This is a special bonus episode of the When Life Gives You Parkinson’s podcast which we are calling “Extra Dosage.” Full episodes of Season 2 are available every other Wednesday.

At the first in a series of events called “Parkinson’s IQ + You” presented by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, hundreds of people gathered in Atlanta to learn how to take control of their health care, build their care team and advocate for themselves. Additionally, leading scientists, researchers and neurologists shared the latest information on exciting research being conducted for Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Malu Tansey , professor of Neuro science and neurology at the University of Florida, helped to explain the role stress plays in Parkinson’s. “Stress is a bad player. Stress tends to immunosuppress you. Stress tends to create a situation in your body where all the normal pathways in your body are basically slowing down and they become sluggish. We think even removal of alpha-synuclein and other toxic species from your brain is critical, and stress really dampens those down.”

Dr. David Standaert, chair of neurology at university of Alabama at Birmingham, is excited about all the research going into stopping Parkinson’s in its tracks.

“Most of my patients, and I’ve asked them this question, ‘If I could tell you that I can’t fix your problems, but they won’t get any worse would you by happy?’ and they’d all be happy with that.” Staneard says there are a number of different ideas out there including treatments around synuclein. There are a couple of big clinical trials using antibodies to remove alpha synuclein from the brain. He’s not certain whether it will work or not, but we are going to find out because those trials are underway. 

If you live in the United States, The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s “Parkinson’s IQ + You”, I hope to see you soon! These daylong, educational and empowering events for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners are free. See the full schedule and register for free here.

Saturday, December 14, 2019, Anaheim, California.

Saturday, January 11, 2019, Phoenix, Arizona.

Other sites recently announced include South Florida, Chicago, Oakland, and Houston.

If you have a comment or question about the podcast, you can email us: [email protected]

We invite you to add your voice to the show and leave a message for us here; https://www.speakpipe.com/WhenLifeGivesYouParkinsons

Follow me, Larry Gifford 

Twitter: @ParkinsonsPod

Facebook: Facebook.com/ParkinsonsPod

Instagram: @parkinsonspod

Follow Co-host and Producer Niki Reitmayer

Twitter: @Niki_Reitmayer

 Special thanks to…

Todd Sherrer, CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.                           

Dr. Malu Tansey, professor of Neuro science and neurology at the University of Florida

Dr. David Standaert, chair of neurology at university of Alabama at Birmingham

Michael Fitts, Michael J Fox Patient Council

Dr. Stuart Factor, movement disorder specialist, professor of neurology at Emory University and program director at movement disorders

Drew Burke, Person with Parkinson’s

Elaine Bookman, Person with Parkinson’s. Follow her blog.  

For more info on our presenting partner Parkinson Canada head to http://www.parkinson.ca/

The toll free hotline 1-800-565-3000

Or follow them on Twitter @ParkinsonCanada

Thanks also to our content and promotional partners

Parkinson’s IQ + You– A free, series of Parkinson’s events from the Michael J. Fox Foundation

Spotlight YOPD – The only Parkinson’s organization dedicated to raising awareness for Young Onset Parkinson’s disease. 

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