I’ve waited six years to tell my story. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in February 2020, which meant I was navigating this disease and the COVID pandemic at the same time.
I was fortunate to be able to work from home and to have access to health care via telehealth. This gave me an opportunity to slowly adjust to my diagnosis. Sharing that I had Parkinson’s was difficult for me. I told my family and close friends, and eventually trusted colleagues, but I struggled to find the right words.
From the moment I was diagnosed, I made it my mission to learn about Parkinson’s disease and find out what I could do to stay healthy and active for as long as possible. That research began with the Parkinson’s Foundation website.
As someone who has always prioritized fitness, I was relieved to learn that exercise is one treatment that might help slow the progression of PD. I found specialized trainers who work with people with neurological disorders and joined both group classes and one-on-one sessions. Exercise improved my balance and strength and helped me feel better overall. A surprise benefit was discovering a community of like-minded peers who stay active and live with Parkinson’s.
Early on, I formed a team and participated in Parkinson’s Foundation fundraisers such as Moving Day and Parkinson’s Revolution. It felt good to walk or cycle with friends and raise money for a cause that matters deeply to me. I also took on other volunteer roles, because being involved with the community and helping others with PD helps me cope with the disease.
Six years after my diagnosis, I try not to let Parkinson’s disease define me, but I can no longer pretend it does not slow me down.
In 2026, I was honored to participate in the Parkinson’s Foundation PSA to help spread PD awareness. I chose to participate in the PSA because I want people to know that there are things you can do manage this disease and that being involved with the community and helping others with Parkinson's helps me live well with PD.
I am grateful for the support I have from friends and family, and I try to pay it forward by being available to people who reach out to me when they are newly diagnosed and overwhelmed. I mostly listen and then direct them to resources that have helped me.
Explore the many ways you can get involved with the Parkinson’s Foundation to help spread PD awareness.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2018. Before my diagnosis, my left arm would not swing, and I shuffled around the house, dragging my left foot. I used to stoop, but now, with the help of exercise and medication, I can swing my arms as I stand tall and walk with big strides. My movement symptoms are under control with exercise and medication, and most of my new acquaintances don’t even realize I have PD.
I have a quiet voice that has become quieter with Parkinson’s, so I make a conscious effort every day to speak with intent. I completed the 10-week Speak Out program with a speech-language pathologist, and now I meet weekly on Zoom to continue working on my voice. It’s more than just speech—it includes reading and cognitive exercises that keep my mind active.
The thought of PD dementia scares me, so I constantly challenge myself with brain puzzles and word games to stay sharp.
Exercise has truly changed my life. I go for a brisk walk every morning because mornings are my best time of day. During the summer, I love swimming in the pool, and throughout the year I work out at the gym with friends. Three times a week I attend Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) for a vigorous, high-energy workout that pushes both my body and mind.
When I joined RSB, I felt like I had already lost some of my strength, my rhythm and even the ability to jump. But boxing gave all of that back to me. I learned the combinations, moved through obstacle courses, jumped rope again and even found myself skipping to the beat of the music. I was hooked — pun intended.
Now I’m a coach for Rock Steady Boxing, and one of my favorite parts of class is leading dance warm-ups. Music and movement bring me joy. I also completed the BIG physical therapy program and still go through it semi-annually. Staying intentional about my routines keeps me independent — I’m grateful to still be able to drive and manage daily life on my own.
I stay involved with the Parkinson’s Foundation through Moving Day Phoenix, where I serve on the volunteer committee. I’ll never forget my first Moving Day walk. I didn’t know what to expect, but seeing so many people gathered together for one purpose was inspiring. It gave me hope, educational opportunities and new ways to adapt. That experience reminded me that Parkinson’s is manageable if you’re intentional about what you do.
A few years ago, I did genetic testing and was relieved to learn I have no known PD markers. It’s comforting to know it may not be passed on directly to my children.
I may have been on the road to somewhere else, but my current place is still beautiful.
I have wonderful friends, workout groups and support systems that keep me grounded. As I often remind others: Parkinson’s isn’t the end — it’s just the beginning of a new normal. And I intend to make this new normal worthwhile.
This article highlights community members who raise funds and awareness for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Learn about:
A family who uses Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s as a fundraiser and celebration of their loved one with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
A Parkinson’s Champion who ran an ultramarathon in honor of family members with PD.
A young musician who was inspired to use her talents to raise awareness for the Parkinson’s community.
In 2025, Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s Revolution and Parkinson’s Champions raised a record-breaking $9.82 million to support groundbreaking Parkinson’s disease (PD) research, improve access to quality care and educate more people about Parkinson’s while expanding this supportive, motivated community.
