Medical problems often do not follow a schedule, and it can be frustrating to get them addressed when the next doctor appointment is weeks or months away. It’s important to have a plan about what to do for support between clinic appointments. A good first step is to discuss the issue with your health care team and to arrange to have a designated person or point of contact should such a situation arise. Heather Russell, RN, Coordinator of the Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence at the London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario, Canada, is that person for her clinic. In this episode, she describes how she helps her patients when they have a medical problem related to their Parkinson’s disease and their next scheduled clinic visit is some time away. 

Released: November 29, 2022

Past podcasts have given glimpses into the broad range of programs and initiatives that the Parkinson’s Foundation has developed and supports. But to give a better understanding of the Foundation’s mission, its operation, reach, and funding, we spoke with John Lehr, its president and CEO. He discussed the reasons for the merger of the National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation to form today’s Parkinson’s Foundation, what the new organization has accomplished, and its plans for the future.

Released: September 20, 2022

Adverse effects, often called side effects, are a common phenomenon that accompanies the use of many drugs, including ones used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Any treatment is a balance between the desired effects of a drug and undesirable ones, so how to best ease symptoms while making the treatment tolerable. Specific to classes of drugs used for PD, some of the side effects may be drowsiness, insomnia, light headedness, hallucinations, cognitive impairment, swelling of the legs, dry mouth, weight gain, compulsive behavior, and others. These are just possibilities, and a good working relationship with a PD health care team can help avoid many of them. Beyond the PD team, keeping other health care providers informed is advisable since drug interactions can occur, so all practitioners (including dentists) should be aware of all medications that a person is taking, prescription, over-the-counter and even supplements.

In this podcast episode, neurologist Dr. Irene Richard of the University of Rochester Medical Center discusses several of the various drugs and drug classes used to treat the symptoms of PD in relation to the adverse effects that can accompany them. She offers insights into several ways to avoid or minimize adverse effects of drug therapy, what clinicians should tell people starting a new drug, and what people should ask as well as be aware of and report back.

Released: December 29, 2020

A team approach to Parkinson’s disease (PD) often results in better outcomes and quality of life for people with PD and their care partners. Members of the team have specific expertise in evaluating and fulfilling the needs of the person and family. One of those members is the social worker, and ideally, one who specializes in chronic or progressive diseases. He or she can assess how the person is functioning in their environment, their emotional state, and their needs. Once the assessment is done, the social worker can help meet those needs by directing people to the most appropriate resources, or in the case of Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW’s), (or the equivalent in some states, Licensed Independent Social Workers), by directly providing therapy in the areas of mental and emotional health. Social workers also can function as a “point person” or starting point for people with PD and care partners who may know what they need but not where to find it or how to access it.

In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Delaney, LCSW, social worker in Columbia University’s movement disorders division and the center coordinator of the Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence at Columbia, describes the role of social workers as part of a Parkinson’s health care team, and she offers suggestions on how people with PD can find a social worker experienced in working with people with progressive diseases.

Released: December 15, 2020

Impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are more common than originally thought, affecting an estimated one in six people with PD taking dopamine agonists. They may appear as unhealthy or compulsive levels of shopping, gambling, eating, sexual activity, or involvement in hobbies. They appear to be related to dopamine replacement therapy, so finding the right level of medications can be a challenge to manage symptoms without incurring impulsivity issues. It is important that people with PD, their care partners, and health care professionals be aware of and recognize these activities so that they can be addressed promptly to avoid, for example, social, emotional, economic, and health issues that may result from these disorders. The harm often goes beyond the person with the disorder and can affect family, friends, and others around them. Once recognized, impulse control disorders can often be managed or eliminated by working with a doctor to change dopamine agonist medications or dosage, or in some cases, even going on to deep brain stimulation.

Dr. Mark Groves, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, discusses the problem of impulse control disorders, what forms they may take, approaches to recognizing them, and the need to acknowledge them as a biologic condition and not a character or personality flaw.

Released: November 3, 2020

The news of a Parkinson’s diagnosis can be overwhelming. So many questions arise, including how it will change the person’s life, what lies ahead, and what to do first. Social workers can be a vital resource in helping a newly diagnosed person, care partner, and family navigate the road ahead, as well as provide ongoing support through the course of the disease. They are the health professionals who know and can coordinate many of the most helpful resources. Or as social worker Lance Wilson, LSW, C-SWHC, ASW-G, the education outreach coordinator for the Jefferson Health Comprehensive Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center in Philadelphia, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, puts it, social workers are the Yellow Pages for health care, tying people into the resources they need. He says social workers can help put people’s minds at ease by assessing their needs and lining up professionals who can provide medical, mental health, spiritual services, and more.

Released: December 13, 2022

Cuando uno piensa en la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), es fácil asociarla más con los síntomas motores, como la rigidez o el temblor; pero también existen síntomas no motores, como los cambios de estado de ánimo, la ansiedad o la depresión.

En este episodio, hablamos con la doctora Elsa Baena, neuropsicóloga clínica en el Barrow Neurological Institute, Centro de Excelencia de la Parkinson’s Foundation, acerca de estos cambios cognitivos asociados con el Parkinson.

La doctora Baena explica la conexión entre el Parkinson y la cognición y cómo pueden prepararse las personas con Parkinson para estos cambios (no sólo las maneras farmacológicas, sino también las terapéuticas).

Asimismo aprenderemos acerca de los miembros del equipo de atención médica que pueden apoyar a una persona con Parkinson y a sus familiares con estos cambios cognitivos.

Lanzado: 18 de octubre de 2022

There is still much to learn about Parkinson’s disease (PD), and it remains an ongoing challenge for scientists and researchers. The Parkinson’s Foundation recognizes the importance of supporting new and innovative ideas to advance research toward a cure. 
 
Research takes time- from a conceptual idea to early laboratory work, with the hope of eventually progressing to clinical stages and, ultimately, a breakthrough. PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation is a global research initiative that offers genetic testing and counseling to people with Parkinson’s. The goal is to use the genetic data collected to accelerate current and future clinical trials aimed at developing better, more personalized treatments for Parkinson’s. 
 
In this episode, we speak with Connor Courtney, Associate Director of Research Programs at the Parkinson’s Foundation. He takes a deep dive into how basic science lays the groundwork for future research and highlights the importance of supporting young scientists throughout their career in Parkinson’s research. We later invite Maggie Caulfield, Director of Research Programs, who shares recent key insights from the PD GENEration study and discusses current challenges in Parkinson’s research. Together, Maggie and Courtney emphasize the vital role individuals can play by learning more about and participating in research.  
 
Released: December 30, 2025

We want to thank this episode’s podcast sponsor, BlueRock Therapeutics, for supporting our mission.