As we enter 2025, we're here to help you thrive! Setting New Year's Resolutions is the perfect way to kickstart intentional goals and positive habits. These resolutions can change your behavior throughout the rest of the year.
New Year’s resolutions can often mean having goals that last for a short time. It is important to create resolutions that are personal to you and what you want this year to look like. Resolutions are not supposed to be impossible or cause guilt; they should be goals that bring excitement and hope. We have fun tips and suggestions on what kinds of resolutions you can make!
Exercise
It is important to find an exercise plan you enjoy and that fits well into your schedule. Exercise helps people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) manage movement and non-movement symptoms. There are many options for what kinds of exercises you can try. Participating in a fun workout can help you enjoy your time and strengthen your body.
Resources for You!
Try new exercises from the comfort of home with Fitness Fridays
Use our In Your Area search to find exercise classes near you
Nutrition is an important part of your physical and mental health. Good nutrition can help manage Parkinson’s and promote overall well-being. It is also fun to try out new recipes and change up what you eat.
Practicing self-care can be a challenge to incorporate in your daily life but creating a self-care plan is a great way to start. A self-care plan looks like a personalized schedule to enjoy what brings you rest. Self-care can promote mindfulness and resiliency throughout the year.
There are many ways to get plugged into your community. It can be helpful to have people around you for support through the year. In times of stress, a community can remind you that you are not alone. The Parkinson’s Foundation has many resources for you to connect with a strong support system.
There are also many opportunities to serve your community. Find your local Parkinson’s Foundation chapter and the events coming up. Volunteering and fundraising can create a positive impact on your community while helping you feel connected to those around you.
Resources for You!
Get connected to your local chapter to find support groups and events
Sometimes resolutions can feel overwhelming and impossible. It can be easy to feel guilt and frustration when things do not go as planned. Follow these tips to make your New Year’s resolutions fun:
Find goals that excite you
Create goals that are achievable. It is good to challenge yourself, but resolutions should not be impossible.
Talk to a loved one about your resolutions so that you have someone to support you
Remember it is never too late to create or adjust goals
Throughout 2025, use your resolutions to try new things and develop personal growth. The Parkinson’s Foundation is happy to support your goals with our many resources.
The Parkinson's Foundation is here for you. Our Helpline can not only answer your Parkinson’s questions but can help you find local exercise classes and support groups. Call our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636).
Just as physical health is affected by lifestyle and exercise, so is your mental health. Cognition, mood and sleep all play integral roles when it comes to maintaining proper mental health.
Most people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience changes and symptoms that impact cognition, mood and sleep as time goes on. Some people even experience cognition, mood and sleep symptoms as early PD signs. Below we highlight tips for how to support your mental health with changes in your cognition, mood and sleep.
Cognition Tips
Cognition is the act of mental processing. While tremors are a recognizable PD symptom, Parkinson’s may also impact cognition. Cognitive changes can include shifts in your thinking and behavior, along with slowness in memory. This non-movement symptom can impact quality of life. It can be scary to experience cognitive changes, but there are ways to support your mental health:
Create coping strategies like developing a routine and staying engaged with fun hobbies.
Find a counselor to help you adjust to these changes. You can see a counselor individually or with your care partner.
Everyone experiences mood changes; however, Parkinson’s can influence mood as a non-motor symptom. Mood changes may negatively affect your social life and emotional well-being. They may include depression, anxiety and other mood-related changes. Your mood may be affected by major life changes or medication. It is important to evaluate your mood and mental health. We have tips to help support you through these mood changes:
Create an exercise plan to support your emotional and physical health.
Connect with those around you to provide social support. Attend a support group and build your community — try attending a local PD event by using our In Your Area search tool.
Talk to a mental health professional who can help you process mood changes.
Focus on your nutrition. Eating healthy is important for helping manage Parkinson’s symptoms and optimizing PD medications.
Talk to a doctor about a treatment plan, especially if your mood changes are associated with pain.
Sleep is a vital part of mental health; our bodies and minds need rest. Parkinson’s can often affect your ability to sleep and daytime alertness. Sleeping problems may be the result of sleeping disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea. Your mental health may be affected by unhealthy sleeping patterns. Here are five tips that can help with sleep and Parkinson’s:
Set a schedule around sleep: avoid naps and try to set a consistent sleep pattern.
