The Parkinson's Podcast - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Parkinson's Related Exhaustion, Personal Care Challenges, and Why Exercise Helps Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered, hosts Heather Kennedy and Kat Hill, along with Chris Krueger, honor their late friend Wayne Gilbert and explore the challenging distinction between fatigue and apathy. They offer practical advice for managing energy levels, including the counterintuitive insight that more movement can actually reduce tiredness, and share tips for grandparents navigating visits with multiple grandchildren. The conversation also tackles personal grooming struggles, with candid solutions like wash-and-go haircuts, dry shampoo, and simplified self-care routines that make daily life more manageable.

Gene Therapy for Parkinson's: Myths vs. Facts Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, learn about gene therapy for Parkinson's, including common misunderstandings and ongoing research about it.

This episode contains some technical terms and abbreviations. For your convenience, here is a short list of definitions that might be helpful.

AADC – Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase: An enzyme that helps make dopamine (not a rock and roll band)

AAV – Adeno-Associated Virus: A harmless virus used to deliver gene therapy

CDNF – Cerebral Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor: A protein that helps keep dopamine-producing cells healthy

DBS – Deep Brain Stimulation: A surgical treatment that uses electrical signals to help control symptoms

GAD – Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase: An enzyme that helps rebalance brain circuits.

GBA – A gene linked to Parkinson's risk

GCH1 – GTP Cyclohydrolase 1: An enzyme that supports dopamine production.

GDNF – Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A protein that helps protect brain cells

LRRK2 – A gene linked to Parkinson's risk

PARK2 – A gene linked to Parkinson's risk

PET – Positron Emission Tomography: A brain scan that shows chemical activity

PINK1 – A gene linked to Parkinson's risk

SNCA – A gene linked to Parkinson's risk

More information about Gene Therapy for Parkinson's is available here:

https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/blog/gene-therapy-parkinsons/

https://youtu.be/n2KNtRK3SIk

https://youtu.be/v9mJiO4EEag

Pickleball and Parkinson's: Building Dexterity, Balance, and Community Nov 12, 2025

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In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, Foundation Program Manager Beau Boughamer talks with neurologist Vanessa Hinson and Helen Power, a person living with Parkinson's, about the sport that's sweeping the country—and transforming life with Parkinson's.

Dr. Hinson, a movement disorder specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina, shares how pickleball supports balance, coordination, confidence, and connection through her eight-week program for people with Parkinson's. Helen describes how the game brought her movement, joy, and community, proving that staying active can also mean having fun. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

ON-OFF Fluctuations in Parkinson's: Why They Happen and What You Can Do Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Aaron Haug about what the terms ON and OFF mean in the context of Parkinson's, what ON-OFF fluctuations are, and how to work with your doctor to help manage them. Dr. Haug is a movement disorder specialist based in Englewood, Colorado.

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

Watch Aaron Haug's video about Tremors and Dyskinesias here: https://youtube.com/shorts/jcjNOnaA0as?feature=share

This episode is sponsored by BlueRock Therapeutics. Learn more here: https://www.bluerocktx.com

Aaron Haug, MD, is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist in Colorado. He earned his bachelor's degree at Creighton University and his medical degree at the University of Kansas. He completed a neurology residency and a fellowship in movement disorders at the University of Colorado, including a year as chief resident.

Confronting Cognitive and Emotional Challenges: The Neuropsychology of Parkinson's - Part 3 Oct 08, 2025

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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 final episode of this three-part series, Connie Carpenter Phinney and Dr. Mark Mapstone explore the emotional and cognitive changes that can occur as Parkinson's progresses. They talk openly about issues like apathy, anxiety, executive function decline, and how these changes can affect relationships, communication, safety, and daily life—including decisions around driving and independence. While the conversation acknowledges grief, frustration, and loss, it also offers insight, practical advice, and strategies for living well through change. This episode is for anyone facing or seeking to understand the emotional and cognitive realities of Parkinson's—people diagnosed, care partners, and clinicians alike.

Connie Carpenter Phinney is a co-founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation and has been her husband's care partner for over 25 years. Her background in science combined with her lived experience and curiosity helped shape this conversation with neuropsychologist Dr. Mark Mapstone. Connie is the host of the Foundation's Care Partner Meetup, a monthly virtual meetup for Parkinson's care partners held the first Tuesday of each month. To attend the meetup, sign up here: https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/events/parkinsons-care-partner-meetup/

Dr. Mark Mapstone is Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He is a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders and a Fellow of the UCI Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. His research focuses on pre-clinical detection of neurological disease using cognitive tests and biomarkers obtained from blood. He has a special interest in developing strategies to maintain successful cognitive aging. In the clinic, he specializes in cognitive assessment of older adults with suspected brain disease. Dr. Mapstone earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University and completed fellowship training in Neuropsychology and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Rochester. He received a Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Department of Defense.

