Learn More. Live Better. Parkinson's Symposium: Empowered & Activated with an Interdisciplinary Care Team
No matter where you are in your Parkinson’s journey, an interdisciplinary care team can play a vital role in helping you live well. Managing daily life with Parkinson’s disease requires ongoing learning and adaptation as symptoms and needs evolve.
This program highlights the importance of identifying your care team early, engaging with them regularly, and understanding how each professional contributes essential insights, resources, and strategies for maintaining a sense of control, independence, identity and lifestyle. Through an in-depth discussion with experts and lived-experience perspectives, attendees will gain practical information to support and empower them in their daily lives.
This event is free and open to people with Parkinson's and their families. Registration is required as in-person seating is limited.
We are inviting people living with Parkinson’s and care partners in the greater Denver area to share the questions you would most like to ask an interdisciplinary Parkinson’s care team. Your questions will be used to shape a live panel discussion and ensure it reflects the real needs, concerns, and priorities of our community. You may answer as many or as few questions as you’d like, and the survey should take only a few minutes to complete.
The survey will close on May 15, 2026, in order to share responses with speakers well in advance to allow time for thoughtful preparation and meaningful responses.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
Get out and move with your community! Every dollar raised supports the Parkinson’s Foundation mission to make life better for people affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). At Moving Day Community Walks across the country, we’re fighting Parkinson’s and celebrating movement — proven to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms — and we’re doing it together. The Moving Day Community Walk Program is a complement to the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s. These walks are family-friendly and help the Foundation make life better for people with PD.
The Community Walk program offers volunteers an opportunity to organize a walk in their own community that does not have a Moving Day event. The program leverages the personal experiences and community leadership of passionate volunteers to promote Parkinson’s awareness and raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
¿Qué significa participar en un estudio de investigación y por qué es importante para la población hispana y latina? Hablamos con los participantes de nuestro estudio PD GENEration para que compartan sus respuestas a estas preguntas con usted.
Acompáñenos para una interesante conversación entre el Dr. Ignacio Mata y los participantes de PD GENEration de los EE.UU. y Latinoamérica para escuchar lo que hemos aprendido del estudio hasta ahora, lo que significa participar en PD GENEration y cómo puede beneficiarse de conocer los resultados de sus pruebas.
10 a.m. Hora del Pacífico (Los Ángeles) 11 a.m. Hora de la Montaña (Colorado, Phoenix y Nuevo México) 12 p.m. Hora del Centro (Texas y Ciudad de México) 1 p.m. Hora del Este (Nueva York, Colombia, Perú ) 2 p.m. Hora de Venezuela
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
Check-in begins at 10:00 am. Program begins at 11:00 am.
Exercise is a powerful tool for supporting Parkinson’s disease symptom management in all stages. Participants will learn how staying active can help with movement, mood, and thinking, and may even have disease-modifying benefits. The program will provide practical strategies for incorporating exercise into daily life for better mobility, mood, thinking, and overall quality of life.
*Note, the event will take place at Rice Commons, located within the College Student Center. Please follow signage to direct you to the event space.
Speaker Liz Nafziger, MD Neurology, Palliative Medicine Goshen Health
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.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
Living with Parkinson’s disease involves more than just movement challenges—many people also experience non-movement symptoms that can be difficult to recognize, discuss, and manage. This program will focus on Impulse Control and Thinking Changes, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
Speakers
Anas Hannoun, MD
Emily Gottier, OT
Parminder Padgett, PT, DPT
Anne Maydwell, SLP
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
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.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
Check-in & Resource Fair* begins at 11:00 a.m. and the program starts at 11:30 a.m.
Medications and Research for Symptom Management: Join the Parkinson’s Foundation for the New England Chapter Parkinson’s Symposium. Attendees will learn about symptoms, treatment options and strategies to help navigate the challenges of living with PD. While each person’s experience is unique, the more you know, the more empowered you will be to play an active role in your care and manage your life with Parkinson’s.
*The Resource Fair will feature local Community Partners that provide services and support for the Parkinson’s Community.
Speakers
Sarah Dodwell, MD
MaineHealth Neurology – Scarborough
William Stamey, MD
MaineHealth Neurology – Brunswick
Nicola Bothwick
Associate Director of Clinical Research, PD GENEration study
Parkinson’s Foundation
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.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
This article highlights a new study that found that untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. It discusses:
How up to 40% of people with Parkinson’s experience sleep apnea.
People with untreated obstructed sleep apnea had nearly twice the risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to those without OSA.
Early continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in those with OSA significantly reduced the number of Parkinson's cases.
Benefits of early CPAP use for people with Parkinson’s.
Sleep problems are a common non-movement symptom for people who live with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, a new large-scale study reveals that untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may actually increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in the first place, but treating it with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may help reduce that risk.
Up to 40% of people with Parkinson’s experience sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to a blocked or narrowed airway. This prevents the body from getting enough oxygen, disrupting sleep quality and putting stress on various organs, including the brain. An estimated 30 million Americans have OSA, though many remain undiagnosed.
Study Results
The study, published in JAMA Neurology, and led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland VA Health Care System analyzed electronic health records from veterans who received care through the Department of Veterans Affairs between 1999 and 2022.
