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 …

Parkinson’s: The Cave

"Welcome out of the cave, my friend. It's a bit colder out here, but the stars are just beautiful." Plato "It doesn't matter if a cave has been in darkness for 10,000 years or half an hour, once you light a match it is illuminated." Paramahansa Yogananda Introduction: I am always searching for a topic …

8 Reasons To Consider The 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine: Journey With Parkinson’s

"A virus has three purposes: to duplicate, to infiltrate and to spread from one host to the next. Ultimately, even a single virus can shut down an entire system." Wayne Dyer "The single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on the planet is the virus." Joshua Lederberg Introduction: While the COVID-19 pandemic of 2019-2022 is …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Mind the Gap

"Mind the gap - it's the distance between life as you dream it and life as it is." Cate Blanchett "The biggest gap in your life is between what you know and what you do." Bob Proctor Introduction: Several concerned readers have contacted me recently about not posting on "Journey with Parkinson's," asking about my …

EMST 150: Strengthening Expiratory Muscles for Voluntary Cough and Swallow Function in People With Parkinson’s

"The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but the most difficult to play." Richard Strauss "The human voice is the organ of the soul." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Précis: Have you ever had a pill get stuck in your throat while swallowing? Have you ever gagged and choked, trying to swallow a piece …

Parkinson’s: Signs and Symptoms of Either a B Vitamin Deficiency or Overload

"You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency." Linus Pauling "We learn by our problems. We correct our deficiencies if there are any." Joe Arpaio Introduction: Several readers have written since the recent blog post on the B vitamins and their function linked to homocysteine levels "Revisiting the Role …

Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) and Vitamin D to Potentially Improve Muscular Function in Parkinson’s

"The mind is just another muscle." Ted Turner "Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use." Ruth Gordon Introduction: This is a complicated blog post. Ponder these scenarios: (A) an older adult, healthy and aging naturally with evidence of decreased thigh muscles. This patient has a disorder named sarcopenia. (B) A …

Science Sunday: Treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s with Buntanetap

"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better." Jim Rohn "Mostly everything gets worse before it gets better." Wanda Sykes Introduction: A neurodegenerative disease occurs when neurons in the brain begin to lose their function and ultimately die. The two most important and prevalent neurodegenerative disorders are Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. One of my earliest …

Parkinson’s: The Importance of Drinking Water

"Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." W. H. Auden Introduction: We are experiencing unrivaled and sustained summer heat in parts of the USA. While everyone needs to stay hydrated in such situations, it is vital …

A Survey of Supplement Use for Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease (Please Reply)

"Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population." Stephen Hawking "Oh! that you could turn your eyes towards the napes of your necks, and make but an interior survey of your good selves." William Shakespeare Introduction: A mainstay of therapy for treating the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's is …