What stage are you in? Do people ask you that question? If so, do you tell them? Do you even know? What are the stages and what do they mean? Frankly, I have never asked my movement disorder specialist neurologist what stage I am in. I don’t know why. We have never discussed it. However, learning and knowing more about how your doctor is tracking the progression of the disease is, I think, important.

So, today we are going to speak with a movement disorder specialist. He will explain the stages of Parkinson’s disease. What they are and what that means to individuals and their families. I think you will find this episode interesting and helpful.

https://www.honorhealth.com/physicians/daniel-savitt

https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons/stages

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

Earlier this season on episode number 088 titled “the Skinny on Skin” we learned about the various skin disorders that can manifest in people with Parkinson’s. Well, on the flip side, the skin is the largest organ in our body. It must hold all kinds of secrets to our health. It turns out alpha-synuclein gets deposited in the skin of patients with synucleinopathies, which includes Parkinson’s and related diseases. Therefore, a skin biopsy can be used to diagnose and confirm these diseases. Not only can this advancement in the diagnosis important, the skin biopsy can also be used to speed up clinical trials. The company leading the way with this procedure and process, CND Life Sciences, has only just getting started. They continue to investigate what the skin can provide clinicians and researches to help bring new therapies to market quicker.

The director of medical affairs for CND and a person with Parkinson’s explains how this all works. Listen on…

https://cndlifesciences.com/

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

What do you know about your gut? In the last several years, research has led us to a more detailed understanding of the role of the gut – which includes the stomach, intestines, and colon. This isn’t your father’s understanding of the gut. So, what does the gut have to do with it? It being the possible cause of many diseases including Parkinson’s disease.

In this episode we will learn about how the gut has a direct communication with the brain. We all know the saying, “follow your gut”. The direct connection explains why this saying is meaningful. In addition, we will learn the importance of a healthy microbiome - which is the bacteria living in your gut - and how we can make changes in our diet to help maintain a healthy gut. Most notably, we’ll learn what this all has to do with living our best life with Parkinson’s.

I hope you take the time to listen to this episode. It could improve your journey with PD.

https://foothillsneurology.com/staff/maria-ospina-m-d/

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

https://www.parkinson.org/blog/awareness/gut-brain-connection

The topic today is one of those difficult to discuss symptoms that most of us try to avoid and deal with it on our own. Not a great idea. So, let’s learn about and discuss our bladders. You might have an overactive one which is also referred to as hyperactive or underactive one also referred to as hypoactive. Unfortunately, the probably of anyone having bladder problems grows as we get older. However, people with Parkinson’s have an even higher incident.

Listen on to learn why bladder problems occur in people with Parkinson’s and treatments available. I think you will find the treatment my guest, Dr. Tory McJunkin, offers is unique and, possibly, a game changer for those needing some bladder relief. You could get your life and freedom back.

https://bladdercenter.com/

https://www.axonics.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BladderWellness/

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

Welcome to the third episode in our three-episode series on exercise. During the process of researching for this episode, I have found more and more studies showing that exercise does help reduce symptoms of PD. Very exciting to be able to take control of your journey by including certain exercises in your day and week. My guest today, Dean Laws, did just that. After a period of denial and apathy, his buddies, or mates since Dean lives in Australia, urged him to take control and start running again. They went even further and formed The Dean Team to support Dean and the whole PD community.

So, this is a story about the power of exercise and the importance of friendship, family, and the wider community. Listen on for a heartwarming dialogue with Dean. Plus, you will like his accent.

Welcome to our new listeners in Australia. Our journey is the same no matter where you live. We can all use each other’s support and share our experiences to live our best lives. Oh, and I hope you like my accent.

https://www.pitchinforparkinsons.org.au/event/dean-team/home

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

Welcome to part two in our series on exercise and how it has been proven to reduce the symptoms of PD. As one of my guests, Dr. Daniel Corcos, explains, “It is crystal clear, exercise slows the progression of Parkinson’s.” In this episode, Kristine Meldrum and Dr. Corcos, authors of the book “Parkinson’s: How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise,” continue to discuss the research and real life experiences of the positive effects realized from a personalized exercise “cocktail”.

What should PWP be focused on achieving with our exercise cocktail in order to maximize our time and the benefits? What are the recommended exercises, how do we measure progress, how many minutes do we spend on each part of the cocktail? I know I have been waiting for the answers to those questions. Now, I can find them in this book. And you, the listeners, can get some of the answers by listening on and the rest are in the book!

https://www.parkinsonsbook.com/

https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=29101

https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/research/podcast/can-exercise-slow-parkinsons-disease-progression-with-daniel-corcos-phd.html

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

OK, I know what you are thinking. Another exercise episode, really? Yes, but this isn’t your run of the mill plead for people with Parkinson’s to exercise more. Up until now, we have been told to exercise but not given any direction on which exercises are best for us. Recently friends recommended a book that is filling this deficit. It is based on research completed over 30 years in this area. As one of my guests, Dr. Daniel Corcos, explains, “It is crystal clear, exercise slows the progression of Parkinson’s.” I found the book very useful. The author, Kristine Meldrum uses real people with Parkinson’s stories to highlight the positive effects they benefited from their personalized exercise “cocktail”.

The book is titled "Parkinson's: How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise". My conversation with authors was wide ranging and long. So, it became two episodes. This is Part One - the first part of our conversation. Please look out for Part Two - the second half where we get more specific about the exercises that will help you the most in reducing symptoms.

https://www.parkinsonsbook.com/

https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=29101

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html

Did you know that people with Parkinson’s disease have a higher risk of developing certain skin disorders than the rest of the population including melanomas? Have you had a skin issue pop up on you and not know what it is or how you got it? There is a good chance you were experiencing a manifestation of the Parkinson’s disease process or a side effect of the medication you are taking. Just one more thing to worry about. Right? On the other hand, our skin might provide a non-invasive way to help with the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and maybe shorten the clinical trial process.

On this episode, a Movement Disorder Specialist who has researched the dermatological conditions related to Parkinson’s disease and published an important scientific article on this topic will discuss the various skin conditions that PwP are susceptible to, how to prevent and treat them. He is going to give us the skinny on the skin! This might just answer the questions you have about that dark spot on your arm.

https://www.barrowneuro.org/person/nicki-niemann-md/

https://www.dbsandme.com/en.html