Educational Events

Carolinas Chapter Parkinson's Symposium

Virtual ( Zoom )
9:00 am to 2:00 pm EST
FREE
REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL
Carolinas Chapter Parkinson's Symposium

Join the Parkinson’s Foundation in person or online for the Carolinas Chapter Parkinson’s Symposium.  Hear about ongoing research, current treatments, and resources available to help you live your best life with Parkinson’s. In-person attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with exhibitors and pick up information during our Resource Fair.

Expert Panelists

Nicole Cool, BSN, RN
Medical University of South Carolina

Kimberly Gamble
Atrium Health Neurosciences Institute

Risa Hanau, LCSW
AuthoraCare Collective

David Haynes, CLTC, CEP
Haynes LTC Insurance

Vanessa K. Hinson MD, PhD
Medical University of South Carolina

Amy Marriott, PT
Cone Health

Maysen Mesaros MS, CGC
Medical University of South Carolina

Mustafa Saad Siddiqui, MD
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Myriam Sollman, PhD
Prisma Health

Dennis Toman, Esq., CELA
The Elderlaw Firm

People with Parkinson's & Care Partner Panelists

Mike Horak and Family

Doug and Grace Boyce

Edwin and Michelle Costillo

Phil and Julia Gee

For in-person attendees: In-person check-in and resource fair starts at 9 a.m. ET. Lunch will be served.

For virtual attendees via Zoom: The live stream starts at 9:45 a.m. ET

Traveling to the event? Click here for a list of nearby hotels.

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.

Thank You to Our Gold Program Sponsor:

Merz Logo

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

View All
Educational Events

Georgia Chapter Parkinson's Symposium

Virtual
10:00 am to 2:00 pm EST
FREE
REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL
Georgia Chapter Symposium

Check-in & Resource Fair start at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Join the Parkinson's Foundation in person for the Georgia Chapter Parkinson's Symposium. Hear about ongoing research, current treatments, and resources available to help you live your best life with Parkinson's. 

Expert Speakers

Valeria Gary, M.A., CCC-SLP
Parkinson’s Speech Services and Wellstar Health System

Lenora Higginbotham, MD
Emory Brain Health Center

Brittney Hooker, PT, DPT & Amy Morse, PT, DPT
Synapse NeuroRehab + Wellness

Jorge Juncos, MD
Juncos Neuro Consulting

Joash Lazarus, MD
Atlanta Neuroscience Institute

Laurie Mischley, ND, PhD, MPH
Seattle Integrative Medicine

Tanya Morris, LMSW
Senior Services North Fulton

Kelley Napier, CELA
Georgia Estate & Elder Law 

Jack Shen, MD
Wellstar Neurology

Hilarie C. Tomasiewicz, MD, PhD
WellStar Neurosurgery

Angela Wang, MD
Kaiser Permanente

Fitness Demo Provided by

Center for Movement Challenges 

For in-person attendees: Check-in and Resource Fair start at 9 a.m. Lunch will be served.

For virtual attendees via Zoom: The live stream starts at 10 a.m.

There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their families, friends, and the community.

Agenda

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

View All
Science News

New Study Finds Blood Test Can Help Track Parkinson’s Symptoms and Progression

Parkinson's Foundation Science News blogs

Researchers found changes in molecules in the brain and blood that are associated with Parkinson’s, they also found changes linked to certain symptoms

Two of the most widely recognized hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are tremors and slowed movement. However, when these symptoms appear, it means that people with PD have already lost up to 60% of their dopamine neurons. Neurons are nerve cells in the brain that are crucial for maintaining a balanced and functioning nervous system.

Diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s early can fend off severe symptoms for years. Inversely, when a diagnosis is delayed, rapid decline can be more likely to occur. Unfortunately, there are no tools, besides assessing symptoms, to diagnose Parkinson’s or predict the course of the disease. However, a new study in Nature Communications has found evidence of molecular changes in the brain and blood of people with Parkinson’s who experience cognitive and movement complications of PD.

Finding molecular changes in the blood that mirror changes in the brain is essential for developing new minimally invasive tests that can diagnose Parkinson’s, be able to track the course of the disease, and monitor how it is responding to treatment.

