Stanford PD Community Blog

Every month, Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach produces a list of Parkinson's-related webinars and virtual meetings with speakers.  Here's our hefty March 2021 list of 50 webinars and virtual meetings. Be sure to register in advance! 

On February 11th, Columbia’s Taub Institute hosted Dr. Lori Quinn, Associate Professor of Movement Science and Kinesiology at Teachers College at Columbia University to speak on exercise for Lewy Body disorders. Dr. Quinn explained why exercise is important for those with Lewy Body Disorders. When the speaker refers to Lewy Body disorders, she means Lewy Body dementias, including Parkinson’s Disease dementia. Exercise helps improve brain function and has a neuroprotective effect.

On February 5th, the Parkinson’s Foundation (PF) hosted a webinar “Getting the Care You Need: Parkinson’s in the Hospital,” which focused on the challenges those with PD have in the hospital. 

The Parkinson’s Foundation hosted a webinar on “Motor Symptoms Co-Management:  Occupational Therapy and Neurology.” The speakers were a movement disorder specialist, occupational therapist, and a person with Parkinson’s disease (PD) The speakers reviewed the four cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson’s (tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability), discussed what the neurologist and occupational therapist can do to help, and how it feels to have these symptoms. 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) hosted a webinar in December 2020 on managing burnout in caregivers for Parkinson’s disease (PD). There were four panelists: a social worker, two caregivers, and a person with Parkinson’s. They talked about being a caregiver to people with Parkinson’s disease while managing stress. They also answered audience questions throughout the session. 

On February 3rd, the Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance hosted Anwar Ahmed, MD, a movement disorder specialist. Dystonia is not a diagnosis, rather a symptom of abnormal and involuntary sustained muscle contractions or pulling, and posture movements. 

The World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) hosted a session in early December 2020 for care partners of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this combined presentation, panel discussion, and question and answer session, four speakers talked about creative, non-medical approaches to managing care partner wellness as they support their person with Parkinson’s (PWP). The panelists included a movement disorder specialist, a social worker, a person with Parkinson’s, and his care partner. 

The webinar “YOPD Women, Diagnosis, and Symptoms'' was presented by the YOPD Women Council at the Davis Phinney Foundation.  YOPD is Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, where Parkinson’s is diagnosed earlier in life.  This was the first in a new webinar series for YOPD women, to be held the first Wednesday of every month. The panelists spoke of their experience with Parkinson’s, how they came to be diagnosed, unique symptoms they’ve had, and recommendations for how women can advocate for themselves. 

In December 2020, Parkinson and Movement Disorder (PMD) Alliance hosted a panel discussion on people living alone with Parkinson’s disease (PD). It featured two speakers, an aging life care specialist and a social worker, who talked about the importance of having a care system around you even if you are living independently from family or a caregiver.

The World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) hosted a conference in September 2020 for Parkinson’s disease (PD) caregivers and family members. One of the sessions was a series of short presentations on cognitive changes in people with Parkinson’s, followed by a question-and-answer session. It featured four speakers all with different experiences in this topic: a registered nurse, a social worker, and a person with Parkinson’s with his caregiver husband. This discussion was focused on the role of PD caregivers while a person with PD is experiencing cognitive changes.