We are inspired by all the people who walk, ride, run and create do-it-yourself (DIY) events to raise Parkinson’s awareness and funds that allow us to advance our mission to make life better for people with PD. Meet Laura, Charlie, Kasey and more community members who help us move toward a cure:
Laura’s Posse Makes Moving Day a Celebration in Her Honor
Keith Morris has helped his wife, Laura, navigate Parkinson’s since she was diagnosed in 2013. When it became more difficult to manage her symptoms in 2019, Keith and his two daughters started looking for additional resources, which led them to the Parkinson’s Foundation and Moving Day Chicago.
“We make it an all-day event that has grown every year. It’s an emotional day for us, and it’s really good for our family. There is a community feel to Moving Day, like we are all in this together. You can’t underestimate that.”
Charlie Runs Ultramarathon in Support of Parkinson’s Foundation
Charlie Ruff traveled to run the Oregon Cascades 100, an ultramarathon, while raising money as a Parkinson’s Champion. When wildfires forced him to evacuate and cut the race short, he found another ultramarathon to jump into days later. The last miles were difficult, but he pressed on, thinking about his loved ones with PD.
“One step at a time. There is no other option. If you’ve been around someone in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s, I don’t need to make the connection for you.”
Kasey Inspires Global Support for Parkinson’s Through Parkin-SONG
After learning more about Parkinson’s disease from her dad, a neurologist who treats people with Parkinson’s, Kasey was inspired to take action. She launched Parkin-SONG, a Facebook fundraiser where she performed piano piece to raise awareness and funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Friends, family and even professional artists like Gloria Estefan joined in, making the fundraiser bigger than she imagined it could be.
“Being a Parkinson’s Champion means using my voice, my music and my effort to bring comfort, hope and awareness to the Parkinson’s community. It’s amazing to see how something that began from the heart can grow and truly make a difference.”
Bonnie and Derek Bandeen met on the first day of their training program at Morgan Stanley in New York in 1985, where they hustled, collaborated, fell in love and succeeded — always as a team. Following a wedding, four kids and two remarkable finance careers built over three decades (and two continents, as they moved their family to London in 1993), the couple was looking forward to a new chapter: retirement in 2018.
They temporarily relocated to Boston to participate in the Harvard Advanced Leadership Program and happily settled into “student life” while finding their rhythm as empty nesters. Still, Derek was puzzled by a slight, involuntary tremor in his left hand. Though he had some inconclusive tests conducted; he suspected it was a temporary nerve issue.
Derek saw a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was asked to do a few finger exercises and walk down a corridor. Within five minutes, the doctor diagnosed him: “You have Parkinson’s.”
The delivery of this life-changing news, at the age of 55, was a punch to the gut. Standing outside Mass General alone, clutching the single brochure he had been handed, his unadulterated shock gave way to overwhelming fear. “How am I going to tell Bonnie?” “How am I going to tell the kids?”
Bonnie, too, was stunned, but she wasn’t deterred. With her characteristic unflappability and immutable resolve to move forward, she set out to make a plan. Back in New York, where she and Derek live, Bonnie sought to establish what support they needed and accumulate resources. She wanted to find a place for them to visit, in between the doctor appointments, that would mitigate Derek’s isolation and help them gain control.
And so it began. For the Bandeens, an important port of call was the Parkinson’s Foundation, where they found helpful information on treatment options, nutrition tips and a host of useful podcast episodes. “Parkinson.org was among the first places Derek turned to for information,” Bonnie said.
Other answers, however, did not so easily surface. An avid exerciser, Derek started working with a trainer, but he was eager to partake in group fitness that challenged him and accommodated for his PD. Many of these classes were only available online or were scattered over the city.
Meanwhile, Bonnie met some couples who were further along their Parkinson’s path and found these care partner connections to be invaluable. “We quickly realized how vital community is when it comes to managing Parkinson’s,” Bonnie said. “We’re social people, but this disease requires a different type of village, where others understand what you’re going through and can offer support every step of the way.”
As the couple scoured the internet for what to do following a Parkinson’s diagnosis, they uncovered a sizeable gap between their growing needs and how to meet them. Where could they actually go? What they wanted was a facility that offered fitness, wellness, community and support for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners, all under one roof.
With this mission in mind, the Bandeens launched the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation in 2024. “We certainly didn’t plan this,” said Bonnie. “But we committed to build the community center we wished we could have turned to seven years ago.”
The Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation launched The Bandeen Center in midtown Manhattan, the first dedicated space in New York to offer fitness and holistic support especially for the PD community.
“We couldn’t have undertaken this project without The Parkinson’s Foundation and other veteran organizations that directed us to the right stakeholders, tirelessly reviewed our plans and helped us shape a working model of a facility that could truly better the PD community,” Bonnie said.