Parkinson’s symptoms are primarily caused by the death of dopamine neurons in the brain. Dopamine allows us to regulate motivation, memory, cognitive functions, and motor skills. One critical region in the brain that relies on dopamine for these functions is the striatum, which has two regions that behave differently in Parkinson's:

Illustration of a female brains anatomy-the caudate nucleus
  • The caudate: When dopamine levels drop in this area, it leads to cognitive impairment.
  • The putamen: When dopamine levels drop in this area, motor control is impacted.

Both regions are densely populated with the same kinds of neurons. While we know how these areas impact movement and cognition, we still do not understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these distinct responses in the human brain.

To learn more about changes in these brain regions, which are difficult to study as they are deep in the brain, researchers used brain samples from 35 people who died with Parkinson’s and 40 people who died without neurological issues. They looked for changes in RNA (a molecule essential for various biological processes) and identified thousands of RNAs that were different in those with Parkinson’s compared to those who did not have the disease.

Study Findings

  1. RNA changes in the brain: Many of these RNA changes were linked to the function of the synapse, the special connection between nerve cells that allow them to communicate with each other. Researchers found decreases in RNAs involved in dopamine neuron dysfunction and death; an increase in RNAs involved in inflammation and immune hyperactivation; and an increase in RNAs involved in stress response.

  2. Mirroring patterns in the blood: To compare whether the changes they observed in the brain were mirrored in blood samples, the researchers accessed samples from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), which has collected blood from people who do and do not have Parkinson’s. They found that the RNA levels in the brain were altered in the same direction in the blood.

  3. Changes associated with cognitive impairment: The researchers found 57 RNAs in the caudate that were significantly altered in donors that had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease dementia. When researchers looked at the differences in RNAs in the blood of people with PD vs. healthy controls, they found a few RNAs that were altered in people with PD.
  4. Changes associated with movement symptoms: The researchers found 18 RNAs in the putamen that were significantly altered in donors who experienced levodopa-induced dyskinesia. When researchers looked at differences in RNAs in the blood of people with PD vs. healthy controls, they found no significant differences.
  5. Differential patterns depending on age at PD onset: The researchers also found differences between the brains of people who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s before and after the age of 55 — those who were diagnosed earlier showed fewer molecular changes than those who were diagnosed later. Similar results were found in blood.

Study Highlights

  • People with Parkinson’s have unique changes in RNA molecules in brain regions that rely on dopamine for regulating motivation, memory, cognitive functions, and motor skills.
  • Similar RNA changes were also observed in blood samples of people living with Parkinson’s.
  • Patterns of RNA changes were associated with certain symptoms (e.g., cognitive decline, motor complications) or disease features (e.g., early vs. late onset).

What does this mean?

Today, only invasive tests can track molecular changes in the brains of people with Parkinson’s. This study has found that molecular changes that happen in the brain can also be found in the blood. In the near future, this information can be leveraged to develop minimally invasive blood tests that could be used to help confirm a Parkinson’s diagnosis, track disease progression, and evaluate how the disease is responding to treatment. However, more studies are needed before these findings can be used as a clinical tool.

What do these findings mean to the people with PD right now?

People with Parkinson’s symptoms should talk to their doctor about screening.

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.

Educational Events

Navigating Advancing Needs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm EST
FREE
The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

Check-in and exhibitor tables open at 9:30 a.m. ET.

We will address some of the challenges of advancing PD and explore strategies to prepare for the future, including how to evolve your care plans and treatments throughout progression so you can live your best life with PD now.

Featured Speakers:

George Dumenigo, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker/Community Outreach Coordinator
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center, University of Miami, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence

Alexandra Ingram, FNP- BC
Nurse Practitioner
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center, University of Miami, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence

Fitness Demonstration by: YMCA of Collier County

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.

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

View All
Educational Events

Living Well with PD in Korean

10:00 am to 11:30 am EST
FREE

Living Well in PD Flyer- Korean

파킨슨 병과 웰빙 

파킨슨 병의 이해를 돕기 위한 세미나에 여러분을 초대합니다.

Atlanta Neuroscience Institute의 파킨슨 병 및 운동장애 전문의

Dr. Joash Lazarus 박사님을 모시고 파킨슨 병의 전반적인 이해와 증상, 치료 방법등을 알려드립니다. 

