Fifteen Additional Myths and Common Misconceptions About Parkinson’s

"Myths are made for the imagination to breath life into them." Albert Camus "The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so." Mark Twain Introduction: Parkinson's continues to expand in numbers of people worldwide and firmly stands as the second most …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Some Future Blog Topics and A Personal Science Story

"The only living works are those which have drained much of the author's own life into them." Samuel Butler "The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge." Daniel J. Boorstin Introduction: Listed below are 20 topics related to Parkinson's that I will likely write a blog post on …

The Resistance to Enjoyment and Pleasure, or Anhedonia, Reveals a Distinct Neural Pattern in Studies Using Mice

"I am really very, very tired of everything - more than tired." Friedrich Nietzsche "There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds." Laurell K. Hamilton Anhedonia and Parkinson's: Anhedonia is a non-motor-related problem in Parkinson's. It is a core symptom of depression in Parkinson's …

An Overview of Dopamine

“I tell everyone: ‘I am not my disease. I am a person with Parkinson’s, and I aim to live life fully.’ For me, it’s all about giving back. How can I leave the world a shade more beautiful?” Barbara Salsberg Mathews “Before, when I was asked about my condition, I would go into defence mode. …

Brief Report: Comparison of the COMT Inhibitor Opicapone to Entacapone in Parkinson’s

"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'" Sydney J. Harris "Comparison is the death of joy." Mark Twain Overview: Recently, I have presented two blog posts on COMT (Catechol-O-methyl transferase) Inhibitors: "COMT Inhibitors in Parkinson's: Tell Me More, Tell Me More" (click here) and "Addendum …

Why Monitoring Every Parkinson’s Symptom Matters

"We must never neglect the patient's own use of his symptoms." Alfred Adler “A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption.” Guy de Maupassant Painful Leg Cramps with Parkinson’s: I bent down to put some extra toilet paper rolls into a bathroom cabinet this morning. Suddenly, the hamstring muscles in …

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 …

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 …