Art Is Part of the New Hope in Parkinson’s What if art isn’t simply something that makes life with Parkinson’s better, but something that helps people reclaim parts of themselves Parkinson’s has tried to take away? I was deeply moved by a recent conversation between Dr. Rachel Dolhun of The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Dr. Bas Bloem about the emerging evidence surrounding art and Parkinson’s. They discussed how creative engagement may reduce stress and anxiety, support bra

Happy Fourth of July! This weekend the US celebrates 250 years of independence. As I've been thinking about Independence Day this year, I've found myself reflecting on another idea that deserves just as much attention: interdependence. We don’t get through life alone - even if sometimes we think or act like we do. We all rely on people who encourage us, challenge us, teach us, forgive us, and remind us who we are when we've forgotten. That includes families, friends, nei

I wasn't expecting to cry at a medical conference. The annual ATMRD conference is full of remarkable moments: Researchers unveil discoveries, clinicians share new approaches to care, and people living with Parkinson's tell stories of resilience and struggle. But sometimes the most important lesson comes from a simple question. This year, that question came from my friend, Dr. Dan Irizarry. Ryan Reynolds was on stage sharing the story of his father, who lived with Parkinson's

At the recent World Parkinson’s Congress we had a simple flip book on our Yes, And…X table titled: “How we’re Fucking Parkinson’s.” It got a lot of attention. I was ready for people to be offended. If they were, they kept it to themselves. What I did hear a lot of was “oh yeah…”...like there was a Kool Aid convention nearby. There’s real power in claiming the phrase “Fuck Parkinson’s”, popularized by Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford in the Apple TV series, Shrinking. Not as