Stanford PD Community Blog

In July 2025, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) hosted movement disorder specialist Dr. Eleni Okeanis Vaou for a discussion on how climate and extreme weather impact people living with Parkinson’s disease.  Dr. Vaou highlighted that rising global temperatures, heat waves, and severe cold aren’t just environmental concerns, they can also influence Parkinson’s symptoms, how well medications work, and a person’s overall well-being.  This webinar is part of the APDA’s “Dr. Gilbert Hosts” series.

In January, movement disorder specialist Eleni Okeanis Vaou, MD, was the guest speaker for an episode of Dr. Gilbert Hosts on the different formulations of carbidopa/levodopa available. Carbidopa/levodopa continues to be the gold standard of treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and can be very effective in controlling the stiffness and slowness that are characteristic of PD. Knowing the differences between the different formulations and understanding why you are prescribed a specific formulation over another can be confusing. With new and more formulations of carbidopa/levodopa available, physicians can offer more personalized treatment approaches.