Navigating Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

While Alzheimer’s is the leading form of dementia, cognitive impairments in Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), combined with the movement symptoms of the disease, produce a greater impact on social and occupational functioning. Whether you are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, have lived with the condition for a while, or are a caregiver, educating yourself about the… Read more »

“Don’t Stop!”

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1999 at the age of 36, I have learned that keeping a positive attitude, maintaining a sense of humor, and staying active are the best ways to combat my disease. Over the last 22 years, I have experienced 137 in-office neurologist visits and five telemedicine appointments, switched neurologists seven times… Read more »

It Takes a Team

Parkinson’s is often considered a hopeless disease. There is currently no cure or means of stopping the progression of the condition, which robs its patients of motor and cognitive skills, as well as their dignity. But according to Desert Care Network’s (DCN) board-certified neurologist John Legge, MD, today, there is much to be hopeful about.… Read more »

Hypnosis for Parkinson’s Symptoms

Clients with Parkinson’s disease share the stiffness, shakiness, slowness, pain, fear, anxiety, dementia and sleeplessness that they experience with the disease. As part of integrated medical care, clinical hypnosis is a safe and drug-free approach for treatment that has shown to be effective in reducing these and other symptoms of Parkinson’s. In one National Institutes… Read more »

Parkinson’s Clients Don Gloves to Battle Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects the ability to walk, talk, balance and move. Many recent studies on effective therapies for this incurable disease indicate that certain types of exercise, specifically intense “forced” exercise, can exert a neuroprotective influence and may actually slow progression. Over the past twelve years,… Read more »

Specialized Massage Therapy for Parkinson’s

The benefits of massage therapy have long been recognized by people with Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonisms (any condition that causes a combination of the movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson’s disease). Because the diseases typically cause muscle stiffness and rigidity, bodywork’s ability to alleviate joint and muscle stiffness makes it a logical choice for management and… Read more »

Movement Disorders and the Role of Imaging

The passing of one of the greatest athletes in history, Muhammad Ali, has brought attention to the debilitating condition he suffered:  Parkinson’s disease.  This neurodegenerative disease affects as many as one million Americans which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease combined, according to… Read more »

New Studies Link Sleep Disorders to Parkinson’s and Dementia

Although their genetic foundations differ, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia are all characterized by the untimely death of brain cells. What triggers cell death in the brain?[sup]1[/sup] In a recent study, American neurologists and sleep experts suggest that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder could be an early sign of Parkinson’s… Read more »