Practice exercise to get your body moving and ready for rest.
Avoid using electronic devices right before sleep.
Set aside time to relax intentionally as you get ready for bed. Avoid doing things that cause stress.
Discuss sleep issues with your doctor and healthcare team.
Although changes in your cognition, mood and sleep may feel overwhelming, you are not alone. It is very important to care for your mental health. The Parkinson’s Foundation has many resources to support you through these changes.
5 Care Partner Tips for Managing Mid-Stride Parkinson’s Symptoms
In the first few years of treatment following a diagnosis, your loved one’s Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms probably improved. Medications most likely helped your loved one go about their life, continue their hobbies and social activities as they did before PD. They may have even experienced near complete control of symptoms with minimal side effects.
Parkinson’s, however, is a progressive disease. After several years of taking levodopa, many people with Parkinson’s notice that controlling symptoms becomes more difficult. This stage of Parkinson’s disease is known as mid-stride, where new symptoms may begin to emerge at any time and can require treatment modifications. Although these changes bring adjustments to how PD is managed, your loved one can still experience good to great quality of life with your support.
Here are five tips for navigating Parkinson’s mid-stride as a care partner:
1. Manage medications.
As Parkinson’s progresses, levodopa stays effective for shorter periods of time. When levodopa begins to lose its effect, your loved one may have periods in which symptoms are much more noticeable and movement becomes more difficult. Known as “off” time, these motor fluctuations often result in the need for more frequent doses of medication.
Download our Medications and Schedule worksheet to keep an updated list of medications and dosage information. You may also want to set regular timers on your phone or tablet to remember when it’s time for the next dose.
2. Encourage exercise.
Because of how Parkinson’s impacts movement, it is natural to move less as the disease progresses. However, exercise is still essential for people in the mid-stride stage of PD. Findings from the Parkinson’s Foundation Parkinson’s Outcomes Project show that increasing physical activity to at least 2.5 hours a week may help manage Parkinson’s symptoms.
Encourage your loved one to stay active. Help them sign up for exercise classes that benefit people with PD, like Tai Chi, yoga or boxing. Our Fitness Friday series also offers at-home workouts that feature a different focus every week. Find a PD-tailored exercise class near you at Parkinson.org/InYourArea.
3. Stay social.
As symptoms progress, it is common for people with Parkinson’s to socialize less often. Sometimes the person with Parkinson’s and care partner isolate, withdrawing gradually from participation in the community and prior social life.
Finding a comfortable environment to share your thoughts and feelings about PD can make a big difference. Join a support group in your area to connect with local members of the PD community. In addition to groups for people living with Parkinson’s, there are also support groups available for care partners. Visit our Chapter pages or contact our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for help finding a support group.
4. Work alongside the care team.
Keeping in touch with your loved one’s PD care team is especially important throughout the mid-stride stage of Parkinson’s, as symptoms may begin to progress during this time.
Our Global Care Network is widely recognized as the best-in-class treatment centers for Parkinson's. These designated centers offer team-based, interdisciplinary treatment and care to people with Parkinson’s. Find expert care near you.
5. Take time for yourself.
Remember that after several years of caring for someone with Parkinson’s, experiencing some degree of care partner burnout is normal. Addressing these feelings as they appear is important, before they result in compassion fatigue.
Make time outside of your caregiving duties for yourself. Whether reading a book, going for a run or painting, working self-care into your care partner routine can help you keep yourself and your loved one healthy.
Top Takeaways About Complementary Therapies and PD
People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) seeking to ease symptoms sometimes explore complementary therapies to support traditional treatments. Whether employing mindfulness to help manage pain or incorporating food as medicine, broad-ranging supplemental wellness strategies can boost well-being. Learn what to consider when exploring these therapies and how to work with your care provider for peak outcomes.
This article is based on Conversations About Complementary Therapies and PD, a Parkinson’s Foundation Expert Briefings webinar exploring treatments sometimes used together with medicine, presented by Natalie Diaz, MD, Neurology, Pacific Movement Disorders Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute.
