Brief Report: Pallidothalamic Tractotomy by Focused Ultrasound for Parkinson’s Disease

"Patience and fortitude conquer all things." Ralph Waldo Emerson "I know of no higher fortitude than stubborness in the face of overwhelming odds." Louis Nizer Overview: Recently, I reviewed a clinical trial involving ablation of the globus pallidus by focused ultrasound to treat Parkinson's (click here to read this blog post). Some time ago, I …

Brief Report: Low-Dose Niacin Improves Motor Function in Parkinson’s

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." Albert Einstein "Be a voice not an echo." Albert Einstein Abstract: The VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, reported the results of a six-month single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study using Parkinson's patients with early- and late-stage disease. They asked the question of whether …

Brief Report: Social Isolation and Loneliness are Risk Factors for Worsening Parkinson’s Symptoms

"A person is a person through other persons; you can't be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships." Desmond Tutu "There is a difference between solitude and isolation. One is connected and one isn't. Solitude replenishes, isolation diminishes." Henry Cloud Précis: Humans need connection, contact, and social interactions to thrive and survive. We …

Brief Report: DIY COVID-19 Disinfectant Wipes, Spray and Gel

*DIY = Do-It-Yourself “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” Vincent Van Gogh “The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.” Theodore Roosevelt Introduction: A novel coronavirus, originally named 2019-nCoV, began circulating around the world in late 2019. It was later renamed to severe …

Brief Report: Baseball World Series, Perseverance, and Parkinson’s

"I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it." Sandy Koufax "One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down …

Brief Report: Hair Loss Linked to Dopamine Agonists

"It is foolish to pluck out one's hair for sorrow, as if grief could be assuaged by baldness." Marcus Tullius Cicero "Anyone can be confident with a full head of hair. But a confident bald man - there's your diamond in the rough." Larry David Introduction: When you play golf, they frequently pair you up …

Brief Report: Contentment, Gratitude, and Mindfulness in the Presence of Parkinson’s

"Contentment is natural wealth." Socrates "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie "Mindfulness is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves." Thich Nhat Hanh Contentment, Gratitude, and Mindfulness: Living with Parkinson's has brought me a lot; yes, it's a curse, yes, it …

Brief Report: Benefit of Probiotic Supplements in Parkinson’s

“Taking probiotics is a habit that can really benefit the digestive system, which is intricately connected to our overall health.”  Dr. Michael F. Roizen “Compelling new studies are showing how probiotics can help keep healthy people healthy. One study showed a decreased incidence of common infectious diseases among kids in day care.”  Dr. Mary Ellen …

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