Stanford PD Community Blog

People who lived alone or who had few social contacts were up to 24 percent more likely to have falls than their socially connected peers.

Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach office is closed from December 14, re-opening on January 4, 2021.

Peter Dunlap-Shohl, a blogger for the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, posted an interesting exploration of the things he did right and got wrong over the last 19 years coping with Parkinson’s disease (PD).  He makes six points, including:  “Don’t let Parkinson’s tell you what you may or may not do.”  He uses the term FUBAR, which means ruined. 

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.