The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Breathing Through: Mindfulness as a Parkinson's Treatment Tool Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

Research shows mindfulness and meditation can improve some Parkinson’s (PD) symptoms and help people live a better life with the disease, but it can be tricky to put into practice. In this podcast, you’ll hear from people whose lives have been touched by PD and who use mindfulness to reduce symptoms and stress, and from a researcher who is studying how mind-body strategies can be used to treat Parkinson’s. Tune in for practical tips, advice and a guided meditation you can try at home.

You can find links to the resources mentioned in the episode on our website: michaeljfox.org/podcast/breathing-through-mindfulness-parkinsons-treatment-tool

You can also download our free guide on exercise and Parkinson’s disease, which includes tips for incorporating meditation into your daily routine at michaeljfox.org/exerciseguide

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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

Studying CSF Element Profiles and Tear Fluid as Potential Biomarkers, and Novel and Combined Therapies for PD with Paul Lingor Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

Evidence supports that dysfunction in the homeostasis of iron and other elements likely contributes to the pathophysiological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease, but we have yet to develop suitable elemental biomarkers for use in diagnosing and monitoring the progression of Parkinson's disease. Dr. Paul Lingor discusses his work in this area to identify patterns of bioelements in CSF that could serve as PD biomarkers. Beyond CSF, he is also examining tear fluid as a potential biomarker source that is easier to collect. In addition to work on biomarkers, Paul has been involved in developing and evaluating new treatments for Parkinson's disease. In this episode, he discusses an ongoing phase II clinical trial evaluating the ROCK inhibitor Fasudil, as well as research examining combinations of advanced therapies for people with later-stage Parkinson's disease. Paul is Professor of Neurology at the Technical University of Munich and head of the outpatient clinics for motor neuron disease and co-head of the outpatient clinics for Parkinson’s disease.

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This podcast episode was part of a limited series created by The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2023 and 2024 for clinicians and researchers in our audience. These episodes provide a deeper dive into exciting new scientific research in Parkinson’s disease, as well as innovative tools and valuable resources, through conversations with a variety of experts in the field. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Considering Deep Brain Stimulation: What to Know and Expect (Webinar Audio) Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

The decision-making process around deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat Parkinson’s motor symptoms can be a complex and emotional journey. People often have questions about when – and whether – to have the procedure and what the experience is like, from the months of evaluation pre-surgery to surgery day to life with the device. In audio from this Third Thursdays Webinar, our panel of people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and a movement disorder specialist share their DBS stories and answer audience questions about their choices and experiences.

Learn more about deep brain stimulation and download our free guide on our website: https://bit.ly/4cTOT52

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

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Current and Emerging Imaging Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of PD and Atypical Parkinsonism with Antonio Strafella Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

Identifying reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism would have substantial impacts on clinical trials and clinical practice. A particularly active area of research is the development of novel molecular imaging biomarkers that can be used in combination with common neuroimaging approaches. Dr. Antonio Strafella discusses current practices for using molecular imaging biomarkers in research and in the clinic, the process of developing new biomarkers, as well as promising biomarkers that are in development. He also discusses limitations, implementation challenges, and the potential use of AI to enhance diagnostics in the future. Antonio is the Krembil-Rossy Chair in Molecular Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Professor in the Department of Medicine within the Division of Neurology at the Toronto Western Hospital (University Health Network, University of Toronto). He also serves as Director of Clinical Research and Translation with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University Toronto, and he is a movement disorder neurologist in the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease and Morton & Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital.

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Building on the Biomarker Breakthrough: What We’re Working on Now Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Just over a year ago, there was a major breakthrough in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research – a tool that could detect abnormal alpha-synuclein protein in the spinal fluid of people living with PD even before onset of symptoms. This discovery is already impacting the ways scientists conduct and think about Parkinson’s research. Tune into this episode of our award-winning “Parkinson’s Science POV” series to learn how researchers are using the test to better understand disease biology and what the future holds.

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Examining Links Between Environmental Exposure, Poor Olfaction, and Parkinson's Disease with Honglei Chen Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

Prior studies have established links between poor olfaction and Parkinson's disease, and impaired sense of smell is a common prodromal symptom of Parkinson's disease. The causes and mechanisms of prodromal neurodegeneration are actively being researched. However, environmental exposure to pesticides or other chemicals may trigger or modify the course of neurodegeneration, potentially leading to the development of Parkinson's disease over time. In this episode, Dr. Honglei Chen shares his research on environmental causes of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing particularly on evidence linking olfaction, environmental exposure, and Parkinson’s disease. Better understanding how environmental factors may contribute (alone or in combination with genetic factors) to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease may lead to new approaches to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegeneration. Honglei is the MSU Research Foundation Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Michigan State University.

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You Want to Volunteer for Parkinson’s Research: Now What? (Webinar Audio) Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

You might be interested in stepping forward for science to play a role in the next breakthrough in Parkinson’s research, but still have questions about how to actually participate. How do you pick the right study for you? How do you balance your life logistics and your medical care considerations? What rights do you have when you participate in a study? In audio from this Third Thursdays Webinar, our panel of people living with Parkinson’s and research experts discuss the practicalities and benefits of volunteering for research.

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Developing Interventions to Improve Gait and Increase Physical Activity in Parkinson’s Disease with Gammon Earhart Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Gait impairments such as slow speed, small steps, and high variability from step to step are common in people with Parkinson's disease, and these changes begin to occur early in the course of disease. Freezing of gait may develop later for some individuals, and it has been linked to falls and other adverse outcomes. When the quality of walking declines, it can lead to a reduction in the quantity of walking and overall physical activity, which is also related to poorer health outcomes. To prevent this cascade of events, Dr. Gammon Earhart is developing and evaluating interventions to improve gait and increase physical activity in People with Parkinson's disease. In this episode, she discusses how she and collaborators are conducting studies on different approaches, including a mobile health application, self-generated rhythmic cues in the form of singing, and mindfulness training, to improve aspects of walking and physical activity in people with Parkinson's disease. Gammon is Professor of Physical Therapy, Neurology, and Neuroscience, Associate Dean for Physical Therapy, and Director of the Program in Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

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Studying Basal Ganglia Circuits and Developing Deep Brain Stimulation Protocols for Longer-Lasting Effects with Aryn Gittis Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Improving our understanding of the complex neural circuits involved in normal function of the basal ganglia and other parts of the brain impacted by Parkinson's disease is critical for developing more targeted and more effective treatment approaches. In this episode, Dr. Aryn Gittis discusses her research examining how the activity of specific basal ganglia circuits relates to motor control in both health and pre-clinical models of movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. She describes new research on basal ganglia circuits that expands upon existing theoretical frameworks and provides important insights that can be leveraged to improve current therapies for Parkinson's disease by better targeting specific cell types in relevant circuits. Aryn also shares details about her ongoing project evaluating the impacts of stimulus location for a novel pattern of deep brain stimulation (DBS) that has been shown to provide long-lasting therapeutic effects in pre-clinical models. Aryn is Professor of Biological Sciences and the Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

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When Parkinson’s Hurts: Treatments for Managing Pain (Webinar Audio) May 29, 2024

Show notes

Many people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience pain as a non-motor symptom. Pain can arise from stiff muscles, dystonia, nerve pain and even the disease progression itself. It’s a symptom that some find difficult to talk about, but there are options for people to find relief. In audio from this Third Thursdays webinar, listen to our expert panel of people living with PD, movement disorder specialists, and an integrative pain specialist discuss pain and Parkinson’s – why it happens, treatments to reduce it, and practical tips you can start incorporating today.

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