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 …

Parkinson’s and the Lesson Learned on the Bermuda Railway Trail Walk

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius "You just can't beat the person who never gives up." Babe Ruth Preface to the Story: One of our favorite vacation places is Bermuda. The small 20-something square mile island, the water, the scenes, the amicable people (~60,000 inhabitants), and …

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 and Axial Rotation (Part 3, Lumbar Spine)

"Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcome." Epictetus "Patients should have rest, food, fresh air, and exercise - the quadrangle of health." William Osler Background: The function of our spine, all the bones and muscles, and associated tissues connected to this region are crucial for everyday life. A prevalent injury or pain that many people typically have …

Parkinson’s: Don’t Stop

"When you can stop you don't want to, and when you want to stop, you can't." Luke Davies "The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." Ayn Rand Don't Stop:Attitude determines much in our lives.Looking positively to the future can bolster your goals.Perspective especially matters for someone …

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 …

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 …

Parkinson’s: Never Give Up the Fight

"Don't give up. Don't ever give up." Jim Valvano "Don't give up. Reach down inside of you and you'll find something left." Bear Bryant Introduction: There are a lot of terms one could use to describe a disease. My view of this disorder is that I am locked in combat against Parkinson's. This evilness is …

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 …

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 …