Up to 40% of people with Parkinson's in the U.S. incorporate complementary therapies into their self-care.
Advances in Integrative Medicine
Up to 40% of people with Parkinson's in the U.S. incorporate complementary therapies into their self-care.
There are more than 20 available prescription medications available today to treat Parkinson's symptoms. Complementary therapies are supplemental wellness products or strategies sometimes used alongside conventional medicine to alleviate the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's, such as stress, nausea or constipation, or to improve sleep or well-being. Research shows up to 40 percent of people with Parkinson's in the U.S. incorporate complementary therapies into their self-care.
Integrative medicine — where medical providers combine traditional medicines and complementary therapies in a person's care — is also thriving. Doctors and healthcare experts can now receive board-certified integrative medicine fellowship training. A 2020 study found more than 50 percent of primary care physicians have recommended complementary therapies.
Data shows geographic differences in the use of complementary therapies. Americans tend to incorporate vitamins, dietary supplements and herbs and botanicals. Europeans and Scandinavians rely more on body-based practices, such as yoga and massage. Traditional medical systems in Asian and African countries incorporate a combination of all these practices.
There is also a socioeconomic gap in complementary therapy adoption – with people of greater incomes tending to use them. Many such treatments can be costly and are rarely covered by insurance.
Types of Complementary Therapies
Exercises, like Tai Chi and yoga
Vitamins and Supplements
Acupuncture
Meditation
Healthy Foods
Medical Cannabis
And more!
Benefits of Mind-body Wellness Practices
Types of Complementary Therapies
Exercises, like Tai Chi and yoga
Vitamins and Supplements
Acupuncture
Meditation
Healthy Foods
Medical Cannabis
And more!
Studies show mindfulness practice has physical and mental benefits. People with PD use mindfulness meditation to ease pain, minimize stress, increase focus and boost mood.
Other mind-body wellness practices proven to reduce stress and ease many symptoms of Parkinson's include exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi. These can lessen stiffness, increase flexibility and awareness of movement, and improve alignment, posture and core strength.
Acupuncture, where thin needles are placed at specific body points, is also sometimes used to alleviate PD pain. It's important to work with a qualified, skilled practitioner. Practitioners of reflexology, another mind-body technique, manipulate areas of a person's body to ease stress and aid digestion. As with exercise, effectiveness of these complementary therapies requires regular practice.
Making Sense of Supplements: Proceed with Caution
Despite the eagerness to incorporate supplemental strategies to live well, research shows more than half of Americans using complementary therapies don't consult their doctors before or during use. Open discussion with your care provider can uncover potentially serious side effects, prevent prescription medication interactions and ensure optimal outcomes.
Prescription medications go through rigorous U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval processes to monitor and log potential adverse effects. However, alternative therapies such as nutritional supplements are instead regulated by the FDA as food, rather than medication. Although some companies use third-party verification to vet the supplements they sell, ingredients and dosages in over-the-counter vitamin, herb and dietary supplements can vary greatly. Be sure to seek a quality source.
Much of the science around nutritional supplements, herbs and botanicals is limited and inconclusive. Though some substances hold promise, more studies are needed.
Vitamins and supplements studied for complementary therapy by people with PD include:
Vitamin C – antioxidants that may protect brain cells.
Coenzyme Q10 – dosages of up to 2,400 mg daily are shown to be safe and well-tolerated, but there's currently no evidence of clinical benefits. This supplement interacts with blood thinners and aspirin. It can promote blood clotting and lower blood pressure.
Creatine – while studies currently show no effect on PD progression or symptoms, this supplement might possibly boost mood.
Vitamin E – one study shows this vitamin failed to stop Parkinson's progress. It can increase bleeding risk and interact with blood thinners and aspirin.
Glutathione – studied in oral, injected and intranasal formulations to show no PD benefit.
Omega-3 fatty acids – 1,000 mg of flaxseed oil and 400 IU vitamin E may decrease inflammatory markers and improve motor function. However, it can cause gastrointestinal and neurological side effects.>
CDP-choline(cytidine diphosphate) studies show taking 400 mg three times daily may lower levodopa dose.
