The Complex Role of Neurotransmitters in Parkinson’s

"Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before." Elizabeth Edwards "Health is wholeness and balance, an inner resilience that allows you to meet the demands of living without being overwhelmed." Andrew Weil Introduction: The goal is to review the role(s) played by dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine (also …

Parkinson’s: Trouble in Mind

"Your brain is your greatest weapon. Connect it to your heart, and you can go anywhere." Angelique Kidjo "Don't believe everything you hear - even in your own mind." Daniel Amen Précis: A big fear for anyone with Parkinson's is the development of dementia. It is predicted that a large percentage of those with Parkinson's …

Six Pillars of Parkinson’s

"In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result." James Allen "Storms make trees take deeper roots." Dolly Parton Introduction: In the presence of Parkinson's, each person encounters a different invader that can progress very slowly or evolves quickly. Symptoms expressed are …

Update on Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) for the Treatment of Parkinson’s

"To the sick, while there is life there is hope. [Lat., Aegroto dum anima est, spes est.]" Marcus Tullius Cicero "We can’t live without hope. When we keep hoping, we keep living." Pete Wilson Introduction: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA*) is a naturally occurring bioactive lipid that contains a fatty acid moiety and ethanolamide. The molecular formula of …

Rehabilitation Therapy in Parkinson’s

"What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." Ralph Marston "One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity." Albert Schweitzer Introduction: In 2015, I wrote a blog post entitled "Physicians in the Constellation of Care" (click here to read it). The topic was about the importance of …

Living Better with Parkinson’s

"Life is a journey, not a destination. Happiness is not "there" but here, not "tomorrow" but today." Sidney Greenberg "The moment in between what you once were, and who you are now becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place." Barbara De Angelis Précis: This post reminds the Person (People)-with-Parkinson's disease (PwP) that …

Parkinson’s: Times Like These

"Longevity is having a chronic disease - and taking care of it." Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. "The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." Confucius Precis: Today marks an anniversary of sorts. It is the 250th blog post for the "Journey with Parkinson's." "All great things have small beginnings." Peter Senge …

Fifteen Myths and Common Misconceptions About Parkinson’s

"A myth is a lie that conveys a truth." C.S. Lewis "Myths are made for the imagination to breath life into them." Albert Camus Introduction: Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Thus, Parkinson's occurs relatively frequently in adults. Unfortunately, it can be a complex disorder for physicians to make a proper diagnosis, and it …

Friday’s Reflection: Those Brief Times Without Motor Symptoms from Parkinson’s

"There's a brief moment when you first wake up, where you have no memories. A blissful blank slate, a happy emptiness." Candace Bushnell "Celebrate our brief moment in the sun" Lawrence M. Krauss Introduction: There have been moments in the past when I felt "normal" without my motor symptoms being present. Have you had such a …

Word for Wednesday: Gratitude

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie "Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other." Randy Pausch Gratitude: Since beginning this blog in 2015, I have mentioned gratitude numerous times and written about gratitude several …