2023 Parkinson’s Awareness Month and 120 Quotes to Support Your Journey

"He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything." Thomas Carlyle "Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it." Josh Billings Introduction: For whatever reason, quotes have been a part of most of my blog posts. It is not like I have …

Parkinson’s Awareness Month 2023: Information, Advice, and Recap of the Journey From 2015-Present

“Look to the nervous system as the key to maximum health.” Galen “If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.” Hippocrates Introduction: This blog post has five goals- #1, Introduce Parkinson's Awareness Month: (i) Describe the …

Finding Your Ikigai in the Presence of Parkinson’s

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" Maya Angelou "Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive." Jamais Cascio Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic …

Parkinson’s: Dopamine (A Neurotransmitter and the Title of Many Songs)

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living." Dr. Seuss "The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." Robert Frost Introduction: Having Parkinson's makes you know something about …

11 Hopeful Quotes to Support Your Life With Parkinson’s

"My actions are my only true belongings." Nhat Hanh "Today is the most important day of our lives." Nhat Hanh Introduction: There are many types of people-with-Parkinson's (PwP), different stages of progression, numerous motor and non-motor symptoms, there is early onset, and typically one is 65 years old when diagnosed. And I realize there are …

Word for Wednesday: Parkinsonism

"A correct diagnosis is three-fourths the remedy." Mahatma Gandhi "The art of clinical diagnosis lies in the ability to ask the right questions." Harriet B. Braiker What is Parkinsonism? How is this different from Parkinson's? Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder that destroys dopamine-producing dopaminergic neurons. As Parkinson's progresses, other brain areas are affected, leading to motor- …

10 Lessons Learned About COVID-19 and Parkinson’s

"Come grow old with me. The best is yet to be." William Wordsworth "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning." Criss Jami Introduction:  Likely, everyone in the world has said the words "COVID-19 Pandemic" at some point since early 2020. From mid-February 2020 to December 2022, more than 324,000 publications …

Journey with Parkinson’s: A Southern Good Luck Meal in the New Year

"food is never just something to eat." Margaret Visser "your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride." Anthony Bourdain The New Year's Day Supper: Maybe your family has a New Year’s Day tradition? In the southern states of the U.S., we follow many traditions, but one of my favorites is the …

Happy New Year (2023) from the Journey with Parkinson’s

"Let us resolve to do the best we can with what we've got." William Feather "Maybe this year, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives not looking for flaws, but looking for potential." Ellen Goodman Happy New Year! In the New Year, may you maintain excellent health, create quality time for loved …

A Graph of Your Daily Level of Exogenous Levodopa

"The greatest achievement is to outperform yourself." Denis Waitley "Sometimes, carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement." Albert Camus Introduction: Have you been taking carbidopa/levodopa to treat your Parkinson's? Are you experiencing any off-on periods? Do you have any dyskinesia? Do you think it's time to change your dosing pattern or the timing …