Phosphatidylcholine studies show using 100 mg three times daily can improve mood and motor function but can interact with other medications.
Resveratrol caninteract with aspirin, blood thinners and anticoagulants. It can also cause mild estrogenic activity.
Beta carotene can cause skin pigmentation.
Vitamin A might create nausea, dizziness and headaches.
Vitamin B3/Niacin can bring on facial flushing and tingling.
Vitamin D3 can lower the effect of statins and elevate blood calcium level when taken with certain diuretics.
Herbs and botanicals investigated for effectiveness in PD are:
Gallic acid
Ginseng
Gingko biloba – shown to cause headache, stomach upset, palpitations and constipation, and can interact with many medications, including blood thinners.
Curcumin, which might cause nausea or diarrhea.
Green, black and oolong teas (camellia sinensis) cancause weight loss, nausea, rash, jitteriness or liver toxicity.
Epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCG),can create dizziness and low blood sugar.
Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) can increase bleeding and interact with blood thinners.
Milk thistle can cause abdominal bloating, diarrhea and loss of appetite. It also may lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Quercetin can cause headache and nausea.
Vincamine can cause low blood pressure, sedation and irregular heartbeat.
Red clover can cause headache, nausea or muscle aches or estrogen-like effects including bloating, weight gain or tender breasts.
Nutritional supplements potentially useful for Parkinson's include:
Melatonin, which may ease sleep-onset insomnia and dream enactment.
Chamomile or passionflower – to promote sleep and ease anxiety.
Valerian root might also promote sleep, but some people can experience headache, stomach upset and mental fog.
Ginger, which may help indigestion, but can cause heartburn and diarrhea./li>
Peppermint oil might also help indigestion.
Flaxseed or flaxseed oil, which might ease constipation./li>
Cranberry extract – this may reduce the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.
Mucuna Pruriens (velvet bean)
Seeds of mucuna pruriens, a legume found in tropical and subtropical areas, contain levodopa — the most powerful treatment for PD. Mucuna has been used in traditional medicine for millennia for a number of medical conditions. It's thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, and may benefit diabetes.
It also might work as an antidepressant and has been documented in ancient texts to help what sounds like Parkinson's. A few studies compare this legume to traditional levodopa, however more research is needed to explore its safety and long-term side-effects.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are one group of hundreds of substances found in the cannabis sativa plant, known when dried as marijuana. There are more than 100 known cannabinoids.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known for its psychoactive euphoric effects. Cannabidiol (CBD), another psychoactive, is associated with calming effects.
Medical marijuana is now legalized in more than 30 states, while recreational marijuana is legal in 15 states. Small studies have shown cannabis might have potential to ease some PD symptoms — such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, pain or gastrointestinal issues — but more research is needed to determine if there is any medical benefit.
Safety issues from use include potential medication interactions, delayed absorption and effects from edibles, and dangers of lung injuries from vaping. Side effects can also include low blood pressure, fatigue, dizziness, mood or cognitive changes, changes in balance, hallucinations and changes in weight.
The lack of quality control across products also has its dangers. No governing body regulates cannabinoid quality or labelling accuracy. Products can be contaminated with microorganisms, pesticides or other substances. Like nutritional supplements, studies show cannabinoid content differs between manufacturers and deviates from the label.
The Takeaway
Complementary therapies often focus on treating the whole person, rather than symptoms alone. They can inspire a sense of wellness or empowerment. Some therapies have even shown promise in Parkinson's studies, but research is still in the initial stages.
Discuss the pros and cons of any complementary therapy with your care team before beginning. When incorporating complementary therapies, only change one thing at a time. Monitor your progress. Noticeable changes can take time — give it anywhere from a few weeks to a month.
Explore the nonprofit U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) scientific organization to discover supplement manufacturers who participate in USP's dietary supplement verification program. ConsumerLab.com also independently tests vitamins and nutritional supplements for quality and labelling accuracy.
Looking to amplify your wellness from home? The Parkinson's Foundation has everything you need to live better today. Join us weekly for PD Health @ Home.
Pole Walking for Parkinson’s: How this Nordic Workout Improves Mobility
Exercise is a vital component to living well with Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to Parkinson’s Foundation research, exercise can improve many PD symptoms and delay disease progression. Walking is great exercise, yet people with Parkinson’s may experience trouble with balance or gait and fear falling.
