Stanford PD Community Blog

Parkinson Association of the Rockies (ParkinsonRockies) hosted a webinar on Practitioner Assisted Stretching for Parkinson’s Disease at the end of January.  While there is much said about the importance of exercise in maintaining quality of life for those with PD by slowing disease progression, there is not much emphasis placed on the importance of stretching as a part of a good PD exercise routine. But stretching is of crucial importance. Here’s why.

“Dr. Gilbert Hosts: Cognition & Parkinson’s Disease” featured guest speaker Kathleen Poston on the topic of cognition and dementia in Parkinson’s disease. It was part of the “Dr. Gilbert Hosts” series hosted by Dr. Rebecca Gilbert, the chief scientific officer at the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA). 

“Death and Dying and Parkinson’s” is a webinar hosted in mid-February by the Davis Phinney Foundation (DPF). The speakers were DPF YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease) Council members. They addressed the importance of talking about death early so you can live your fullest life. Though the speakers are all coping with Young Onset PD, we are sharing our notes with a broader audience as the webinar is relevant for us all. 

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.