Is There a Link Between Agent Orange & Parkinson’s?Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and develop Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be eligible to receive VA health care and disability compensation. Many Vietnam era veterans have experienced complex...reactions2comments
What Does Being an Advocate Mean?My definition of advocacy is making your voice, your position, and your passion known to those who will listen to your message. For over 20 years I have tried to...reactionscomments
Will I Need to Pay to Be in a Clinical Trial?Clinical trials can provide an opportunity for patients to receive the latest treatment, provide a new treatment option for those whose previous treatment didn’t work, and allow patients to be...reactions1comment
PD Pundit: Early WarningOur resident artist here at ParkinsonsDisease.net, Peter, created a new comic describing the importance of diagnosing Parkinson's early. To read the rest of the "PD Pundit" series, click here...reactionscomments
Wearing Many Hats as a Parkinson's Disease CaregiverAs a Parkinson’s disease care partner, I feel that I’m the "wearer of many hats." I find this metaphor perfectly explains the caregiver or care partner’s situation. The unpredictability of...reactionscomments
An Occupied Mind: The Importance of ClarityI have been pondering the importance of clarity and direction in mind, and just how easy it can be to lose one's train of thought. Focus is essential to the...reactionscomments
End-of-Life Planning: Bravely Beginning the ConversationAs a medical social worker in an acute care hospital, it was commonly my role to talk to families about advance directives and end of life planning. The crisis of...reactionscomments
Dealing With the Fear of Parkinson’sFear is an emotion that everyone experiences, but for those who live with Parkinson’s disease (PD), fear can be a more common visitor, or an ever-present intruder, in daily life...reactions6comments
Fermented Foods for Mental HealthFermented foods (and beverages) have been a part of cultures around the world for thousands of years, as fermentation provides a way to preserve foods, gives them additional nutritional value...reactionscomments
Is the Best Model for Parkinson’s Treatment the Best Model for Everyone’s Treatment?A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to hear my friend Paul Zeiger give a talk. Paul was one of the early pioneers of using yoga to help treat...reactions2comments
Parkinson’s Natural Disasters PreparednessSeptember is National Preparedness month! With the devastation of Hurricane Harvey unfolding and the oncoming threat of Irma off the Atlantic coast, thinking of natural disasters is well… natural. But...reactionscomments
PD Pundit: Why Diagnosis Is So TraumaticOur resident artist here at ParkinsonsDisease.net, Peter, created a new comic describing what may be a common diagnosis experience for people with Parkinson's. To read the rest of the "PD...reactions2comments
Is Too "On" Better Than Too "Off"?It is a decision that many of us are forced to make with our medications, at some point with our daily regimen. Medication side effects can sometimes be more debilitating...reactions3comments
Considering the Emotional Toll of Parkinson's DiseaseIt was a Tuesday morning mid-winter and the snow was already falling. The forecast told for a blizzard and already the hospital discharges for the day were being delayed by...reactions58comments
How are the Terms Care Partner and Caregiver Different?It is common to find the use of these two terms within the Parkinson’s disease community. However, they are rarely defined. It occurred to me to take time to show...reactionscomments
HOPE for Parkinson’s DiseaseI am an advocate of hope! How can you have hope you ask when your doctor tells you, that you have a chronic, neurological illness called Parkinson’s disease (PD). Oh...reactionscomments
The Clinical Trial Consent Form: Understanding Your Rights & ResponsibilitiesInformed consent is the term that signifies a person has been given information regarding all possible consequences for a treatment, including both potential risks and benefits. While informed consent frequently...reactionscomments
The Power of Your Personal StoryOver eighteen years ago, I attended my first Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) forum in Washington, DC and I became an advocate for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The PAN forum brought together...reactions1comment
“But You Don’t Look Sick?”Occasionally I am surprised when I meet someone new and explain that I have Parkinson’s disease and they will say, “But you don’t look sick?”. I never really know how...reactionscomments
First Medication Approved to Treat Dyskinesia in Parkinson's DiseaseThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gocovri™ (amantadine) as the first treatment for dyskinesia in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are receiving levodopa therapy with or without...reactionscomments
