it meant enjoying loads of sporting activities!

He considered "exercise" as merely a means to an end: You must exercise to stay fit to cope with the physical demands of sports.

Still fairly strong

In spite of her petite frame, Posy considered herself to be fairly strong. She was agile, supple, and quick. She could lift surprisingly heavy loads. At school, she was an occasional asset in athletics - tennis, gymnastic and swimming.

However, there was no way she could compete with the tough, sporty girls on the hockey field or on the netball court.

Posy's dad, always a comic, asked his 11 year old why she so disliked playing field hockey? She replied simply that the wind was so cold, it "whistled in one ear and out the other." To which he replied, "I suppose that about sums you up!"

Staying fit

In her defense, Posy had always loved to dance and her dad was certainly supportive. He admitted it was good for him to develop a new interest, too. He happily paid for ballet lessons for the girls and accompanied the family to watch the ballet in London on several occasions.

Posy stayed fairly fit throughout her university days and on through her 30s and 40s, dancing, doing aerobics, or "working out" in gyms (team sports bit the dust when she left school).

She was able to sprint fast enough to beat the other mothers on Sports Day, at least, and she maintained a mean backhand in tennis.

What slows progression?

There was no way that Posy was destined to share an iota of her father's love of sport or wonderful exercise ethic, even in his latter years. Posy would have to watch nervously as, weighing less than 120 pounds and at age 96, he eagerly did 200 step-ups (an integral part of his daily routine).

Had he not been struck blind with Macular Degeneration at 80, he would have happily coached the football team and golfed every day. Posy marveled at his determination, and wished it would rub off on her!

Even now with PD, Posy seems to pass the physical exam well enough, though she is not sure why this is. Of course, her brain gets stretched and toned, composing at the piano and entering each note into a fairly complex computer program.

Many times in the last few years, she has worked all night and day for several days, before crashing. But this is not the physical exercise that slows the progression of PD, is it?