Of the more than 11 million veterans included in the analysis, about 1.5 million (13.7%) had OSA. After adjusting for factors like age, obesity and cardiovascular conditions, the researchers found a strong link between untreated sleep apnea and Parkinson’s disease. Veterans with OSA showed 1.61 additional cases of Parkinson’s per 1,000 people at six years from OSA diagnosis compared to those without the condition. Compared to those without the condition, veterans with OSA were nearly twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s. The link between OSA and Parkinson’s was even more pronounced in female veterans.
OSA can be effectively treated using CPAP machines. Importantly, the study found that early CPAP treatment reduced the risk of developing Parkinson’s. Veterans who began CPAP use within two years of their diagnoses were about 30% less likely to develop Parkinson’s compared to those who didn’t use CPAP.
In addition, for those who did eventually get diagnosed with Parkinson’s, the study showed that using CPAP early after an OSA diagnosis was associated with a reduction in the rates of falls, fractures and mortality.
Highlights
The study analyzed health records of more than 11 million U.S. veterans over a 23-year period.
People with untreated obstructed sleep apnea had nearly twice the risk of developing Parkinson's disease compared to those without OSA.
The link between OSA and Parkinson's risk was even stronger in female veterans.
Early CPAP treatment in those with OSA significantly reduced the number of Parkinson's cases.
For those who developed Parkinson’s, early CPAP use was linked to reduced risk of falls, fractures, and mortality.
What Does This Mean?
This research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea may be a modifiable risk factor for Parkinson’s disease — meaning it can potentially be treated. It is important to note that the results of this study are correlations; the study did not prove that sleep apnea causes Parkinson’s, or that CPAP can prevent the development of Parkinson’s. However, the links between OSA, CPAP use, and Parkinson’s highlight the importance of diagnosing and managing sleep disorders early.
Additionally, these results support similar findings from the dementia field, in which a study found that CPAP treatment of OSA was associated with reduced odds of developing dementia.
OSA is extremely common and underdiagnosed. The Global Burden of Obstructive Sleep Apnea study found OSA to be a widespread concern “estimated to affect nearly 936 million adults aged between 30 and 69 worldwide.” Because of how widespread OSA is, linking it to Parkinson’s means there is a large opportunity to reduce risk and improve outcomes through better detection and treatment.
What Do These Findings Mean for People with Parkinson’s Right Now?
While this research does not change day-to-day treatment for people already living with Parkinson’s, it reinforces the importance of addressing sleep problems, which are already common in Parkinson’s.
Poor sleep can worsen movement and non-movement symptoms, affect quality of life and impact overall health. Research continues to link sleep apnea with negative health outcomes. If you experience symptoms of sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, gasping during sleep or excessive daytime fatigue, talk to your doctor. A sleep study can determine if you have OSA, and treatments like CPAP can help improve your sleep quality and potentially support your overall health.
Learn More
The Parkinson’s Foundation believes in empowering the Parkinson’s community through education. Learn more about PD and sleep through our resources below, or by calling our free Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for answers to your Parkinson’s questions.
This program provides an overview of current Parkinson's research and its impact on treatment and care. Participants will learn the difference between studies targeting symptoms and those aiming to slow disease progression. We will also explore recent advancements and how ongoing research may shape future therapies and personal care.
Speakers
We are excited to welcome speakers from UR Medicine Neurology Movement Disorders Program, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence.
Jamie Adams, MD
William Barbosa, MD
David Sell, DO
Blanca Valdovinos, MD
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.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
Learn More. Live Better. Parkinson's Symposium: Tips for Daily Living
10:00 am to 1:30 pm MDT
Free
Regardless of where you are in your Parkinson’s journey there are many things you can do to live well. Managing daily life with Parkinson's disease involves learning and adjusting as symptoms and needs change. This program addresses some common challenges and will provide important information, resources, and strategies to help you every day. Attendees will gain information to help find the balance between a proactive approach and wondering what lies ahead.
This event is free and open to people with Parkinson's and their families. Registration is required as in-person seating is limited.
10:00 AM
Registration and Resource Fair
Visit resource tables, do activities at attendee tables, coffee and refreshments available
10:30AM
Introduction and Welcome
Parkinson’s Foundation
10:45 AM
Living well with PD
Dr. Dana Sugar, MDS
11:30 AM
Movement Break: Specific Strategies for Self-Management (10 min each discipline)
PT/OT/SLP (physical strategy for daily living – educate and practice)
12:00 PM
Lunch
Boxed Lunch
12:20 PM
Panel Discussion – Practical strategies for everyday
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
This program offers an introduction and basic overview of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD varies from person to person and changes over time. Discover its causes, common symptoms, available treatments and effective strategies for managing them. Learn practical daily living tips to empower you to take charge of your health and to navigate the challenges of living with PD.
Speaker
Sheila Eichenseer, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
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.
This program will focus on bladder/GI issues, psychoses and impulse control disorder, exploring their impact on daily life and relationships. Attendees will learn strategies for discussing sensitive issues and coping techniques to improve well-being.
This April, in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation, join us for the Million Meter Challenge! Whether you row, run, bike, or power-walk, every dollar raised helps bring us closer to a cure.