A new solution for people with PD to comfortably and effectively utilize walking as an exercise option is gaining traction across North America: pole walking, also known as Nordic walking.
Pole walking utilizes specially designed poles in an activity that mimics the motion of cross-country skiing. The walker’s arms as well as legs are engaged as the poles ‘propel’ the body. Walking poles may help users walk faster, more upright, and more steadily. When properly used, the poles take the weight off the walker’s knees and lower body joints, which can create the feeling of being light on one’s feet.
Pole walking can be particularly helpful for people with Parkinson’s, as the poles ensure better posture, and naturally keep the walker more upright. At the same time, taking longer strides can gently stretch limbs and keep the body rotated, which can help loosen up and improve coordination.
While the progression of PD often leads to slow walking with smaller steps, pole walking creates a steady beat to improve pace and encourage the walker to make bigger motions.
One Canadian-based company, Urban Poling Inc, has developed a unique set of walking poles with features that promote physical and neurological rehabilitation goals. Their Activator® Poles have been found by experts to be beneficial to people with compromised gait and balance.
Urban Poling founder, Mandy Shintani, is an occupational therapist and gerontologist. She discovered pole walking after seeing Swedish neighbors engaged in the activity and realized that there was a significant opportunity to utilize it both for rehabilitation and fitness in North America. As a result of her therapist background, she was able to quickly bring innovation to the market by tailoring the poles to the needs of people with conditions like PD. The poles were designed to be ergonomic, light, easy to adjust and safe in any terrain thanks to specialized rubber tips or botties that absorb shock and improve stability.
“We are focused on increasing mobility and function for every age, ability and fitness level,” said Mandy. “Through our educational programs and uniquely designed poles, our mission is to help people realize that their full potential is not only achievable but also sustainable, by doing exactly what their body was designed to do — move.”
Pole walking, according to Mandy, has the added benefit of substantial improvements in mood, confidence and mental health.
“Obviously there's quite a bit happening physically, but also mentally,” said Mandy. “Neurologically, there are so many things that have to happen when 90% of your body's muscles are triggering simultaneously. It is stimulating so many areas of our neural pathways. Also, when you are out walking, there is a huge component of spirituality and connectedness to our environment.”
Parkinson’s care partner, advocate and physical therapist Shelley Friedland found urban poling to be beneficial in helping her husband Rick, who lives with PD, maintain his fitness goals.
“People with Parkinson’s want to be able to do things that they love: going to the beach, going on a trail. But Parkinson’s can make walking difficult,” said Shelley. “Urban poling allows people with Parkinson’s to keep doing those things they love. It gets them up and moving.”
Shelley, who also took a certification class in the Activator® Pole techniques for Parkinson’s, has helped establish an Urban Poling fitness group in her West Palm Beach community.
She finds that the poles not only provide a beneficial workout to people of all fitness levels, but also helps create connections and community.
“Using the poles becomes a social thing — people stop and ask you what you are doing, and it starts a conversation. Most importantly, it is an activity that Rick, my high school sweetheart, and I can do together,” said Shelley.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of any product or program mentioned herein.
The Parkinson’s Foundation can help you find the exercise resources you need. Join us for PD Health@Home Fitness Fridays for a workout delivered straight to your living room!
Together with Barrow Neurological Institute, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, Debbie was awarded a 2021 Parkinson’s Foundation community grant to bring nutrition, mindfulness and lessons in Argentine Tango to Spanish-speaking people with PD in Phoenix, AZ in a safe, virtual environment.
Read the full issue
This article is featured in the Parkinson Report Special Awareness Issue.
The program, ¡Únete a la fiesta de TU autocuidado!, is a 12 month virtual Spanish-language series that provides Hispanic people with PD and their care partners with a safe community to express themselves weekly in ways that feel culturally familiar and reassuring. In 2022, two live events have been added (with COVID protocol) at two parks, in February and April, where participants dress up (as if going to a party), socialize and share several activities related to the program, including games related to mindfulness, nutrition (food bingo and food label reading) and Argentine Tango.
