This episode is a big one for us. Kuhan is preparing to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation, or DBS — a life-changing surgery that could help manage his Parkinson’s symptoms. Joining us is a very special guest: a member of the surgical team who’ll be operating on his brain.

Harith Akram is a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at Queen Square, London.

He tells us how he escaped from Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, started medical school at 16 and invented the equipment that’s going to drill a hole in Kuhan‘s head!!

He also tells us what to expect when you’re having deep brain stimulation.

It’s personal, it’s powerful… it’s 2 Parkies In A Pod

Links:

Parkinson'a UK DBS information

Stay Cool USB Fan

Kuhan Hope Message

We can be Weirdos Podcast with Harith

Balance in Parkinson’s is a complicated thing but the good news is, help is on hand. We talk to expert neuro physiotherapist Laura Douglas, co-founder of Neuro Heroes and an expert in gait and balance. An informative chat, packed full of great advice to make your Parkie life a little easier.  

[email protected]

www.neuroheroes.co.uk

Neuro Heroes live classes over Zoom are for people based in the UK. People outside of the UK can follow along to these pre-recorded videos made with Parkinson's UK:

Low intensity workout with Neuro Heroes

Moderate intensity workout with Neuro Heroes

High intensity workout with Neuro Heroes

2 Parkies in a Pod Spotify playlist:

https://spotify.link/J7GX0gC40Tb 

Walk with Me by The Wells:

https://thewellsparkinsons.bandcamp.com/track/walk-with-me

An Interesting Detail by Kimberly Campanello:

https://guardianbookshop.com/an-interesting-detail-9781526680594/

Mime Over Mind by Barbara Salsberg Mathews:

https://mimeovermind.com/videos/

The boys are back after a short break. Kuhan shares his sleep secrets, Dave takes a tumble, Ryan Reynolds speaks out about his dad‘s Parkinson’s and Steph has a positive take on sleeping in separate bedrooms, plus the pain of a PIP review.

AbbVie sleep video

https://youtu.be/1S6GauUXVec?

PD nurses attend St James palace event

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lzzjgvvw1o

Cure Parkinson’s ‘Question of Time’

https://youtu.be/bSyVviLug7c

Parkinson’s UK PIP Information

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/personal-independence-payment-and-adult-disability-payment

Parkinson’s UK PIP Campaign

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/what-latest-disability-support-reforms-mean-people-parkinsons

Pavilion Dance South West

https://www.pdsw.org.uk/

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/speech-and-language-therapy

Tom Finch Fundraising

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-hulme-1734256927282?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015

Sports Parkinson's

https://www.sportparkinsons.com/

Ryan Reynolds Hallucinations video

https://www.moretoparkinsons.com/

Parkinson’s UK Helpline 0808 800 0303

[email protected]

Sleep problems can be a major issue when you have Parkinson’s. This week we talk to Jane Alty a professor of neurology at The University of Tasmania, Australia. She’s an expert in Parkinson’s sleep disorders. Her goal is to transform the brain health of adults globally - through research to detect the critical earliest stages of degenerative brain disorders.

She also reveals whether she thinks AI will solve the Parkinson’s conundrum.

Also this week.. The boys are full of the joys of spring, Kuhan nearly gets run over, Dave does a rap

And Hamming it up…. How a piece of Donald Trump ended up in a sandwich!

Sleep & Parkinson's

In this episode we head to Scotland and the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh. We chat with Professor Tilo Kunath one of the world’s leading experts in stem cell research. The hope is that one day, implanted cells can reverse Parkinson’s. Just how close are we to that elusive cure? What’s happened to the people who’ve been given stem cells? How freezing cockroaches in his mum’s fridge kicked off his scientific career…

Getting Involved in Research

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/get-involved-research

Deep Brain Stimulation

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/deep-brain-stimulation

Dave’s new shoes 

https://www.nike.com/gb/easyon

Amazing Things

Ozzie Osbourne / Black Sabbath mega gig

Ukulele playing Peter

Aloha to Island living Lisa on Insta

In this episode, Dave and Kuhan explore the differences between men and women when it comes to Parkinson’s.

