The World Health Organization reports that the number of people with Parkinson's disease has doubled over the past 25 years, estimating over 8.5 million individuals living with Parkinson's globally. (1) A diagnosis brings questions, concerns and fears about what lies ahead. The Parkinson’s Disease podcast is a miniseries told by people living with Parkinson’s disease, their loved ones and health experts. We explore w...

The World Health Organization reports that the number of people with Parkinson's disease has doubled over the past 25 years, estimating over 8.5 million individuals living with Parkinson's globally. (1) Parkinson’s is a degenerative condition which is often associated with tremors, imbalance and rigidity, but it affects every person differently. In this first episode of the Parkinson’s Disease Podcast, we’ll start wi...

Parkinson’s disease can’t be diagnosed through a simple blood test or scan. After a referral from a primary care doctor, it often takes visits to a neurologist or movement disorder specialist before receiving a clinical diagnosis. In this episode, we speak to healthcare providers and those living with the disease about the diagnostic process. We also explain how to build a Parkinson’s care team - a group of healthcar...

Does Parkinson’s only affect older people? A common misconception is that Parkinson’s disease only affects people in the later stages of life, but that isn’t always the case. Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease refers to people who are diagnosed much earlier, sometimes in their 20’s or 30’s. In this episode, we hear from three people who are living with Young-Onset Parkinon’s disease about their experiences, and the impa...

There's no cure for Parkinson's disease, but there are ways to manage it and treat symptoms. In this episode, we explore how different types of medications can help, and the importance of clinical trials in progressing treatment options. We hear from people who are living with Parkinson’s disease about their medication journeys. We also discuss an alternative surgical treatment that is available: deep brain stimulati...

When it comes to slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s disease, exercise is critical. But you don't need to be a lifelong athlete to benefit. In this episode, we hear why exercise is so important, and some easy ways people living with Parkinson’s can get started today. We also cover the importance of physical and occupational therapy, and hear tips on how home adaptations can help manage symptoms. For more link...

Food is an important part of everyone’s life. Adjusting your diet while managing a chronic illness can be a challenge. In this episode, we speak to a dietician about the foods and diets that are often recommended for people with Parkinson's. We also hear about tips and tools to make cooking and eating a little easier, especially while experiencing motor and non-motor symptoms. For more links and resources, visit our ...

Communication is vital for all parts of life, but Parkinson’s disease can greatly impact cognition and speaking. That’s where a speech and language pathologist comes in - helping with common problems like drooling,swallowing, concentration and talking. In this episode, we hear from a speech and language pathologist about different ways to improve communication and swallowing difficulties after diagnosis. We also hear...