For Derek, The Bandeen Center is the answer to his Parkinson’s-fighting, strength-conditioning hopes and dreams. “There are moments, amid an intense boxing session or a tough workout, when I actually forget that I have Parkinson’s,” Derek said. “Everyone who is battling this disease deserves these moments too. All of us should be empowered to live our best lives in spite of PD.”
Starting in February, The Bandeen Center offers a full schedule of exercise classes and community-based activities in its cafe to support mental wellbeing. The Center’s opening is an exciting moment for Bonnie and Derek, whose retirement plans rerooted them down a difficult path to an unexpected, exciting destination — full of promise and hope.
“Friends, acquaintances, and friends of friends are calling me to tell me about someone they love who was just diagnosed with PD,” Bonnie said. “The first thing I always tell them is to get their person to exercise, eat well, and connect with someone in this amazing community. The Parkinson’s Foundation can help with that, and the journey is so much better when you are accompanied.”
Find your Parkinson’s community and local PD-tailored exercise classes when you connect with your nearest Parkinson’s Foundation Chapter. Find your Parkinson’s Foundation Chapter here.
10 Tips for Playing Pickleball to Stay Active with Parkinson’s
🧠 What will you learn in this article?
This article highlights tips for playing Pickleball to stay active with Parkinson’s disease. It discusses:
When it comes to Parkinson’s symptoms, Pickleball is an aerobic workout that strengthens balance, agility, builds muscle and cognitive function.
The importance of exercise for people with Parkinson’s.
10 ways people with Parkinson’s can stay safe while playing pickleball.
For many people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), pickleball has become a new way to infuse exercise with socialization.
Exercise is a vital part of Parkinson’s disease management. It helps maintain balance, mobility, flexibility and overall quality of life. Research shows that consistent exercise — at least 2.5 hours per week — can slow symptom progression and improve physical and emotional wellbeing.
Pickleball is a paddle sport played indoors or outdoors on a court smaller than a traditional tennis court. It is played in singles or doubles with a light, plastic ball. USA Pickleball sets official rules and supports programs nationwide. One reason the sport is popular is because it is easy to learn but challenging, and is accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
When it comes to Parkinson’s symptoms, Pickleball is an aerobic workout that strengthens balance, agility, builds muscle and cognitive function. A player’s ability to think and respond quickly while playing pickleball can boost brain activity. Additionally, it is a great way to socialize, an important part of living well with Parkinson’s as isolation following a diagnosis can lead to depression, a common PD symptom.
Trying a sport like pickleball can make staying active feel social and motivating. Setting a small, achievable goal, such as playing pickleball once a week, can help turn exercise into a habit you look forward to rather than a chore.
Here are 10 tips for playing Pickleball to stay active with Parkinson’s:
Get clearance from your neurologist.
Before starting any new exercise, talk to your neurologist or PD doctor to make sure starting a new sport or exercise is safe. They may recommend seeing a physical therapist to prevent injuries.
Work with a physical therapist (PT).
Telling your physical therapist that you are playing pickleball or plan to start can help them customize your sessions to improve movement and mobility. PT can address stiffness and help you train to keep on-court movements safe. PT can also help build strength and improve coordination.
Incorporate other exercises to up your pickleball game.
Pickleball is a great way to evolve your exercise routine. Explore other exercises, like PD Health @ Home on-demand videos that address PD-specific balance, agility and movements between games.
Warm up before playing pickleball to prevent injury.
Before playing, develop a pickleball warm-up routine that works for you. This is a great opportunity for your physical therapist to weigh in.
Building PD Awareness on the Court
The Parkinson’s Foundation has partnered with Selkirk to raise awareness of the benefits of exercise for people living with Parkinson’s. For every pickleball paddle sold, Selkirk will donate 12% of sales to the Parkinson’s Foundation, a percentage that represents the 1.2 million people projected to be living with Parkinson’s by 2030.
Don’t play hurt.
Rest when your body needs more recovery time. Parkinson’s symptoms can change from day to day, listen to your body and don’t push yourself on days you need more rest.
Play during “on” times, when symptoms are most manageable.
Medications like levodopa, commonly used for PD, help manage symptoms. As PD progresses, the brain's response to these medications may change, which can lead to symptom fluctuations, known as "on" and "off" periods. If possible, schedule pickleball games during "on" periods, when medication is working well.
Use pickleball to build community and bond with a family member or spouse.
Playing doubles can also help reduce court coverage and build relationships. Joining a pickleball league could be a great opportunity to start a new pastime with your adult child or spouse.
Always stay hydrated.
