Stanford PD Community Blog

In July 2026, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) hosted a webinar on strategies for communicating effectively with your doctors, for those with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their care partners. Occupational therapist Sydney Settle discussed how to prepare for your appointments so you can make the most of your limited time with your doctor. Her advice was focused on talking with the neurologist, as the center of the care team for managing PD, but these strategies are useful for talking with healthcare professionals of any specialty.

You don’t need a PhD in biochemistry to understand the exciting developments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. This special series by the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) makes PD research and clinical trials accessible—no scientific expertise required. The APDA’s Dr. Rebecca Gilbert along with Dr. Kevin McFarthing—a biochemist, PD clinical-trials expert, and person with PD—will present a three-part series, “Understanding the Science Behind PD Clinical Trials.”  The dates are Sept. 23, Oct. 14, and Nov. 12.  Register for all three today. 

In July 2026, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) hosted a webinar on three treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD): deep brain stimulation (DBS), focused ultrasound (FUS), and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Three different neurosurgeons discussed the three treatments. They shared basic definitions of each procedure, pros and cons, and who might be a good candidate for each procedure.  The webinar was part of the APDA’s “Dr. Gilbert Hosts” series.

In July 2026, the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation (NWPF) hosted a webinar on how balance is affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dr. Nate Coomer, a physical therapist who works daily with those with neurological conditions, discussed why people with PD are at higher risk for falls than those of similar age. He described what physical and environmental factors contribute to falls for people with PD, and shared strategies physical therapists use to help people with challenges such as freezing of gait and poor proprioception. He also reviewed some exercises that can be used at home to practice improving one’s balance.