Parky Conversations

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So many symptoms, so little time. Seriously, this is a disease with hidden depths – most of them not very nice. In the final episode of Season 1, I share the story of a woman who struggles with compulsive shopping and eating related to Parkinson's disease. And I speak with Jennifer Crowder, a Parkinson's patient who has developed strategies to help her resist the urge to overspend on shoelaces. Plus, renowed Parkinson's expert Dr. Joseph Friedman joins the show to help explain what's going on.

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When most people think about Parkinson’s they think of tremors and Michael J. Fox, but there’s a lot more to this disease. And some Parkinson’s symptoms are just plain weird. I recently got the chance to talk with Fred Zalonis, a 73 year old retired engineer who was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s 15 years ago. In today's episode, Fred and I compare notes on the hallucinations we have experienced since developing Parkinson's, and I dig into the science of hallucinations with Ramona Weil, Parkinson's researcher and Professor of Neurology at University College London. 

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Never in a million years did Andi ever think she'd lace up a pair of boxing gloves. In fact, she was rather disapproving of boxing as a sport. But as soon as she was diagnosed people started saying, "I've heard boxing is a really good thing to do if you have Parkinson's." So Andi tried a class at Rock Steady Boxing -- a program specifically for people with Parkinson's, and boxing is now her favorite thing to do on Saturday mornings. But if boxing is suspected as the cause of Parkinson's in people like Muhammad Ali, why is it also used as a treatment?

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A little more than two years ago, I began my blog as a way of coping with both the physical and emotional pain of Parkinson's. As I was trying to figure out where I fit in the blogging universe, I stumbled upon a blog called Who Stole My Dopamine? I read, I laughed, I subscribed, and I laughed some more. In this episode, I talk with Emma Stubbs, the creator of Who Stole My Dopamine, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 42. And I learn more about young onset Parkinson's from Dr. Rodolfo Savica who leads the Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease and Synucleinopathies Lab at the Mayo Clinic.

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There's nothing fun about being diagnosed with Parkinson's, but that doesn't mean that every treatment has to cause misery. In today's episode, Andi talks about two Parkinson's "treatments" that are near and dear to her heart. Dancing, which is recommended to improve balance and coordination. And singing, which helps prevent -- among other things -- aspiration pneumonia, the leading cause of death among people with Parkinson's. 

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Even before my official diagnosis, I started reading about Parkinson’s disease. And I found my way to various articles lauding exercise as a really good tool to slow disease progression. Since then, I’ve joined a yoga class, a dance class, a choir and a boxing class – all specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s.  In this episode, I'll try something I’ve never tried before, a wall climbing class! And I'll speak with Daniel Corcos, an expert in exercise for Parkinson's, about how to choose the best exercise program to slow the progression of the disease.   

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From the time she was a small child, Joy Milne knew that she could smell things that others could not. But it wasn't until after her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's that Joy realized her talent could have medical implications. Joy now works as a Research Assistant at the University of Manchester, where they're testing to see how her unique talent could help with early detection and treatment of other diseases, including tuberculosis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and diabetes.

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In 2018, Nikki Grady's life changed forever. She was in a pilates class when all of the sudden, her right foot started to tremble. Within just a few months, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. But for Nikki, developing Parkinson's sparked a talent she never had before. She suddenly developed a strong desire to create art. "I have always loved art," Nikki says. "I enjoy going to museums, exhibitions. But from there to say that one day I would pick up a paintbrush. I mean, I cannot draw for the life of me. It's coming from within."

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Have you ever seen insects crawling in your underwear?  Acted out your dreams?   If you have Parkinson’s, you might have experienced strange symptoms including visual, auditory and even tactile hallucinations. Join host and creator Andi Brown, who was diagnosed at the age of 70, as she talks with folks living with Parkinson’s and the physicians and scientists who study them.