On or off the court, being dehydrated can make some PD symptoms worse, including constipation, swallowing issues and low blood pressure. On the court, not drinking enough liquids can bring muscle cramps and dizziness. Hydrate whenever possible.
Modify the game as needed.
Adjust game lengths, build in more breaks or stick to playing doubles. Joining a PD league or playing with others who have Parkinson’s is a great way to build in modifications.
Join an upcoming Pickleball for Parkinson’s event or start your own. For qualifying events, the pickleball paddle manufacturer Selkirk offers a sponsorship. Learn more.
Pickleball can be more than a game. For people living with Parkinson’s, it can be a powerful tool for movement and connection —essential elements of living well with PD.
Exercise Resources
The best way to see benefits is to exercise consistently. People with PD enrolled in exercise programs for longer than six months, regardless of exercise intensity, see significant gains in functional balance and mobility compared to shorter programs. Explore our exercise resources:
I began a health transformation in my 50s and lost 108 pounds. At 56, I completed my first full marathon. Life felt strong. I felt capable. I felt in control.
Then at 58, everything changed.
My leg started shaking — first for weeks, then for months. I eventually went to a neurologist. Parkinson’s disease (PD) was never even a thought in my mind and hearing the words “tremor-dominant Parkinson’s” stopped me cold. April 16, 2025 became a date I’ll never forget. I cried in the parking lot after that appointment.
The first 30 days were hard. I worried about what my future would look like. I wondered what I would lose. I questioned how much of my life Parkinson’s would take.
Then I hit a turning point.
I decided Parkinson’s was going to be part of my life — but it was not going to run my life.
I focused on what I could control. I built my approach around four core pillars: exercise, a positive mindset, a supportive community and faith.
Exercise became non-negotiable. Movement is my medicine. Whether I’m swimming, biking, running, lifting or stretching, I show up. Some days are strong. Some days are hard. But I move — because staying active gives me strength, confidence and hope.
I also chose to lean into community. One phone call to the Parkinson’s Foundation led to several meaningful connections. I raised over $10,000 for Moving Day. In late 2025, I became a Parkinson’s Champion. I'm hopeful to serve on the board for the Carolinas Chapter. I’ve learned that fighting Parkinson’s alone is the hardest way to do it. Don't hide behind the diagnosis.
I turn 60 in 2026, and I’m a triathlete. I’m currently training for my biggest race of the year — the Augusta Ironman 70.3. That’s a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. I don’t train to prove anything to anyone else. I train to remind myself that I’m still capable. I train to inspire others especially those with limitations.
I also wear custom shirts and hoodies with my diagnosis date on them. They help start conversations with complete strangers. Those conversations create awareness, connection and understanding. It’s one small way I choose to turn my diagnosis into purpose.
If you’re living with Parkinson’s, my advice is simple: stay active as long as you can. Walk. Stretch. Use resistance bands. Do what you can — then do it again tomorrow.
And if you’re a caregiver, hear this: you matter too. Take time for yourself. Taking a break isn’t quitting — it’s refueling.
Parkinson’s changed my path, but it didn’t take my drive, my purpose or my belief in what’s still possible.
5 pasos que pueden ayudarle a procesar un diagnóstico de Parkinson
🧠 ¿Qué aprenderá en este artículo?
Este artículo destaca los 5 pasos que se pueden seguir para ayudarle a usted o a un ser querido a procesar un reciente diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Habla acerca de:
Equiparse con recursos e información actualizados para crear objetivos personalizados.
La importancia de encontrar atención especializada y crear su red de la EP.
Formas de mantenerse sano física y mentalmente.
Recursos principales para las personas a las que se les acaba de diagnosticar la EP.
Nada puede prepararlo para escuchar las palabras "tiene Parkinson". Desde la confusión hasta el alivio, lo que sienta después de que lo hayan diagnosticado a usted o a un ser querido es completamente natural.
En este artículo, describimos cinco pasos que le ayudarán a procesar un nuevo diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), incluyendo Historias de la EP de personas que cuentan su propio encuentro con la noticia que les cambió la vida.
1. Determine sus objetivos
Planificar cuando hay un nuevo diagnóstico médico puede resultar abrumador si no se sabe dónde encontrar recursos y apoyo. Esto es especialmente cierto si antes no estaba familiarizado con el Parkinson y sus opciones de atención. Armarse de información actualizada puede ayudarle a establecer objetivos a corto y largo plazo para navegar en su recorrido por la EP.
"Cuando me diagnosticaron Parkinson... mi respuesta fue hacer un curso intensivo para aprender todo lo que pudiera acerca de esta enfermedad 'progresiva' y ver qué medidas podía tomar.
