Sleep Disturbances in Parkinson’s and the Eagles Best Song Lyrics

“There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.” Homer, The Odyssey “Man is a genius when he is dreaming.” Akira Kurosawa Précis: There are many manifestations associated with Parkinson's; one of the more frustrating aspects is the alteration of sleep patterns.  Herein is a brief overview of sleep …

7 Healthy Habits For Your Brain

   "Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day we die, it continuously revises and remodels, improving or slowly declining, as a function of how we use it." Michael Merzenich "The root of all health is in the brain. The trunk …

Help with the Parkinson’s Tremor

"The starting point of all achievement is desire." Napoleon Hill "We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone." Ronald Reagan The Journey With Parkinson's returns:  The past 2 months have just consumed every waking moment of my time/life, and then some.  I have a back-log of >20 blog posts in some finished-form-or-another. Starting this …

2016 Whitehead Lecture: Advice, Life Stories and the Journey with Parkinson’s

"In giving advice I advise you, be short." Horace "The journey is what brings us happiness not the destination." Dan Millman Introduction: Last month, I presented the Whitehead Lecture to the UNC School of Medicine (SOM).  Here is what that means: "The annual Whitehead Lecture serves as an unofficial convocation for the School of Medicine. …

Believe in Life in the Presence of Parkinson’s

“Life is not only merriment, it is desire and determination.” Kahlil Gibran "Nothing will work unless you do." Maya Angelou Dedication: I recently participated in a Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) Instructor Workshop in Greenville, SC (July 30-31, 2016); now I am certified in PWR!Moves.  This post is dedicated to the workshop instructor Jennifer Bazan-Wigle; and …

The 23andMe Parkinson’s Research Study

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." Carl Sagan "A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." Colin Powell Introduction/Background: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. It evolves slowly, usually starting as either stiffness in a hand or a small tremor. Over time, Parkinson’s progresses; …

Catching Up, Life-Stories, and Future Posts in Journey With Parkinson’s

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." Maya Angelou "Life is not a problem to be solved, but an experience to be had." Alan Watts Don't You Get The Summer Off?: …

Parkinson’s Treatment With Dopamine Agonist, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and Exercise

“Stop taking identity in illness and start taking identity in wellness” Nina Leavins “The thought of hope is the seed to healing.” Shilpa Menon Précis: Several of you have asked for an update on my strategy for treating my  Parkinson's.  My current plan consists of traditional Parkinson's medication,  augmented by a complementary and alternative medicine …

Science of Advanced Age as a Risk Factor for Parkinson’s

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.” Yoko Ono “Embrace aging.” Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie Précis: The great majority of individuals with Parkinson's reveal no genetic mutations, no past history of head injury, …

Gender Differences as a Factor in Parkinson’s

"Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it.” George Carlin “You can either be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It all depends on how you view your life.” Paulo Coelho Précis: ~10% of Parkinson's cases are linked to familial genetic mutations; whereas the vast majority …