Stanford PD Community Blog

In early June, the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, and Parkinson’s Movement offered a webinar on research into growth factors in the brain that could potentially be useful for treating neurodegenerative disease. The presentation featured a panel of speakers involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. They discussed the findings of a workshop and consensus paper published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, describing the types of growth factors that exist, how one can deliver growth factors to the brain, and what clinical trials have been conducted over the years. We at Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach viewed the webinar and are sharing our notes.  

In late May, Parkinson Canada offered a webinar on young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD), commonly defined as a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) before the age of 50. The webinar featured a panel of four speakers who all have young-onset PD.  They discussed their YOPD experiences, from diagnosis to medications to general topics on living with the condition. The speakers also answered audience questions. We at Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach viewed the webinar and are sharing our notes.  

In early June, the Parkinson and Movement Disorder (PMD) Alliance offered a webinar on urinary dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease (PD), featuring Dr. Jalesh Panicker, who specializes in urinary issues in people with neurologic disorders. He discussed the urinary problems that can arise in PD, including urgency, frequency, and nighttime urination, touching on why these issues occur in PD and what can be done about them. There was a question and answer session as well. We at Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach viewed the webinar and are sharing our notes.  

In late May, the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) offered a webinar on navigating a new Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis, featuring a panel of speakers including a movement disorders specialist and individuals who have PD. They discussed common questions that one may have after a new PD diagnosis, how to get the best care, considerations around starting medication, and when to disclose the diagnosis to others. There was a question and answer session as well. We at Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach viewed the webinar and are sharing our notes.  

In mid-May, the Parkinson Society of British Columbia offered a webinar on depression and Parkinson’s disease (PD), featuring Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez. He discussed the symptoms and treatment options for depression, as well as the state of research into depression and PD, briefly touching on experimental forms of neurostimulation to address depression. There was a question and answer session as well. We at Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach viewed the webinar and are sharing our notes.