10 Lessons Learned About COVID-19 and Parkinson’s

"Come grow old with me. The best is yet to be." William Wordsworth "As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning." Criss Jami Introduction:  Likely, everyone in the world has said the words "COVID-19 Pandemic" at some point since early 2020. From mid-February 2020 to December 2022, more than 324,000 publications …

Journey with Parkinson’s: A Southern Good Luck Meal in the New Year

"food is never just something to eat." Margaret Visser "your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride." Anthony Bourdain The New Year's Day Supper: Maybe your family has a New Year’s Day tradition? In the southern states of the U.S., we follow many traditions, but one of my favorites is the …

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 …

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 …

Six Pillars of Parkinson’s

"In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result." James Allen "Storms make trees take deeper roots." Dolly Parton Introduction: In the presence of Parkinson's, each person encounters a different invader that can progress very slowly or evolves quickly. Symptoms expressed are …

Update on Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) for the Treatment of Parkinson’s

"To the sick, while there is life there is hope. [Lat., Aegroto dum anima est, spes est.]" Marcus Tullius Cicero "We can’t live without hope. When we keep hoping, we keep living." Pete Wilson Introduction: Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA*) is a naturally occurring bioactive lipid that contains a fatty acid moiety and ethanolamide. The molecular formula of …

Happy Thanksgiving

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward "No matter what our circumstance, we can find a reason to be thankful." David Jeremiah Happy Thanksgiving: It is that time in the USA to give thanks and be grateful. Margaret Cousins said, "Appreciation …

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

"You swing your best when you have the fewest things to think about." Bobby Jones "Through years of experience I have found that air offers less resistance than dirt." Jack Nicklaus Introduction: If you have read this blog any time, you know how much I love the game of golf. It is a fun sport …

The Attitude of Gratitude in the Presence of Parkinson’s

"The only thing you should feel entitled to is gratitude," J.S. Mason “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” Epictetus Introduction: The blog post's title is not meant to suggest one needs to be grateful for having a neurodegenerative …