Mi objetivo es ser lo más activo posible física y mentalmente. El diagnóstico también me ha hecho reflexionar más acerca de la vida. Aunque no estoy seguro de lo que me espera en el futuro, agradezco haber encontrado un ‘poder a través de la debilidad’. Gracias a esta experiencia, tengo una nueva perspectiva y esperanza en el futuro".
Armado con la información sobre la EP, estará listo para crear hábitos saludables basados en lo que tiene más significado para usted. Lea más acerca de cómo fijarse objetivos específicos y realistas mediante la dieta y la nutrición e inspírese con nuestros videos de fitness adaptados a la EP que presentan un entrenamiento en casa diferente cada mes, incluyendo ejercicios de equilibrio y coordinación para alcanzar sus objetivos de condición física.
2. Busque un experto
Buscar el asesoramiento de un experto en la EP a la hora de procesar un nuevo diagnóstico tiene muchas ventajas. Recomendamos recibir atención de un especialista en trastornos del movimiento o de un neurólogo que haya completado una formación en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Parkinson. Sin embargo, tal vez no encuentre estos especialistas, dependiendo de dónde viva.
"El neurólogo me explicó que el Parkinson es un diagnóstico clínico y que yo tenía varios de los síntomas motores (temblor, bradicinesia y rigidez muscular). El neurólogo también me mandó hacer algunas pruebas diagnósticas incluyendo análisis de sangre, una resonancia magnética cerebral y un DaT scan.
Unos meses más tarde, busqué una segunda opinión sobre mi diagnóstico y vi a un especialista en trastornos del movimiento en el Rush University Medical Center, un Centro de Excelencia de la Parkinson's Foundation. Se confirmó: efectivamente, tenía Parkinson".
Encontrar un especialista no tiene por qué ser una tarea desalentadora. Estas son algunas de las maneras en las que puede encontrar a un especialista en la EP:
Pida una recomendación a su médico de atención primaria
Póngase en contacto con su compañía de seguros para obtener una lista de neurólogos o especialistas en trastornos del movimiento de su red
Pida recomendaciones a otras personas que viven con Parkinson
3. Encuentre a alguien con quien hablar y crear su red de apoyo
Puede ser difícil hablar del Parkinson. Expresar sus sentimientos e inquietudes es un paso importante para procesar un diagnóstico de la EP. Además, hablar con un trabajador social tiene muchas ventajas para ayudar a aliviar su ansiedad y crear un plan.
"Con la ayuda de mi trabajadora social, superé la incertidumbre creando planes a corto y largo plazo para mi nueva vida con Parkinson. Me puso en contacto con recursos relevantes para mi estilo de vida y mis síntomas y me animó a prepararme para lo peor pero esperar lo mejor. Para mí, seguiré haciendo todo lo que quiero hacer de la forma que quiero hacerlo, hasta que el Parkinson me quite esa capacidad".
Recomendamos unirse a PD Conversations, un lugar donde hacer preguntas, conectar con otras personas que viven con Parkinson y formar parte de una red de apoyo. Es una gran solución para quienes aún no están listos para compartir públicamente su diagnóstico. También puede seguirnos en redes sociales para mantenerse conectado.
4. Cree hábitos saludables
A medida que procese el diagnóstico, puede ser útil fijarse objetivos personales para mantenerse sano mental y físicamente. Conozca a Frank a continuación y aprenda de su experiencia personal en la creación de hábitos saludables tras un diagnóstico de la EP de inicio temprano.
"Un momento crucial fue cuando me puse en contacto con un especialista en trastornos del movimiento. Esta colaboración cambió mi percepción de cómo manejar el Parkinson. Juntos, creamos un enfoque holístico para enfrentar mis síntomas, estableciendo un plan que giraba en torno al ejercicio, la dieta y el manejo del estrés. Conectamos de una manera profunda que cambió mi perspectiva y me ayudó a aprender nuevas técnicas para afrontar la EP.
Impulsado por la positividad y la visualización, imaginé una vida libre de obstáculos para la movilidad, impulsándome hacia una mayor actividad y menos miedo. Este recorrido de abrazar el Parkinson se convirtió en una lección para entender mi cuerpo y sus señales".
Para aprender más acerca de cómo crear hábitos saludables, explore nuestros webinars en los que participan expertos en la EP, cuyo objetivo es educar y responder a sus preguntas más apremiantes.
5. Manténgase activo
Vivir bien con la EP es posible. Un diagnóstico y recibir una atención adaptada a la EP pueden ayudarle a sentirse motivado y listo para aprender a vivir con la EP a su manera. Ya sea que esté listo para establecer una nueva rutina de ejercicios, priorizar la nutrición o involucrarse como voluntario o promotor de la investigación, podemos ayudarle a empezar.
