The Parkinson's Podcast

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup In the first episode of our three-part series about neuropsychology and Parkinson's, Connie Carpenter Phinney and Dr. Mark Mapstone explore how brain chemistry, especially dopamine, relates to thinking, movement, and mood in Parkinson's. They break down ke...

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered, hosts Heather, Kat, and Chris tackle one of the toughest questions of this season of Unfiltered: how to manage apathy and depression in advanced Parkinson's while also navigating a healthcare desert. This epi...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts More people with Parkinson's are impacted by the LRRK2 (often pronounced "Lark two") gene than you might expect. The NEULARK study is a phase II clinical trial designed to investigate whether a new treatment being researched, NEU-411, can slow disease progression and improve quality of life for...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts Heather, Kat, and Chris share their experiences with accessibility and travel challenges while living with Parkinson's. They dive into attention and focus, including what it's like to live with both Parkinson's and ADD. The conversation also covers the realities of freezing of gait—from how it...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, we feature excerpts from our July 2025 Care Partner Meetup. In this meetup, Kristin Gustashaw, a registered dietician at Rush University Medical Center, shares real-world advice about food, meds, digestion, and supplements to help care partners and pe...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit:  https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts This episode of the Parkinson's Podcast features the full, unedited audio from a Live Well Today Webinar. In this episode, Dr. Greg Pontone discusses the effects that Parkinson's can have on mental health, including why mental health related symptoms occur, how they impact daily life, and what...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts This episode of the Parkinon's Podcast features the full, unedited audio from a Live Well Today Webinar. During this live webinar, Dr. Corcos, Professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, shared insights from decades of research focused on the benefits of exercise for people with...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode, we share an excerpt from the Q&A portion of one of our  Living with Parkinson's Meetups , where guest speakers answer community questions about intense exercise, freezing episodes, and sleepiness in Parkinson's . Visit https://DPF.ORG for more information and resources for peop...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts Join Heather, Kat, and Chris for another episode of The Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered. Questions addressed in this episode include navigating apathy--which is one of the most difficult non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's for many people--and how to evaluate your own disability, changes in abilit...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this Q&A episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, recorded during the May 2025 Living with Parkinson's Meetup, they answer questions from the community about what to do when Parkinson's affects your ability to work and how to navigate Power of Attorney. They also discuss orthostatic blood pressur...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In their first episode back after a break for Parkinson's Awareness Month and some time to tend to personal needs, Heather and Kat dive into a candid conversation about loneliness. Prompted by a listener's question, they explore how Parkinson's can impact friendships and what it means to naviga...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, Executive Director Polly Dawkins speaks with Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun about their forthcoming book, "The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment," set for release on August 19, 2025. Framed around the acronym PLAN—Prevent,...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode, we're sharing an excerpt from our May 2025 Live Well Today webinar about Emerging Therapies for Parkinson's, which features Dr. Soania Mathur and Dr. Michael Okun. In this excerpt, Dr. Mathur and Dr. Okun discuss three emerging treatments for Parkinson's that are designed for c...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode, we share excerpts from the Q and A portion of our April 2025 Living with Parkinson's Meetup, featuring audience questions about dancing and keeping rhythm even when it gets harder, managing REM sleep disorder, and deep brain stimulation (DBS). For more information about the Dav...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts This episode contains excerpts from the Q and A during our March 2025 Living with Parkinson's Meetup. In this Q and A, the panelists answer questions from the audience about accepting their diagnosis, surprising aspects of living with Parkinson's, posture, exercise, dental care, and young-onset...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode, Heather, Kat, and Chris address three audience questions: navigating the challenges of being denied disability benefits, a husband's struggle to discuss Parkinson's with his newly diagnosed wife, and the tough decision to leave work because of Parkinson's. They offer practical...

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode, Dr. K explains how constipation affects Levodopa absorption, discusses protein's impact on medication effectiveness, and shares optimal strategies for taking Levodopa. This is an excerpt from one of our online educational events for the Parkinson's community. For more informati...

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered, the hosts explore a listener's question about overcoming creative barriers while living with Parkinson's. They discuss how to push past obstacles to creating art, as well as the powerful benefits art can offer to those with Parkinson's. From improving mental and physical wel...

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, hear from John Dean, a speech language pathologist who exclusively works with people with Parkinson's, about the impacts that Deep Brain Stimulation can have on speech and swallowing. For more information about the Davis Phinney Foundation visit: https://dpf.org Season 6 Episode 3

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. Dive into Leo Sarmiento's inspiring Parkinson's journey, where he transforms personal challenge into a powerful story of resilience, health, and purpose. From property maintenance to mental health advocacy, Leo shares how conscious choices and faith have shaped his path. Join us for an intimate conversation about overcoming obst...

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. We hope you enjoy episode one of the second season of The Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered. This season, Unfiltered hosts, Heather and Kat, will answer questions from the podcast's audience. If you have a question for them, please send it in by visiting dpf.org/unfiltered. In this episode, Heather and Kay discuss a question they r...

To donate, please visit https://dpf.org/2024donate . Together, we can continue to empower the Parkinson's community to live well today—and every day. In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, we describe some of the ways the Davis Phinney Foundation helps people living with Parkinson's live well today. By providing critical resources, fostering community, and offering expert insights, the Founda...

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. In this episode, Dr. Arash Fazl discusses the role of the protein alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's and how this protein is involved in new diagnostic tests for Parkinson's. Dr. Fazl also shares how these new tests may contribute to additional exciting developments in the future.   This is part two of a two-part series about Parkin...

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. This episode is part one of a two - part series about developments in Parkinson's diagnosis. In  part 2 , Dr. Fazl describes the development of new diagnostic tests , how they help, and what new information they can provide.   This two-part series is sponsored by CND Life sciences , home of t he Syn-One Test —t he first commerci...

Click here to subscribe for our podcast and video content on YouTube. In this episode, hosts Heather and Kat share what has been working well for them in their Parkinson's journeys, including meditation, avoiding over-scheduling, and finding purpose. They discuss the importance of nurturing meaningful connections while also maintaining boundaries to be true to themselves. For more information abou...