Stanford PD Community Blog

This recently published research article in the journal Nature demonstrates the importance of "belonging" to a social network, such as a support group, if you have Parkinson's Disease (PD).  This is especially true during the pandemic of isolation within the larger pandemic of COVID-19.  The data suggest that people who have regular opportunities for socialization do better with PD, and that it is "neuroprotective," just like exercise.  No doubt this applies to us all -- whether we have PD or not! 

In his fourth memoir, “No Time Like the Future,” the actor and activist opens up about his newfound, uniquely upbeat brand of pessimism.

The problem, a brief but precipitous drop in blood pressure that causes lightheadedness or dizziness when standing up, is called orthostatic hypotension. New York Times: Dizziness Upon Standing Can Lead to Falls and Fractures

This spring, over 5400 Parkinson's patients, including 51 who had COVID-19, took an online Fox Insight survey, organized by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.  According to Caroline Tanner, MD, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco, "What was really remarkable was the number of people who didn't have COVID, but who did suffer from the experience of the pandemic."  MedPageToday noted that "Medical care (64%), exercise (21%), and social activities (57%) were disrupted for these patients, and many reported worse Parkinson's motor (43%) and non-motor (52%) symptoms."  While the survey showed the resilience of the Parkinson's community, it also highlighted disparities, Tanner pointed out. "People with lower incomes or people who are nonwhite have less

California HOPE (CalHOPE), a program run by the California Department of Health Care Services, delivers crisis support for communities impacted by a national disaster, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  CalHOPE builds community resiliency and helps people recover from disasters through free outreach, crisis counseling, and support services.  For California residents, CalHOPE offers a call-line — (833) 317-HOPE (4673) -— to talk about your struggles and get emotional support from someone who has persevered through tough situations.

His research into dopamine led to the mainstay treatment still used today to treat millions of people with Parkinson’s.

At first, Hardy-Fanta thought her repeated stumbles had a simple cause: She was distracted. But when she racked up more than 30 falls in a three-year period — some for no apparent reason — she repeatedly asked her doctors whether an undiagnosed medical problem might be causing her to “drop like a log.”

The Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach team -- Robin, Steven, Denise, Adrian, and Lauren -- would like to wish you a happy first day of spring.  Though we are working from home (as the San Francisco Bay Area is all sheltering in place), we are all available online.  Try to get outside to get some spring sunshine and fresh air.

Here's useful info from the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) on COVID-19 and Parkinson's Disease.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation offered a webinar on Eating Well with Parkinson’s Disease, featuring a panel of speakers including a doctor, a patient with PD, and two nutritionists. They discussed what makes up a “healthy” diet, what specific diet plans are out there, how to foster a healthy diet in everyday living, ways to adjust diet to accommodate medications and symptoms, and the role of vitamins and supplements. We at Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach listened to the webinar and are sharing our notes.