Let’s Talk About It: Mental Health & Wellness in Parkinson’s
10:00 am to 1:00 pm EST
FREE
Check-in starts at 9 a.m.
There are many non-motor challenges associated with Parkinson’s disease that may not always be easy to discuss. With a focus on depression, apathy and cognition, this program will provide strategies for coping and talking about these issues with healthcare providers and loved ones.
Speaker
Temitope A. Lawal, MD, ECU Health Neurology - Greenville
This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends and the community. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required as in-person seating is limited.
With the autumn equinox behind us, the season of cooler days and shorter light has arrived. Just as trees stop producing chlorophyll and reveal the vibrant colors hidden beneath their green, we too can release what no longer serves us and uncover the beauty within. For people living with Parkinson’s—whether as a person diagnosed or as a care partner—this can mean letting go of thoughts, emotions, or habits that add stress or limit joy. In this guided meditation, we’ll use breathwork and visualization to create space for comfort, acceptance, and self-appreciation, and to notice the unique colors and strengths that shine during times of change.
Speaker
Danielle R. Carns, PsyD
Director, Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder Program
Clinical Neuropsychologist, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
Parkinson's Foundation and Northwestern Medicine Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center present: Parkinson's Disease Patient and Family Symposium.
This program will feature experts discussing: How to Build an Exercise Routine for PD, Research/Clinical Treatment Updates, and Autonomic Dysfunction and PD (blood pressure/bladder/bowel/sexual dysfunction). Q&A with the experts, will follow each presentation.
Speakers
Tanya Simuni, MD, FAAN
Northwestern Medicine Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Center
A Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence
Danny Bega, MD, MSCI
Northwestern Medicine Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Center
A Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence
Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD
Shirley Ryan AblityLab
Daniel Corcos, PhD
Northwestern Medicine
Neil Shetty, MD
Northwestern Medicine Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Center
A Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence
Juan Deliz, MD
Northwestern Medicine Neurology Orland Park
This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
10 a.m. Welcome / Opening Remarks
Danny Bega, MD, MSCI, Northwestern Medicine
Jessica Bartsch, MS, NCC, Parkinson's Foundation
10:15 a.m. Key Note: I Finished PT, Now What?
Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD, Shirley Ryan AblityLab
Daniel Corcos, PhD, Northwestern Medicine
(Q&A to follow presentation)
11:15 a.m. Therapeutic Pipeline, Research, and Clinical Treatment Update
Tanya Simuni, MD, FAAN, Northwestern Medicine
Neil Shetty, MD, Northwestern Medicine
(Q&A to follow presentation)
12:30-12:35 p.m. Break
12:35 p.m. Autonomic Dysfunction and Parkinson's Disease
Juan Deliz, MD, Northwestern Medicine
Northwestern Medicine Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center provides innovative, multidisciplinary care for patients and families affected by Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. The Center's care team works to promote health, education and support for patients. It also supports caregivers, family members, healthcare providers and the community. We continually strive to meet the needs of the Parkinson's community in a variety of ways. In doing this, we have adapted our annual symposium to a virtual setting for the safety and accessibility of the larger Parkinson's community.
This is a virtual program, taking place live, using the online Zoom platform. Instructions on joining the webinar are provided after registering.
Join us for an insightful day designed specifically for the Young Onset Parkinson's Community – in-person or online! Brought to you by the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (JCC), and the Parkinson’s Foundation.
The program includes three panels, comprised of individuals diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease, movement breaks, and resource materials.
For in-person attendees: Doors open at 9:45 a.m.; In-person check-in starts at 10 a.m.
A photo ID is required to enter the JCC building, and there is a security check. Lunch will be provided.
For virtual attendees, via Zoom: The live stream starts at 10:30 a.m.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends and the community.
9:45 a.m. Doors open
10 a.m. Check in
10:30 a.m. Welcome & Zoom Live Stream Begins
10:45 a.m. Keeping Your Balance - Work, Life & Finance
11:40 a.m. Movement Break
12 p.m. Lunch Break*
12:45 p.m. Doctor's Orders: Treatment Options Through the Eyes of Health Professionals with PD
1:35 p.m. Movement Break
2 p.m. Hindsight is 20/20 - Wisdom From Those Who've Been There
2:50 p.m. Closing Remarks & Zoom Live Stream Ends
3 p.m. Table Topics for In-Person Attendees
4 p.m. Program Ends
*Breakout rooms will be available for participants joining us on Zoom.
Parkinson’s Foundation has received funding from an educational grant provided by Kyowa Kirin to support this program.
A balanced diet is important for people with Parkinson’s disease. Learn about foods that may help ease symptoms and support brain health in addition to understanding how some foods can affect the way Parkinson’s medications work. This program will also address the latest information on the gut and brain connection with PD.