The use of Argentine Tango is a relatively new tool for engaging the PD community. Research has proven that it facilitates improvement of gait, tremors, flexibility, socialization, musicality and self-confidence for people with PD. Decreases in stress and anxiety and even better sleep outcomes have been reported.
“I started to learn Argentine Tango in 2019, in Argentina, when I visited my parents. My intensive Argentina Tango studies led me to professors who were experts in tango therapy and the use of social tango (vs. ballroom choreography) for health,” said Debbie.
The program starts with a “Positive Mindset Message” breath and movement practice and an Argentine Tango lesson, followed by a demonstration in preparing a simple, healthy recipe and a ‘cheers’ with a healthy drink.
Participants are encouraged to dress as if they were going to a party to contribute to the festive virtual atmosphere. “Hispanic people are used to socializing and place high importance on hugs, love, music, dance and food,” said Debbie. “When PD participants can share and realize they are not alone, both mind and body improve. Further, Argentine Tango creates a sense of feeling safe and loved in a tango embrace.”
There is a strong social media component as well, which is ongoing and connects participants daily. “We have created a close-knit virtual community, with 24/7 resources available to the PD participant and their care partner throughout the whole year,” said Debbie. “Participants inspire each other, share their daily stories, meals, exercises, thoughts and emotions, family photos, happy and sad moments, etc. That has made a real difference in their lives.”
Fostering strong social connections to combat the isolation and depression experienced by many people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is central to the program’s goals. “The events of the last two years have increased levels of isolation, anxiety, depression, stress, and created reduced access to medical care and loss of self in the PD community,” said Debbie. “So much fear and negativity have been feeding our world. I wanted to use positivity and socialization to combat these issues, and to reach diverse PD communities.”
Debbie further drew inspiration from her late grandfather’s long journey with PD (he lived until 92) and her multicultural upbringing. “As a bilingual healthcare professional raised in Argentine-American culture, I was able to pull together both of my parent’s influences,” said Debbie. “My American Mom instilled in me a love of cooking, music and dance. My Argentine Dad was a cardiologist and a strong believer in stress management. Combining both science and creativity in this engaging program, and educating through entertainment, helps the PD participants make long-term lifestyle changes.”
“I feel this program has allowed us to live longer,” a program participant said. Another said, “Daily advice allows us to reflect and be conscious of our lifestyle actions. It allows us to express ourselves freely.”
Debbie is thankful for the Foundation’s community grant support. “The Parkinson’s Foundation has allowed for a very positive impact on participants; they join in even when they are feeling sad or worried,” said Debbie. “I want to thank the Foundation’s supporters for giving us a chance to share this program.”
Researchers are lasered in on slowing and someday stopping Parkinson's disease (PD) in its tracks. Explore what they've discovered, see what the future might hold and learn how some of the strongest weapons in the fight against Parkinson's progression are practices you can put in place today.
This article is based on Can We Put the Brakes on PD Progression, a Parkinson’s Foundation Expert Briefing webinar presented by Joash Lazarus, MD, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta.
PD symptoms stem from a protein, called alpha-synuclein, that clumps and accumulates in certain areas of the brain. This process depletes dopamine, which is critical to many body processes, including smooth, coordinated movements. Though dopamine declines for everyone who lives with Parkinson's, each person experiences disease symptoms differently.
But is there a way to slow Parkinson's progression? While scientists are evaluating everything from medications to mindfulness practice for clues, they've discovered some of the biggest benefits start at home.
Healthy Eating and Regular Exercise: A Powerful Combo
Making nutritious food the mainstay of your meals and enjoying regular exercise has countless proven benefits. Studies show targeted nutrition may slow Parkinson's advancement. Eating a whole-food, plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet — including fresh vegetables, fruit and berries, nuts, seeds, fish, olive and coconut oils and more — may be linked to slower PD progression.
When you live with PD, exercise is also critical to optimal health. In fact, the Parkinson’s Outcomes Project shows at least 2.5 hours a week of physical activity can slow PD symptom progression. Research reveals regular exercise also shows neuroprotective effects in animal models with Parkinson's.
