Living Well with PD
The Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida (PASWFL) recently held its Annual Living Well with PD Education Symposium that brought together some of Florida’s leading Parkinson’s Disease (PD) specialists who presented on the current state of research, diagnosis, and management of PD, the second leading neurodegenerative disease in the country. While there is currently no cure for PD, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions can dramatically improve the lives of those with PD, and many potentially slow the progression of the disease. Education remains a key component for persons with PD. 

Dr. Ihtsham ul Haq MD, FAAN, Division Chief of the Movement Disorders Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Health Systems gave an overview of what PD is.

“PD is a clinical diagnosis,” said Dr Haq. “It primarily involves the loss of dopamine. 60-80% of the dopamine-producing neurons are lost before the motor signs of PD emerge.” Dr. Haq explained that non-motor signs of PD emerge before motor signs appear. Five cardinal features of PD include:

5 CARDINAL FEATURES OF PD
    MOTOR FEATURES

1. Rest tremor - Frequently asymmetric, with onset usually in one hand, and improvement is seen with movement.
2. Bradykinesia - Slowed movement with decreased facial expression, manual dexterity, stride length, and arm swing.
3. Rigidity - Rigidity is often described by persons with PD as weakness or soreness and includes muscles being resistant to movement.
4. Postural instability - Abnormal gait includes stooping, forward lean, festination, and retropulsion.
   NON-MOTOR FEATURES
5. Non-motor features - Non-motor features of PD can include pain, fatigue, low blood pressure, restless legs, bladder and bowel problems, skin and sweating, sleep, eating, swallowing, and saliva control.

7 NON-PHARMACOLOGIC INTERVENTIONS FOR PD
“There are a number of Non-pharmacologic options for the management of PD,” said Dr. Bhavana Patel, DO, MS, assistant professor in the Division of Movement Disorders and Behavioral Neurology at the University of Florida. Dr. Patel presented seven Non-pharmacologic options for living well with PD including:

1. Nutrition - While there is no single diet specified for PD, healthy food intake focused on the Mediterranean diet and the MIND (Mediterranean-Dash Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet is recommended. 
   ​
2. Exercise and Physical Therapy - Exercise can improve stiffness and slowness, mobility, quality of life, cognition, mood, and sleep, and possibly slowing the rate of disease progression. Exercise and physical therapy can also improve gait, balance, flexibility, range of motion, posture, and strength. Exercise stands out as one of the most promising methods of managing PD. In the recent Park in Shape Trial, participants with PD that engaged in aerobic exercise activities over six months showed increased functional connectivity changes in their brains. Additionally, the participants showed disease stabilization in the corticostriatal sensorimotor network. (van der Kolk) Persons with PD who exercised at least 2.5 hours a week reported a better quality of life and increased mobility. Group exercise either online or in-person provides both the benefits of exercise and social support.
   
   
3. Speech Therapy - Some of the effects of PD on speech include a softer voice, reduced clarity, monotone, stuttering, periods of fast speech, and include swallowing issues for up to 80% of individuals with PD. Speech practice and speech therapy can improve many of the symptoms as can intensive voice treatment through LSVT Loud.
   
   
4. Occupational Therapy - PD can impact many everyday activities including self-care, writing, driving, and balance. Occupational therapy can assist persons with PD with managing these skills.
   
   
5. Meditation - The benefits of meditation are plentiful for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and their care partners. Meditation can boost feelings of control and resilience, reduce anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and prevent mental decline.
   
   
6. Cognitive Exercises - Cognitive training (CT) involves using training programs that provide structured practice on specific cognitive tasks, including memory, attention, or executive function.
   
   
7. Social Support​ - Persons with PD report increased severity of symptoms that include Bradykinesia (slowness of movement and speed), pain, memory, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Professional and peer-led support groups provide an opportunity to express concerns and learn from others with similar questions and issues.

PD SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

The Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida has been providing proven and effective programs and services that improve the quality of life, and educate, enrich, and empower our community members affected by PD and related neurological diseases. Each week the PAWSFL offers more than 20 programs, movement classes, speech exercise and practice, social events, educational talks, wellness classes, and support groups for members with PD and their Care Partners. There are no fees associated with becoming a member; the membership application and additional information on living well with PD are available on their website at www.parkinsonassociationswfl.org.

van der Kolk, N. M., Overeem, S., de Vries, N. M., Kessels, R. P., Donders, R., Brouwer, M., Berg, D., Post, B., & Bloem, B. R. (2015). Design of the Park-in-Shape study: a phase II double-blind randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of exercise on motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. BMC Neurology, 15, 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0312-6

Vertical Divider

Information for Persons Newly Diagnosed with PD
PASWFL Programs and Events to Help You Live Well with PD
Southwest Florida Resources
Videos of Educational Talks on PD
Participate in a PD Study
Sample Calendar of Activities
Articles and Research on PD
Information about PD
Parkinson’s Disease in Florida
Struthers
Reading on PD
Responding to COVID-19

From diagnosis through the progression of the disease, we provide free programming for people with PD, their care partners and loved ones to ensure healthier outcomes in our community such as  movement, educational classes, speech therapy, and so much more. 

​Our services and programming are free to members and their families affected by PD and other neurological disorders, because we believe that everyone should have access to our programming and that finances should never be a barrier to our members.

​Click one of the below links to get started living well with PD.