또한 파킨슨 병 환우들과 가족들의 모임인 케어리프트 파킨슨 가족모임 (Care Lift PD Support Group)의 여러분들이 함께 이야기를 나누는 시간을 마련하였습니다.

강사: Dr. Joash Lazarus Atlanta Neuroscience Institute

진행: 반 혜진(케어리프트 디렉터)
Care Lift Corp

일시: 2023년 11월 11일 토요일 오전 10시 – 오전 11:30

장소: 아틀란타 비전교회(Vision Church) 2780 Buford Hwy., Duluth, GA 30096

참가신청 및 문의
케어 리프트(Care Lift)
전화: 678.723.5746
Email: CareLiftATL@Gmail.com

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

View All
Educational Events

Nutrition in Parkinson's

10:00 am to 1:00 pm CDT
FREE
Nutrition Banner Updated

Check-in and exhibitor tables open at 9 a.m. CT.

A balanced diet is important for people with Parkinson's disease. Learn about food 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.  

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.

Featured Speakers:

Rebecca Solch-Ottaiano, PhD
Tulane University School of Medicine

Heather Rietschel, MCD, CCC/SLP
Lakeview Hospital

Judy Roberts, RDN LDN
Council on Aging St. Tammany (COAST)

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

View All
Educational Events

Veterans and Parkinson's: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Apathy

1:30 pm to 4:00 pm EST
FREE
Veterans Thumbnail

Check-in starts at 1:00 p.m. ET.

For veteran's living with Parkinson's disease, non-motor challenges are not always easy to discuss. With a focus on mood changes, including anxiety, depression and apathy this program will provide strategies for coping and talking about it with healthcare providers or loved ones.

Expert Speakers:

  • Megan Gomez, PhD, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center

Expert Panelists from the Atlanta VA and Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation:

  • Marian Evatt, MD
  • Madeleine Hackney, PhD
  • Joe Nocera, PhD
  • Camille Vaughan, MD, MS

Veteran Living with Parkinson's Panelist:

  • Jerry Feldman
  • Mike Bowman

This program is hosted by the Parkinson's Foundation Georgia Chapter in collaboration with:

lastcvnr

COVID SAFETY: The health and safety of our participants, sponsors, volunteers and staff are our top priority. We continue to monitor CDC recommendations and will adhere to state and local COVID guidelines in place on the event day. Adjustments will be made if necessary.

Upcoming Events

View All
Podcasts

Episode 161: Atypical Parkinsonism Series: Unique Care Needs of PSP, CBD and MSA

Considered “atypical Parkinsonian syndromes,” over half of people with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are initially misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to similarities in early symptoms as well as lack of awareness of these rare, neurodegenerative diseases among many healthcare professionals and the general public. 

This is the third of three podcast episodes within our atypical parkinsonism podcast series, organized in partnership with CurePSP and designed to address the unique care needs across the disease stages of PSP, CBD and MSA. 

Jessica Shurer, Director of Clinical Affairs and Advocacy at CurePSP, and Nancy Montgomery, who cared for her husband who was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, cover common challenges experienced by people living with PSP, CBD or MSA and describe helpful resources and roles played by healthcare teams that support the quality of life of patients and family care partners.

Jessica Shurer, Nancy Montgomery, and podcast host, Dan Keller, have disclosed that they have no relevant financial disclosures.

Released: October 17, 2023

Fundraising Events

Community Walk Apex

9:00 am to 12:00 pm EST
FREE
Group of people going through the finish line at a Moving Day Walk

The Scott-Herndon Educational Foundation Parkinson's Walk

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.

Learn more about bringing an event to your area

Upcoming Events

View All
Advancing Research

Neuro Talk: Accelerating Drug Discovery Through the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech

Launching a new Parkinson’s disease (PD) drug can take years and cost upwards of one billion dollars. In our latest Neuro Talk, John L. Lehr, president and CEO of the Parkinson's Foundation, and Arthur Roach, director of the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech at Parkinson’s UK, discuss how the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech is accelerating PD drug discovery and development. John and Arthur share how this international collaboration will help find the next life-saving Parkinson’s drug in years, not decades.

Learn more about the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech.

Subscribe to People with PD
Back to Top