Exercise benefits people of all ages. As people get older, their risk for falls increase. For people with PD, the chance of falls is two to three times higher. Up to half of these falls can result in major injury. Exercise is the only thing to notably minimize a person’s risk of falling. Regular physical activity can also boost balance, improve heart and lung function, increase memory, thinking and problem solving, minimize depression and more.
Here's how to make exercise work for you:
Maximize benefits by exercising moderately to vigorously 150 minutes a week.
Plan a weekly routine that includes aerobic activity, strength training, balance and stretching exercises.
Visit a physical therapist with Parkinson’s expertise for a functional evaluation and exercise recommendations.
Reference this Parkinson’s Exercise Recommendations PDF in English or Spanish to help guide your physical activity plan.
Specialized Parkinson's movement and speech therapies, such as the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) BIG and LOUD programs, have also shown potential to lessen symptoms and slow PD progression.
Exploring Therapy Advances
People with Parkinson's take a variety of medications to manage symptoms. PD researchers have spent decades working to discover therapies powerful enough to slow or stop Parkinson's. Some of these include:
Rasagiline
The 2009 ADAGIO study looked at whether rasagiline — a monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor (these can minimize the enzyme MAO-B's breakdown of dopamine and ease movement symptoms) — could put the brakes on disease progression for people in early-stage Parkinson's. The results suggested the possibility that a 1 mg daily dose of rasagiline might hold disease-modifying potential, but a 2mg daily dose did not.
Despite the study's uncertainties, it still showed ample evidence that rasagiline better controlled symptoms for people with PD, which is why it's used in concert with levodopa, currently the most powerful medication for Parkinson's and a treatment mainstay since its discovery in the 1960s.
Levodopa
Levodopa is a proven effective therapy throughout the Parkinson's journey. In the past, people often delayed starting levodopa therapy based on the myth that it would stop working after a few years. A 2019 study looked at whether starting levodopa earlier or later could change the course of Parkinson's. While research showed levodopa didn't slow PD, it proved starting the medication early on in Parkinson's is safe.
Deep Brain Stimulation
When people who live with PD begin to experience severe motor fluctuations, tremors and dyskinesia, involuntary muscle movements that can't be controlled by optimal medication doses, a surgically implanted deep brain stimulation (DBS) device can deliver electrical pulses to the brain, easing symptoms and boosting quality of life.
Results of a 2020 study proved people with Parkinson's disease can also get long-term symptom relief with DBS. The research shows people who have DBS therapy early on — coupled with optimal medication — generally do better with dyskinesia control. Despite the profound benefits of DBS, it's not proven to delay disease progression.
As researchers work to solve the Parkinson's puzzle, empower yourself by prioritizing your well-being. Wholesome food paired with regular exercise habits and comprehensive team-based treatment are the building blocks of a better life with PD.
I first met Jon Lessin in October of 2012. Jon is an accomplished doctor, published author, father, husband, cyclist, yogi, jokester and now, addicted climber. Jon also has Parkinson's disease (PD).
When Jon started taking lessons with me, I knew very little about PD other than a couple of generalized symptoms. Working with Jon was a huge learning experience and he seemed eager to answer every little question I asked.
With the help of Sportrock and Jon, we started a free climbing session for people with Parkinson’s disease and have grown the group tremendously. Sportrock Climbing Centers has even partnered with the capital area’s PFNCA to undertake the first-ever study in the U.S. on Parkinson’s and climbing with George Washington University. You can read the results of that study here: Impact of Rock Climbing on Complex Tasks in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease.
I have devoted much of my time to learning the ins and outs of this disease and the Parkinson’s Foundation website is where I started my online educational journey.
I believe that rock climbing is an amazing activity for those living with PD. While there is no cure for this neurodegenerative disease, unquestionably helps slow the progress, gives relief to some of the symptoms and creates a social network. There is much debate as to which exercise is the absolute best for Parkinson’s but working at a high level of intensity is fairly universal in its importance.
According to Lisa Ebb, a movement disorder Physical Therapist who has joined in climbing with a couple of the climbers, “Challenge and variation are the two most important principles of exercise in Parkinson’s disease.