This content is possible thanks to the generosity of our listeners. Every day more people are diagnosed with Parkinson's, and this means our work is more important than ever. Please support our work by visiting https://dpf.org/donate.

Interested in our Living with Parkinson's Meetup, Care Partner Meetup, or Live Well Today Webinars? Learn how to join. https://dpf.org/webinars

The Neuropsychology of Parkinson's - Part 2: What to Expect from a Neuropsych Evaluation Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

In this episode, Connie and Dr. Mapstone dive into the role of neuropsychology in Parkinson's care. They explain what a neuropsychological evaluation is, what to expect during an office or virtual visit, and how results can help guide treatment, daily planning, and care strategies. This episode also discusses why someone might be referred, how testing works, and what insights it can offer for both individuals and families.

**This content is possible thanks to the generosity of our listeners. Every day more people are diagnosed with Parkinson's, and this means our work is more important than ever. Please support our work by visiting https://dpf.org/donate.** Connie Carpenter Phinney

Dr. Mark Mapstone

Mark Mapstone is Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He is a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders and a Fellow of the UCI Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. His research focuses on pre-clinical detection of neurological disease using cognitive tests and biomarkers obtained from blood. He has a special interest in developing strategies to maintain successful cognitive aging. In the clinic, he specializes in cognitive assessment of older adults with suspected brain disease. Dr. Mapstone earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University and completed fellowship training in Neuropsychology and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Rochester. He received a Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Department of Defense.

Interested in our Living with Parkinson's Meetup, Care Partner Meetup, or Live Well Today Webinars? Learn how to join. https://dpf.org/webinars

The Neuropsychology of Parkinson's - Part 1: Brain Changes and Impact Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

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 key terms like cognition and executive function and offer insights into how Parkinson's affects brain systems beyond motor symptoms.

This episode lays the groundwork for understanding how the brain works—and what happens when it changes.

Interested in our Living with Parkinson's Meetup, Care Partner Meetup, or Live Well Today Webinars? Learn how to join. https://dpf.org/webinars

Visit https://dpf.org to learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's.

Speaker Bios: Connie Carpenter Phinney Connie Carpenter Phinney is a co-founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation and has been her husband's care partner for over 25 years. Her background in science combined with her lived experience and curiosity helped shape this conversation with neuropsychologist Dr. Mark Mapstone. Connie is the host of the Foundation's Care Partner Meetup, a monthly virtual meetup for Parkinson's care partners held the first Tuesday of each month. To attend the meetup, sign up here: https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/events/parkinsons-care-partner-meetup/

Dr. Mark Mapstone

Advanced Parkinson's, Feeling Velcroed to the Bed, and More Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

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 episode also includes discussion of strategies for sleep, including how to turn over and get comfortable when you feel "velcroed to the bed," as well as some ideas about exercise options for people with limited mobility, from chair yoga to simple seated movements that anyone can do.

Finally, your Unfiltered hosts explore creative outlets like the Haiku for Parkinson's program and other artistic practices that can provide new opportunities for emotional expression and therapeutic benefits for people living with Parkinson's.

Have a question or comment for the hosts of the Parkinson's Podcast: Unfiltered? Send it here. https://dpf.org/unfiltered

Interested in our Living with Parkinson's, Care Partner, or Live Well Today webinars? Learn how to join. https://dpf.org/webinars

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts

Precision Medicine and Parkinson's: The NEULARK Study Sep 05, 2025

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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 people with Parkinson's disease. NEU-411 is an oral medication designed to inhibit overactivity of the LRRK2 gene.

In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, we talk with Dr. Fatta Nahab about the NEULARK study. This episode is sponsored by Neuron23, who is also sponsoring the NEULARK study. Our guest, Dr. Nahab, is Vice President of Clinical and Digital Development for Neuron23.

For more information about the NEULARK trial please visit: https://parkinsonsresearchlrrk2.com/ or https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06680830

Season: 6 Episode: 19

Accessibility, Attention (ADD), and More in Parkinson's Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

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 starts to how they manage it day to day. Real, personal, and full of lived insight. Visit https://dpf.org to learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's.

Season: 6 Episode: 18

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