"Soy entrenadora de fuerza y bienestar desde hace más de 40 años. A medida que mi capacidad para hacer deporte empezó a disminuir, me pareció gratificante dedicar más esfuerzo a entrenar a mis atletas. Ya han pasado un par de años y estoy disfrutando de verdad poniendo mi esfuerzo en entrenar a clientes.
La Parkinson’s Foundation me ha ayudado con recursos e información, webinars, artículos de blog y podcasts. El material y la información han sido invaluables. Mi consejo y mi recomendación para cualquier persona con la EP es que no se rinda y siga adelante.”
Encuentre su comunidad de Parkinson y clases locales de bienestar y ejercicio adaptadas a la EP visitando el sitio web de su Chapter de la Parkinson’s Foundation más cercano. Ayude a generar más conciencia mediante actividades como eventos de Moving Day, nuestra experiencia de ciclismo interior Parkinson’s Revolution y programas locales para ayudar a garantizar que las personas con Parkinson, sus familias y sus aliados en el cuidado vivan lo mejor posible.
¿Listo para participar? ¡Aprenda acerca del voluntariado con la Parkinson's Foundation o ayude a impulsar la investigación acerca del Parkinson al inscribirse en nuestro estudio PD GENEration!
Recursos principales para recién diagnosticados
Explore estas herramientas diseñadas para cualquier persona a la que se le haya diagnosticado Parkinson recientemente:
Línea de Ayuda: llame al 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636), opción 3 para español o escriba a Helpline@Parkinson.org para obtener respuestas a sus preguntas acerca de la EP y referencias de especialistas y clases locales para la EP.
Encuentre recursos en su zona: encuentre un especialista en la EP y recursos cerca de usted, así como el Chapter más cercano.
Mientras aprende a vivir con el Parkinson, estamos para ayudar y empoderarlo en cada etapa. Cuando esté listo, explore nuestra Guía para recién diagnosticados.
I’m Kathy Maiers, a retired neurosurgical nurse, an ambassador, a volunteer, an athlete, a wife, a grandmother, and yes, someone living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In other words, PD hasn’t slowed me down and I don’t plan on letting it anytime soon.
My diagnosis came in 2018, but I started noticing all the symptoms years before. You name it: slowness of movement, rigidity, a tremor, all of them. Getting diagnosed was difficult, and it definitely took some persuasion from my loved ones to get tested. However, once I was, I knew I could use my expertise and drive to help others. I did just that.
I love education. I used to teach people before their neurosurgical surgeries and follow them postoperatively. I guess teaching and doing tasks fell into place very perfectly for me. That’s why I love being a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador, volunteering whenever I can.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about PD, it’s that you need to start exercising. It’s the only thing that can slow the disease down. Exercise is a huge part of my life. I call it my part-time job. I’ve been a part of Lakeville Title Boxing for the past seven years and took up biking in 2023. It’s helped every step of the way.
Getting exercise in can be hard, and that’s why I love my boxing group. In all honesty, it’s very rewarding. It’s a hard workout and we get our butts kicked, but it's an unbelievable support group. We really welcome everyone. We have a few members out of our 30 total with cancer, dystonia, etc., but at the end of the day we’re a community. If you’re even considering it, I couldn’t recommend it more.
As an ambassador, I really try to teach people that you need to learn your personal diagnosis — how this disease impacts you.
It's a very complex disease and everybody is so different. When people share the same symptoms with others, they think they have it figured out. But no, we always say that if you meet one person with Parkinson’s… you meet one person with Parkinson’s.
You also have to be prepared to fight for yourself, especially in a hospital. I talk about this all the time through the Parkinson’s Foundation hospital safety initiative, because even taking your medicine more than 15 minutes late can cause a world of harm. Once you figure out your medicine, you tell hospital staff and who is boss. People with PD are far more likely to end up in a hospital, and you have to be ready to meet your needs anywhere. (Learn more about how to stay safe during a hospitalization with Parkinson’s).
So, if you take away anything from my story, it's this: PD isn’t the end of your life, it really can be the beginning. Hey, just look at me! I still spend time with my three grandchildren, I’m a small group leader for Bible Study Fellowship, I sew for non-profits through my church, and I make time for me. Remember to support others, and really support yourself. Hope to see you at boxing soon!
Dan Rothschild is a Fairport, NY, resident along with being a Parkinson’s Foundation New York Chapter Board member, a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador and a Research Advocate. He has found his passion for ping pong improves his Parkinson’s symptoms and enables him to travel and share his game and PD experiences with amazing and inspiring people. Check out his story “How Parkinson’s and ping pong help me to see the world” below:
Six years ago, when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD), I never contemplated that the diagnosis would result in opportunities to see the world. Nevertheless, in one of my life’s great ironies, my diagnosis has resulted in travels to far flung and interesting destinations and encounters with inspiring and wonderful people, all because of the disease and a love for one of America’s least followed sports: ping pong.