Not only does climbing force you to work at a high level, but it also challenges participants with varied movements, repetitive movements, big dynamic movements, small, controlled movements as well as flexibility, balance and stability. Perhaps most importantly though, are the cognitive skills acquired through climbing and neuroplasticity changes that can occur.
While I do not have PD myself, I have learned through many of my friends at Sportrock that being proactive in your treatment is paramount. I have seen firsthand what exercising regularly, eating the right foods, eliminating stress and keeping a good support system can do for you over the years. I am a firm believer in whatever exercise program you can stick with is the best one for you.
For anyone newly diagnosed, let the beautiful words of Ijeoma Umebinyuo be your mantra.
Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just...start.
Find a Parkinson’s-tailored exercise class near you at Parkinson.org/InYourArea or call the Parkinson’s Foundation Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636).
“Moving Day for me is an opportunity to contribute to the cause of finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to help support and educate the Parkinson’s community and the larger communities we live in,” William Krechowski said.
When William was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he did not know the life-changing affects this disease has on one million Americans each year and the affects it would soon have on him. He turned to the Parkinson’s Foundation to educate himself on this disease that was new to him, now that it entered his life. William gives great thanks to the Foundation, which has provided him so much insight during a difficult time.
Kelly, a physician assistant at the University of South Florida Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence, encouraged William and his family to get involved in Moving Day Tampa Bay as a way to help bring awareness to Parkinson’s. William was also excited to raise money for Parkinson’s research that leads to better treatments and ultimately, a cure for the Parkinson’s community.
William admits that he did not have much experience in events like this, but because the cause meant so much to him, he soon made Moving Day his passion project. With friends and family by his side supporting him in every possible way, he created his team "Bill’s Best Adventures."
“I am walking for myself and for a cure for Parkinson's,” said William.
"Bill’s Best Adventures" is the moniker William used to describe the annual adventure trips he's taken since 2001. "Participants on these trips have numbered from three to seven per trip and have been cousins, Air Force buddies, high school and college friends," William said. From hiking Machu Picchu to river rafting the Colorado River to sailing the San Francisco Bay, William does not let Parkinson’s get in the way of his adventures. William lives every day to the fullest and continues to plan exciting trips each year. Next on his list: The Great Smokey Mountains.
Although William’s adventures are incredible, he still faces the symptoms of Parkinson’s daily ― fatigue being most prevalent. He has learned that exercise is crucial in lessening the symptoms of Parkinson’s and has fully integrated daily in his life. From going to the gym two to three times a week to boxing at Rock Steady Boxing to hiking worldly known trails, “I think I’m doing pretty well for being 72 and living with Parkinson’s,” William said.
Due to the overwhelming success of the Parkinson Foundation’s first-ever Moving Day Atlanta in 2013, a grassroots fundraising and awareness walk, more than $49,000 will be invested locally in programs to help people living with Parkinson’s in the metro Atlanta area improve quality of life for the Parkinson's community.
“The Parkinson's Foundation community grants enable us to partner with local organizations that provide life-changing services to the Parkinson’s community and display our mission in action."
One such local organization is the PD Gladiators, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization devoted to combating Parkinson’s with vigorous exercise. Like Moving Day, their mission is to focus on the role of exercise in slowing the progression of the disease and to make community-based exercise programs available to people living with Parkinson's and their care partners.
Larry Kahn, Chief executive officer of PD Gladiators, is personally motivated to see this program succeed — he is living with Parkinson’s and is a true believer in the medicinal value of vigorous exercise.
"Vigorous exercise has most definitely improved my gait and given me an overall feeling of taking back control over my life. My main goal is to get the attention of the doctors who are delivering a diagnosis of Parkinson's and encourage them to prescribe exercise to their patients," Kahn said.
Kahn’s wife, Ellie, facilitates a local support group for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers and she also attends boxing, Zumba and Tai Chi classes with him. “We’re in this together,” she said. Both Ellie and Larry encourage caregivers to attend PD Gladiators group exercise programs with their spouse or loved one.
PD Gladiators was the recipient of a $15,000 grant this year to subsidize group exercise classes throughout metro Atlanta and to promote the PD Gladiators metro Atlanta Fitness Network to practicing neurologists, physical therapists, other healthcare providers and the PD community.