Speaker
Lisa Deuel, MD
University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends and the community.
Veterans and Parkinson's: Tools for Living with Parkinson's
11:00 am to 3:00 pm CDT
Free
Check-in & Resource Fair* begins at 11:00 a.m. and the program starts at 12:00 p.m.
Together, we will learn practical strategies to manage symptoms of Parkinson's disease and explore a variety of resources and specialized support services available to veterans. Our goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to improve their quality of life and navigate their journey with Parkinson’s confidently.
*The Resource Fair will feature local Community Partners that provide services and support for the Parkinson’s Community.
Speakers
William Hoffman, MD, Maj, USAF
Medical Director/ Joint Integrated Clinical Medicine Program
Movement Disorder Specialist Neurologist, BAMC
Le invitamos a participar en este webinar interactivo donde exploraremos cómo los problemas del habla, la voz y la comunicación de nuestro ser querido con Parkinson dificultan la interacción conversacional cotidiana con su aliado en el cuidado y la familia. Adicionalmente, compartiremos técnicas prácticas del habla para mejorar la fuerza vocal y la articulación, así como recursos de comunicación no verbal y claves para el aliado en el cuidado que ayudarán a fomentar una comprensión mutua y aliviar la sobrecarga del cuidado
10 a.m. Hora del Pacífico (Los Ángeles y Phoenix) 11 a.m. Hora de la Montaña (Colorado, Nuevo México y Ciudad de México) 12 p.m. Hora del Centro (Texas, Colombia y Perú) 1 p.m. Hora del Este (Nueva York y Venezuela) 2 p.m. Hora de Chile y Argentina
Presentadora
Martha Suárez Torres
Terapeuta del lenguaje especialista en Parkinson
Máster en enfermedades neurodegenerativas
Certificada por la Parkinson’s Foundation en el Team Training Program For Parkinson´s y Team-Based Palliative Care Essentials for Parkinson´s
Miembro de la Asociación Civil Parkinson Caracas y de la Sociedad de Trastornos del Movimiento.
Embajadora Líder de la Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson´s
Join us for a unique and uplifting Wellness Wednesday experience that blends the timeless beauty of Shakespearean poetry with the healing power of breath, voice, and creative expression. Guided by a skilled creative artist, this session invites participants to gently activate their breath and voice through simple, accessible exercises—culminating in the recitation of a Shakespeare sonnet.
Creative practices like poetry and performance offer powerful tools for people living with Parkinson’s. They support vocal strength, emotional expression, presence, and connection—while nurturing a sense of play, confidence, and joy.
Whether you're new to Shakespeare or simply seeking a fresh way to connect with your voice and breath, this session is designed to be welcoming, empowering, and fun. No acting experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and willingness to explore.
Speakers
Kurt Brungardt
Writer, Director, Teacher, and Personal trainer, Shakespeare for Parkinson's
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
Golf Course Pesticides, Drinking Water & Parkinson’s Risk
Environmental factors, such as chemical exposure, likely contribute to Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk. Golf courses consume large quantities of these chemicals, including herbicides, pesticides and insecticides. A new study from researchers using the Mayo Clinic–driven Rochester Epidemiology Project shows that living near golf courses could increase the risk of Parkinson’s.
Over the last 20 years, evidence has linked certain chemicals used in agriculture to PD. Farm-workers exposed to the weed-killer paraquat or the insecticide rotenone, for instance, develop Parkinson’s at rates two- to three-times higher than people who have never handled those chemicals. In lab settings, research shows that low doses of these compounds can damage dopamine-producing neurons in the brain — the same cells that are impacted in Parkinson’s.
While golf courses are known to be heavily treated with similar chemicals, no research has directly investigated the potential relationship between PD risk and proximity to golf courses.
This new study on golf courses and chemicals covers 25 years of medical data, from 1991 to 2015, and examines residents of several counties in southeastern Minnesota — a region where there are detailed municipal records, well‐depth charts and groundwater maps. Investigators used this information to study whether people who live close to golf courses face higher Parkinson’s risk. Additionally, they explored whether nearby public water systems explain any extra risk.
Study Results
The research team identified 419 men and women whose Parkinson’s diagnosis occurred during the study window (from 1991 to 2015) and matched them with more than 5,000 people of the same age, sex, race and neighborhood who did not have Parkinson’s.
Researchers then calculated the straight-line distance from each participant’s home to the nearest golf course on the date of PD diagnosis. Those addresses were added on maps of municipal water-service areas, the locations and depths of public wells, and geological charts highlighting regions where groundwater is considered “vulnerable,” meaning the soil or bedrock allows surface chemicals to migrate quickly downward.