We hear from Clare Bale (associate director of research at Parkinson’s UK), Dr Clare Lehman (a General Practitioner who was diagnosed aged 37) and Jo Tosh (a retired nurse and star of the award winning DBS and Me series).

Together we discuss the unique challenges that women face with Parkinson's including getting diagnosed, the impact of hormonal changes and medication-related dyskinesia.

We also have a special announcement about our new partnership with Parkinson's UK.

People do amazing things:

The Parkinson’s raver

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3j988jkwno

Judo for  Parkinson's

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czepkeexw4xo

Walk for Parkinson's 2025 is now open for sign ups!

https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/event/walk-parkinsons/home

A letter to my newly diagnosed Parkinson’s self

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/your-magazine/stories/letter-my-newly-diagnosed-parkinsons-self

www.2parkiesinapod.com

We’ve reached a milestone on the podcast, our 40th episode, so we thought we’d celebrate with you the listeners.  We dip into the mail bag and share some of your Parkinson’s stories.  

Plus Dave walks into a tree, Kuhan reveals who inspired him to stay out until one in the morning dancing and drinking tequila and hear about a real life STAR of the community -  a young woman who travelled half way around the world to share her experiences of the condition.

Brisk walking tunes 120 Beats Per minute

Propranolol for Parkinson's

Dave Clark Independent article

AMAZING THINGS

Springsteen raises $ for Parkinson’s

Why 2 parkies in a pod loves Leah Forster

The press upping pig farmer with Parkinson’s

The pitch perfect Parkie (Parkinson's UK)

We take a trip to Parkinson’s UK’s new office, learn about their recent brand refresh and talk to the boss Caroline Rassell. She gives us the low down on all things Parkinson’s UK, shares her plans for the year ahead and reveals how Parkinson’s has got more personal for her recently. 

Parkinson UK helpline on 0808 800 0303

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/get-involved

https://techguide.parkinsons.org.uk/

People With Do Amazing Things

Michael J Fox award

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c2dx6gd0k66o

Kayaking scientist  Guillaume Brachet …

https://parkinsonseurope.org/2024/12/13/person-with-parkinsons-is-developing-new-drug-

 The Parky Blinders - Boxercise classes  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9gy4vqvrvo

In this festive episode we talk to illustrator, mime artist and educator Barbara Salsberg Mathews @SalsbergMathews She’s the perfect person to put you in a great mood for 2025. Barbara has created and illustrated an amazing book about  What Parkinson’s Feels Like' with contributions from the Parkinson’s community around the globe.

What Parkinson's Feels Like (free ebook)

What Parkinson's Feels Like (Amazon)

Parkinson's Europe

Parkinson's Canada

PD Avengers

Mime Over Mind

Paradoxical Kinesia

⁠If art were a drug ⁠

Walk to reduce anxiety

Doing Amazing things ..

The story of one man and his dog

Michael J. Fox CNN Heroes Legacy Award

Larry Gifford honored with King Charles III Coronation Medal — PD Avengers

Meet the amazing Joy Milne who has the nose to diagnose Parkinson’s.

She first noticed the smell of Parkinson's on her husband Les. Years later a chance encounter made her realise that she could smell Parkinson’s on other people too.

Find out how her superpowers have changed the face of diagnosis, how scientists are using this amazing discovery and what Parkinson’s smells like.

Plus joy tells us  the famous t shirt story about how the nose really did diagnose…

The Woman who can smell Parkinson’s BBC Documentary

Audrey’s 2025 Calendar: Dawn Diaries from Orford Quay

Ellie PD Mama Youtube

John Stapleton Good Morning Britain

www,2parkiesinapod.com