Always, With Parkinson’s

"Our illness is often our healing." Mooji "Life was always a matter of waiting for the right moment to act." Paulo Coelho The Beginning of the Thought:  I was at the driving range recently hitting golf balls.  And this guy walks by wearing a T-shirt that said: "Always on, Never off."  It struck me as …

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 …

Journey with Parkinson’s: Brief Reports on Current Research/Issues

"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere." Isaac Asimov “Live neither in the past nor in the future, but let each day’s work absorb your entire energies, and satisfy your widest ambition.”  Sir William Osler Introduction: For the following reasons, I would like to introduce and …

Tenacity and Parkinson’s

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity." Louis Pasteur To succeed in life in today's world, you must have the will and tenacity to finish the job." Chin-Ning Chu Definition of Tenacity: <noun te·nac·i·ty \ tə-ˈna-sə-tē \>  Tenacity can be defined as …

Parkinson’s Awareness Month: The Science Behind How Exercise Slows Disease Progression

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." John Wooden "To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise." Gene Tunney Précis: For Parkinson's Awareness Month, let's begin with an important reminder/statement that "Exercise is medicine for Parkinson's disease."  Coming soon in a future blog post I will review …

Neuroprotection with Taurine in a Parkinson’s Model System

"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow." Orison Swett Marden "Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible." Helen Keller Introduction: Many of us take levodopa/carbidopa for substantial symptomatic relief; however, this dopamine replacement treatment only relieves symptoms without …

Dopamine Agonist Withdrawal Syndrome (DAWS) in Parkinson’s

"Some remedies are worse than the disease." Publilius Syrus "Each patient carries his own doctor inside him." Norman Cousins Summary: Dopamine agonists are widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's, especially as a first-line therapy. Some patients on a dopamine agonist experience side-effects that require either tapering or discontinuation of the drug.  First described in …

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Over-the-Counter Therapies in Parkinson’s

With Parkinson’s, exercise is better than taking a bottle of pills. If you don’t do anything you’ll just stagnate.” Brian Lambert “With Parkinson’s you have two choices: You can let it control you, or you can control it. And I’ve chosen to control it.” US Senator Isakson Introduction: Having one of the numerous neurodegenerative disorders …

Part 1 of 2017 PWR! (Parkinson Wellness Recovery) Retreat: Pictures With Great Memories

"Just put one foot in front of the other."  Austin Peck "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."  Henry Ford Introduction to Part 1: From May 28-June 3, >100 people came to Scottsdale, Arizona for the PWR! Retreat. The final tally had >50 people-with-Parkinson's, more than 30 care partners …

Parkinson’s Disease Research: A Commentary from the Stands and the Playing Field

"You can have a very bad end with Parkinson's, but on the other hand, you can be like me, because I'm lucky. I'm not having a bad end." Margo MacDonald "My age makes me think how valuable life is. How bad is something like Parkinson's in relation to not having life at all?" Michael J. …