Like many Americans I played ping pong as a kid, in the basements of friends’ houses, at camp, and in dorms. Most of my “training” occurred in the 1970s during my sophomore year at the University of Rochester.
Adjacent to the laundry room located in one of the dorms was a single ping pong table. My roommate, Steve, and I, would carry our laundry to the dorm, strip to our skivvies, and play for hours while the machines did their work. The larger the loads the longer we played and, despite both of us being hackers without formal coaching, we developed some pretty good ping pong skills in the process.
Fast forward to 2020 and my PD diagnosis. After absorbing the somewhat earth-shattering news, I asked my doctor how I could best help myself deal with the disease. His answer was exercise.
So, I set about filling my exercise dance card with activities that I had always enjoyed and was already engaged in such as tennis, paddle tennis, cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing and ping pong.
Why ping pong? Ping pong is a "whole-brain activity" that not only engages motor activity (e.g., agility, balance, stamina, hand-eye coordination) but also requires the brain to engage in motor planning, visual attention, visuospatial processing, strategy formation, and executive functioning.
The game also fosters social connections among players. PingPongParkinson® (PPP), founded by Nenad Bach, helps promote ping pong as a PD therapy, and now operates more than 400 chapters in 31 countries. PPP also holds an annual World Championship, six of which have been held to date.
Together with my wife, I was fortunate to attend the two most recent World Championships, in Lasko, Slovenia in 2024 and Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy in 2025. The 2025 tournament hosted approximately 1,700 matches between more than 300 players. While play was vigorous and often intense as even players with PD want to win, players socialized and bonded with others from 26 countries, supported and encouraged one another, and were inspired and awed by one another’s abilities, heart and perseverance. Each player gained new partners to support them on their PD journey.
The magic of the World Championship experience was perhaps best expressed by Steve Welling, a participant in the 2019 and first PPP World Championship held in Westchester County, who wrote: “The ping-pong center was a place where persons with even highly visible symptoms were not judged; where persons with hidden, secret pain were finally understood; where we conversed openly, without shame, about our conditions. But mostly, where we were free to follow two of the simplest human instincts: to make new friends and play with them.”
Steve’s sentiments were embodied in each of the World Championships that I attended, and I also experience them weekly at my local PPP chapter sessions. Together with the physical, cognitive and social benefits of the game, they motivate my play and my desire to attend future World Championships, as long as health and resources permit.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my PD journey would include smacking a little white ball all over the world with wonderful and inspiring people!
Dan is a co-founder of the Rochester (Fairport), NY chapter of PingPongParkinson®. For more information visit www.pingpongparkinson.org. Players with PD at all skill levels are welcome. The Parkinson’s Foundation is a past sponsor of PingPongParkinson® through its Community Grants program.
Exploring Complementary Therapies and Functional Medicine in Parkinson’s Care
Integrative medicine combines evidence-based medicine with proven complementary therapies and functional medicine, treatment that seeks to treat the whole person, to manage Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms. Explore how non-drug treatments — such as massage, acupuncture, red light therapy and CBD — are sometimes used to support well-being alongside traditional Parkinson’s care.
The following article is based on a Parkinson’s Foundation Expert Briefing exploring complementary therapies and holistic medicine in Parkinson's care, hosted by Britt Stone, MD, assistant clinical professor, Movement Disorders division, Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence, and clinical operations director for VUMC’s main campus neurology clinics.
Bridging Modern Medicine and Complementary Care
Traditional Western-medicine therapies include care your neurologist might prescribe, whether levodopa or other prescription medications, physical or occupational therapy or psychiatry referrals or a home health aide recommendation.
Integrative medicine blends medicine with proven complementary therapies to encourage optimal well-being.
Functional medicine falls under the umbrella of integrative medicine; it seeks to identify the root cause of illness and treat the entire person through a personalized care plan.
Complementary therapies are a component of functional medicine — these can include mindfulness, art or dance therapy or other treatments.
Taking a Deeper Look at Functional Medicine
Living well with Parkinson’s requires ongoing management — the right medications, dedicated exercise, a balanced diet and the ability to adapt to changing needs. Functional medicine also takes whole-body approach to care, with an emphasis on sustained nutrition, gut health and lifestyle factors.
At its core, functional medicine incorporates habits, routines and rhythms into daily living that contribute to overall health. From there, specific therapies to target individual needs are integrated into a care plan. These might include tailored exercise, supplements or herbal remedies or other complementary therapies.
