View from the Front Window: Happy New Year from the Journey with Parkinson’s

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” Rainer Maria Rilke

A View of Parkinson’s: Looking out my window in my office in the front of the house, I see much going on, including the paper being delivered, early tee-times as the golf carts, along with their human cargo, go whirling by to get to the golf course, and neighbors out for the first walk of their dogs. I doubt the scourge of Parkinson’s enters their thought for most mornings. By contrast, they must think I am nuts to be up all hours of the day and evening, apparently just sitting at my desk and staring outwardly. In reality, if I cannot sleep, I will get up and read and write my thoughts about Parkinson’s. 

The everyday world passes by the office window as I exercise/stretch on a mat on the floor, practice playing the electric guitar (a permanent beginner), watch TV, pay the bills, and keep reading, learning, and writing about Parkinson’s.

For example, I am always looking for alternative treatment strategies for Parkinson’s, and I stumbled across a paper from 1982, yes 1982 (A. Agnoli, S. Ruggieri, A. Denaro, G. Bruno; New Strategies in the Management of Parkinson’s Disease: A Biological Approach Using a Phospholipid Precursor (CDP-Choline). Neuropsychobiology 1 June 1982; 8 (6): 289–296. https://doi-org.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/10.1159/000117914). Several human studies have explored the use of a phospholipid precursor to choline (CDP-Choline or Citicoline) to manipulate the synthesis of both the dopamine receptor and dopamine synthesis. Maybe the entire Parkinson’s world knows about CDP-Choline and its ability to reduce the daily amount of levodopa needed [here is a recent review: Que D-LS, Jamora RDG (2021) Citicoline as Adjuvant Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review. Clinical Therapeutics 43, e19-e31.]. Interesting work, a new compound to consider taking, and a new CAM product to potentially write about here.

“Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” Malala Yousafzai

A New Year With Parkinson’s: Parkinson’s, as I sit and read/write about you from my office, surrounded by the everyday world, nothing you do to anyone can be considered normal. Your goal is to halt our lives and livelihood and transform us into a frozen shell of our former selves. Parkinson’s, you prefer us to wilt away from the inside out; you do not like it when we gather energy, strength, and knowledge to challenge your stranglehold position. Parkinson’s, many of us are still here; we are fighting back; let the new year begin.

Parkinson’s, one of my remaining life goals is to keep searching, reading, thinking, and writing about ways to limit your evilness. I am convinced we are on a path that will lead to ways to slow your progression. Parkinson’s, I, too, can be persistent. Parkinson’s, may you be conquered soon, including your cousins of neuro-degeneration (listed alphabetically):
Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Friedreich’s Ataxia, Huntington’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Prion Disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, and Spinal Muscular Atropy (for an overview see this blog entitled “Overview of Neurodegenerative Disorders” ).

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” Tom Peters

Maintaining a Southern Tradition for Starting Out the New Year: According to popular Southern traditions, eating certain foods for New Year’s Day guarantees good luck for the rest of the year. Beans and peas are thought to symbolize coins or wealth. Many would choose black-eyed peas and season them with pork or ham; Greens represent folding money. Many would tell you to eat collard greens, mustard greens, or turnip greens; Pork is considered a sign of prosperity in some cultures. Many will cook a ham or pork roast. Cornbread may be regarded as gold since corn kernels represent coins. The 2024 New Year’s Day supper that Susan prepared included ham (this year, she went all out and ordered it from the Snake River Farm in Boise, Idaho, simply perfect ham!), Hoppin’ John (which contains black-eyed peas with vegetables and served with rice), collard greens, and cornbread. Nothing beats the simple Southern cuisine and wonderful flavors of such a meal. Now I can officially say, Happy New Year!

“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential.” Ellen Goodman

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