The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Moving Forward: Techniques to Manage Parkinson’s Gait Changes (Webinar Audio) Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Changes in walking, balance and mobility are common and bothersome symptoms of Parkinson’s. They may look different from person to person — and even within the same person, depending on time and situation.

Listen to audio from this month’s MJFF Parkinson’s Webinar to hear experts discuss why Parkinson’s can affect walking and explore practical strategies that may help you move more confidently. They also dig a little deeper into freezing of gait, including what can trigger it, what to do if a freeze happens and how the latest research could improve care in the future.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

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All Grit. No Quit. is our bold Campaign to raise $2.5 billion by 2028. This is our biggest push yet toward a world without Parkinson's and we need to bring the full force of our community to meet this moment. Whatever brings you here, you can be a part of accelerating what comes next. michaeljfox.org/campaign/all-grit-no-quit

Delivering Better Parkinson’s Treatments Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Today Parkinson’s treatments are largely focused on helping manage symptoms, but researchers are working towards something more: treatments that address a wider range of symptoms and ultimately slow or stop disease progression. Getting there will likely take many different approaches, reflecting the many ways Parkinson’s can affect people.

In this episode of the MJFF Parkinson’s Podcast, part of its award-winning Parkinson’s Science POV series, host Maggie Kuhl, vice president of patient engagement at MJFF, leads a conversation with MJFF Chief Scientific Officers Brian Fiske, PhD and Mark Frasier, PhD, about how researchers are building a more diverse pipeline of potential treatments. They discuss how learning more about Parkinson’s are opening doors to new approaches, and the importance of centering what really matters for people living with the disease.

Maggie also speaks with Shalini Padmanabhan, PhD, MJFF’s head of translational research, about the Foundation’s Targets to Therapies program and how MJFF is helping discoveries move closer to new treatments.

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Can Parkinson’s Disease Be Inherited? (Webinar Audio) Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

A Parkinson’s diagnosis can raise big questions in a family: Was there a genetic link that contributed to developing the disease? How should other family members think about their risk? Should people get genetic testing?

In audio from this month’s MJFF Parkinson’s Webinar, our panel of experts discusses what genetics can tell us about Parkinson’s risk, what to consider around genetic testing, and how studying genetics is helping researchers develop better treatments for everyone living with the disease.

If you’d rather listen on the go, subscribe to The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson’s Podcast on iTunes or your preferred podcast app. If you enjoyed what you heard, share it with a friend or leave a review to help others find and support our mission.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

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Sources of Strength: Spiritual Well-Being and Parkinson’s Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Parkinson’s disease can change much more than movement. It can reshape roles and relationships, challenge a person’s sense of identity and alter the future they once imagined. In this podcast, you’ll hear from people living with the disease about how they’ve navigated the big questions that Parkinson’s has raised and the spiritual practices that nurture them, give them hope and keep them grounded. You’ll also hear from experts in Parkinson’s care about the importance of treating the whole person and how tending to spiritual well-being, however that looks for an individual, can be part of living well with the disease.

Learn more about living well with Parkinson’s: https://www.michaeljfox.org/lifestyle-strategies-living-well-parkinsons

Join the Parkinson’s Buddy Network: https://parkinsonsbuddynetwork.michaeljfox.org/v2/

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Parkinson’s or Something Else? Understanding Parkinsonisms (Webinar Audio) Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Parkinsonism is an umbrella term to describe a group of conditions that cause movement symptoms. Parkinson’s disease shares some traits with drug-induced and vascular parkinsonisms, as well as atypical parkinsonisms, but each condition differs in how it progresses and is treated. Listen to audio from this month’s MJFF Parkinson’s Webinar to hear our panel of experts discuss the sometimes-long path to diagnosis and what people with parkinsonism and their families should know. They also cover the latest research into parkinsonisms.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

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What’s Next for the Study That’s Changing Everything? Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Better treatments for Parkinson’s disease depend on increasing our understanding of why Parkinson’s develops and how it progresses. The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s landmark study, the Parkinson’s Precision Medicine Initiative (PPMI), is expanding to better answer those questions.

In this episode of The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast, Maggie Kuhl, vice president of patient engagement at MJFF, leads a conversation about these efforts with:

Kenneth Marek, MD, co-founder of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders and PPMI’s principal investigator
Sohini Chowdhury, MJFF’s chief program officer
Donna Rajkovic, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012 and joined PPMI the same year

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

The Foundation’s landmark study, the Parkinson’s Precision Medicine Initiative, also known as PPMI, is recruiting volunteers. Join the study that’s changing everything at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi

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Finding the Best Parkinson’s Clinical Trial for You (Webinar Audio) Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Breakthroughs depend on research volunteers, but many people have questions about what participating in a trial means, and how to select the right trial for their goals, needs and lifestyle. Listen to audio from this month’s Third Thursdays Webinar to hear our panel of experts share what to look for in a trial you’re considering and how to navigate the clinical trial process.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

This webinar received support from BlueRock Therapeutics. Learn more at expditestudy.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Parkinson’s and Constipation: A Candid Conversation (Webinar Audio) Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Constipation is a frequent and troublesome symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It can affect how medication is absorbed and impact daily life. Tune in to audio from this month’s Third Thursdays Webinar to hear our panel of experts discuss why constipation happens in Parkinson’s. They also cover managing and preventing constipation and the latest research on the gut-brain connection.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

Mentioned in this episode:

Finding a Clearer Parkinson's Diagnosis Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Parkinson’s isn’t easy to diagnose — everyone’s symptoms differ based on their individual biology, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. One of The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s (MJFF) key areas of focus is finding ways to diagnose Parkinson’s disease earlier and more clearly, which could one day lead to more personalized treatments that can improve quality of life.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

There are so many ways to get involved in the research that is leading to clearer disease diagnosis. Learn more about your role in research at: https://www.michaeljfox.org/your-role-parkinsons-research

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Everyday Tips for Living Well with Parkinson’s Disease May 20, 2026

Show notes

People living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their loved ones develop countless ways to adapt and make daily life easier as symptoms change. Members of The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Patient Council and their care partners share decades of collective wisdom on living with PD. They came together for a live conversation at MJFF’s New York City offices to discuss what they’ve learned along their own disease journeys, from practical strategies and tools that make daily life easier to the mindsets and mantras that guide and sustain them. In this episode of the MJFF Parkinson’s Podcast, patient council member and guest host Larry Gifford, diagnosed with PD in 2017 and president of PD Avengers, together with his wife and care partner Rebecca, reflect on the advice given.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your community. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0

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