Functional medicine can also include laboratory or diagnostic testing to uncover whether factors such as genetics or environmental exposures, including allergens, are impacting body function. Lab testing, which is not always covered by insurance, could include screening for environmental mold or other toxins in the body or assessments of:
Vitamin and mineral levels
Gut health
Inflammatory markers
Food sensitivities
To some extent, genetics, environment, previous illnesses, social and behavioral factors influence the health outcomes of every person. Functional medicine considers all these aspects and aims to slow disease progression and optimize quality of life.
Complementary Therapies
Parkinson’s can cause various non-movement symptoms — including stiffness, pain, anxiety, sleep and mood changes — and medications might not relieve them all. Non-drug complementary therapies have been moving into mainstream use for Parkinson’s symptom management, particularly for symptoms that don’t respond as well to prescription medications.
Certain complementary therapies that foster social connections and creativity while promoting purpose and play have been shown to improve quality of life. A 2020 meta-analysis showed that dance improved movement and non-movement symptoms and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s. A 2013 six-week clay art therapy program for Parkinson’s showed a decrease in depression, stress and obsessive-compulsive thinking among participants.
Some complementary therapies are rooted in Chinese philosophy and medicine and the concept of chi, or qi — the energy or life force that animates a person. Sluggish or deficient chi is thought to cause illness. Mind-body breathwork, such as Tai Chi and qigong, used to improve balance, function and mood in Parkinson’s, aims to improve energy flow.
Other therapies include:
Acupuncture: One study showed acupuncture, which also aims to balance energy flow, could possibly relieve musculoskeletal pain in Parkinson’s. Other case reports and clinical studies show that acupuncture may improve activities of daily living for people with Parkinson’s. Dry needling, a physical therapy technique used to ease pain, speed healing and improve movement, also uses small thin needles, but the technique is different and the goal is targeted muscle treatment, rather than improved energy flow.
Massage: It is used to boost relaxation and ease muscle spasms and cramps. A 2020 review looking at 12 studies of massage therapy and its benefits in Parkinson's found that:
Multiple types of massage induced relaxation.
Participants reported improvements in mood, fatigue, sleep and pain.
Some research shows neuromuscular types of massage, including shiatsu, tuina and Thai neuromuscular massage, might improve motor symptoms.
A 2020 review of 12 massage therapy studies and its benefit on Parkinson's symptoms, found that:
Multiple types of massage induced relaxation
Participants reported improvements in mood, fatigue, sleep and pain.
Some research shows neuromuscular types of massage, including shiatsu, tuina and Thai neuromuscular massage, might improve movement symptoms.
Red-light therapy: Emerging research shows low-level red-light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, may hold neuroprotective potential for Parkinson’s. However, more studies are needed. The potential health benefits of red-light therapy were discovered by NASA scientists who, when experimenting with light-emitting diodes to boost plant growth, noticed the lights also sped up wound healing.
Red-light therapy is currently used as part of photodynamic therapy in dermatology to treat certain types of skin cancer (the red light activates a photosensitizing drug). It is also used to treat psoriasis and acne. Red-light therapy is thought to work by stimulating the mitochondria in the cells being treated, leading to more efficient cellular activity and new cell growth. It is important to protect the eyes when using any sort of red-light therapy.
Cannabidiol (CBD): This compound is found in hemp and marijuana cannabis plants and interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system. CB1 and CB2 receptors, key components of this system, are involved in communication between brain cells and gut and immune system health.
There are higher concentrations in marijuana of THC, the compound that gets people high. Hemp is typically rich in CBD, a compound that may be helpful for sleep, anxiety or pain, though more research is needed. Epidiolex is a prescription form of CBD, approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat certain types of seizures.
Medical and recreational marijuana legalization varies by state. There can be safety considerations, depending on your symptoms or medications you may be taking.
Working Complementary Therapy into Your Routine
Creating a personalized, balanced plan to manage Parkinson’s can help you maintain independence. Complementary therapies, therapeutic touch, a practitioner who listens to you, downtime and mindfulness can all benefit quality of life and improve sense of wellness.
When deciding what therapies might benefit you, think about your goals and what symptoms bother you the most. Have an open conversation with your healthcare team and discuss what treatment options are available. Talking about potential therapies with your doctor can help you avoid potential interactions and ensure the best outcomes. Connecting online or in person with people in the Parkinson’s community can also give you an opportunity to talk about what has worked for others and share your own experiences.
Consider therapies that align with your needs that are also accessible, affordable and manageable. Add in one new thing, observe the effects or benefits and adjust or change plans, with input from your healthcare team, as needed.
Learn More
Explore our resources about complementary therapies and symptom management in Parkinson’s:
