In late March, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) hosted a webinar on speech with speech-language pathologist Lisa Sommers. Lisa described the changes — sometimes subtle –in breath support, voice production, speed and accuracy, inflection of voice, facial expressions and swallowing.  She noted that about 90% of people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) will experience these kinds of changes in communication.

In early March, the World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) hosted “Care Partners and Self-Care Throughout the Journey.” Social worker Amanda Janicke, occupational therapist Julia Wood, and Parkinson’s disease (PD) caregivers Angela Robb and Alan Ater each spoke for about 10 minutes, offering tips to caregivers of those with PD. 

In mid-March, the Parkinson Association of the Rockies hosted a webinar on “Sleep and Fatigue in Parkinson Disease” with Dr. Alexander Baumgartner. He is a movement disorder fellow at the University of Colorado’s Movement Disorders Center.  Dr. Baumgartner indicated that as many as 90% of those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) have a sleep disorder.  He contrasted sleepiness and fatigue.  Sleepiness is the tendency or ability to fall asleep. Fatigue is similar, and is associated with excessive tiredness and mental or physical exertion.