Kill Parkinson

The 5 standards you should demand if hospitalized with Parkinson's. If you don't know them, read our free blog on the topic which covers the just covered joint commission commentary. https://lnkd.in/e6fUQjkU

The Parkinson’s Foundation Newly Diagnosed Guide is designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones get started on their PD journey, learn more about Parkinson’s, and prepare for upcoming doctor's appointments. If you or a loved one were recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, get your free guide by visiting: https://lnkd.in/gbGHuifR

Such an important talk today by @Elena Moro at the #BIDays in #Brussels on #gender and #diversity in #neurology. ❓️Why are we still testing far more male animals than female? ❓️Why are there more men enrolled in #clinical #trials than women? ❓️Why is it up to me to educate my neurologist on the effects of #hormones and #perimenopause on my #Parkinson's symptoms? I call on all #physicians, #researchers and #HCPs to educate themselves on #gender differences and their impact on their areas of expertise. European Federation of Neurological Associations European Academy of Neurology Parkinson's Europe

Young Onset Parkinson’s, joy, kindness and gratitude. Here’s my thoughts on choosing joy and gratitude when facing a currently incurable disease and how we should treat all people. This isn’t a pity party post. Nor is it one asking for advice. It’s a genuinely to highlight the syndrome. A progressive and degenerative one that is in many ways, a brutal journey. It’s also to share what I’ve learned about how to deal with the tough times. For me, the outward facing symptoms aren’t the worst. The weird walk, effect on voice, tremors, slow movement, etc aren’t pleasant, but for me they aren’t the worst things. It’s the hidden ones. The symptoms no one sees that you wrestle with daily or periodically. From bladder and bowel issues, struggles with swallowing, fatigue, insomnia, severe apathy and anxiety. All of these unseen by people but are very, very real. After an intense period of travel and quite high demand, combined with grief and a virus, I feel basically done in. My natural optimism is replaced by a deep apathy that can be so severe it’s as if you don’t exist. Totally numbing. I also get something that was previously alien to me; Anxiety - a clinical symptom of PD due to the disruption to pathways in our brains. You know it will pass, and you know this isn’t you but the disease. However no matter how much you tell yourself this, it’s tough. Brutally tough. I’ve learned that you can’t think or pray your way out of it. You have to make conscious choices. Read on. The ongoing depletion of dopamine neurons has a catastrophic effect on people with PD. In my case the very rare young onset variety, typically comes with more dystonia (persistent cramp) depression and dyskinesia (involuntary movements). When I get like this it’s hard to smile. Not just due to the face masking (rigid face muscles that make you look angry or moody) but due to the fact that nothing really feels good. In fact, due to the lack of dopamine, you get very little reward hits due to the lack of the hormone that gives you them. So even good things feel neutral. So what do I do? I have to make conscious choices to be joyful and to choose gratitude. When you do this by disciplined choice gradually things change. I also have to rest. This condition doesn’t make life easy for family, work colleagues and friends either. I’m grateful for those that understand and give me extra grace in these times. I’ll never throw the towel in, that’s not my style. Sometimes though in order to replenish, I need to go dark. If I go quiet, or am slow to reply, now you know why. I’m not being rude or slack, I’m simply dealing with the fight of my life. Usually it only takes a day or so to pull out of the nose dive. Finally, here’s my advice to us all, including me when dealing with people. Be kind. Give the benefit of the doubt. Believe the best. You don’t know what someone is going through. #yopd #parkinsons

Astonishing article on the role of industry and regulatory bodies in #Australia in extending the use of #paraquat, a highly toxic #pesticide, despite converging and overwhelming evidence that links exposure to #paraquat to a higher risk of #Parkinson disease, in particular among farmers. Economic interests are clearly more important than the health of farmers, their families and their neighbours. I fear that similar mechanisms may be at play in the authorisation of other pesticides, also elsewhere in the world. Importantly, farmers themselves are not to blame at all, they adhere to what regulatory bodies have approved. The problem is that this regulation does not protect farmers well, and the article describes the devastating impact of Parkinson disease on this community. https://lnkd.in/e8WknHvm The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Parkinson's Foundation International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Parkinson Vereniging ParkinsonNL Cure Parkinson's Parkinson's UK