Overall, the analysis revealed that people who lived within one mile of a golf course were 126% (or 2.26 times) more likely to receive a Parkinson’s diagnosis than those whose homes were six or more miles away. Being farther from the fairway seemed to help; risk steadily tapered off beyond one mile, with the odds of PD diagnoses decreasing by 9% for each mile of distance from a golf course.
Distance is only part of the story. When researchers looked at households served by a public water system that contained at least one golf course, Parkinson’s risk was 96% higher in households whose water systems did not have a golf course within their boundaries, and about 50% higher than people who use private wells. Additionally, when a golf course was in an area with groundwater vulnerable to contamination, the risk of Parkinson’s was 82% higher than in less vulnerable areas with a golf course.
Taken together, the findings suggest that the pesticides and herbicides used to keep putting greens immaculate may be leaching into drinking water, increasing Parkinson’s risk for the surrounding area.
Highlights
Using medical records from 1991 to 2015, researchers pinpointed 419 Minnesotans with a Parkinson’s diagnosis and compared them to a group of more than 5,000 neighbors who were alike in age, sex, race, and residential area with no history of PD.
For every person in the study, researchers measured how close they lived to the nearest golf course, then overlaid addresses onto maps showing city water-service districts, well water depths and locations, and areas where groundwater is more easily polluted.
Those living within one mile from a golf course were 2.26 times more likely to be diagnosed with PD compared to those living 6 or more miles from a course. The odds of PD diagnosis decreased by 9% for each mile of distance from a golf course.
People living in a public-water district with one or more golf courses had almost double the odds of developing Parkinson’s compared to those without a course, and about 50% higher odds than those using private wells.
When a course was on land more vulnerable to pesticide contamination into the community water source, the risk of Parkinson’s was 82% higher compared to regions with a golf course located on more protective geology.
What does this mean?
This study suggests a strong association between living within close proximity to a golf course with an increased risk of developing PD. Additionally, it highlights water sources surrounding golf courses as a primary means of exposure to the chemicals routinely used on golf courses.
However, this study does not prove cause and effect, and the investigators emphasize that more work is needed before drawing firm conclusions. The research lacks direct measurements of pesticide levels in the water over time, and it cannot rule out the impact of other environmental factors related to golf courses, such as higher-income neighborhoods or traffic patterns.
Still, the clear patterns drawn from this study — highest PD risk closest to golf courses, next-highest in the water systems that share ground with a course, and more risk in areas where contaminants travel easily — gives researchers more compelling evidence about how environmental risks play a role in Parkinson’s.
What do these findings mean to the people with PD right now?
The connection between golf courses and increased PD risk may help some people living with Parkinson’s better understand one cause — exposure to environmental contaminants, potentially through drinking water. However, the environmental risk factors for PD that golf courses present are potentially preventable, by individuals and regulators. People can choose not to live near golf courses, knowing that it may put them at an increased risk for developing PD. On the other hand, regulators can also acknowledge the potential risks and improve safety measures surrounding golf courses and water sources.
The prevalence of Parkinson’s is on the rise. These findings — and new, similar studies that will most likely result from this one — highlights the need to push for mitigating risk factors for PD. Studies like this one that tie environmental factors to increased risk are shaping the future of PD research by helping people trace a contributor to their diagnosis — and help identify ways to reduce risk for future generations.
Learn More
The Parkinson’s Foundation believes in empowering the Parkinson’s community through education. Learn more about PD and the topics in this article through our below resources, or by calling our free Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for answers to your Parkinson’s questions.
Louisiana Walks for Parkinson’s is back! You don't want to miss this! Our community is getting together to help raise awareness and funds for the Parkinson's Foundation. This is your chance to speak up about Parkinson's and take action. Your support will help the Parkinson's Foundation advance research, provide educational resources, and fund programs that make life better for people living with Parkinson's disease. To learn more about the Parkinson's Foundation, go to parkinson.org.
LA Walks is a celebration of living well—complete with two handicap accessible walking routes, local food and beverages, a silent auction, parade of prizes raffle, live music by Flip Side Band of NOLA, entertainment and local resources for people with Parkinson's.
Registration options:
Adult Participant - $30 (Includes LA Walks event tee, food, beverages and more)
Child Participant - FREE (12 and under, includes food and beverages)
*All event-day participants must be registered regardless of age, to participate in the Louisiana Walks for Parkinson's event. Registration closes Thursday, October 9th at midnight. Walk-up registration is $35 and an event tee is not guaranteed.
Additional purchase options:
• Youth tee
• Parade of Prizes raffle tickets*
• Liquor Wagon tickets
*Pre-purchasing Parade of Prizes raffle tickets will save time! Tickets purchased in advance with registration will be printed with your name and phone number and will be available for pick-up day of the event at the raffle ticket sales tent.
