The Parkinson's Podcast

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In part one of this two-part conversation from our Live Well Today webinar series, Davis Phinney Foundation's Chris Krueger sits down with Richelle Flanagan, a registered dietitian living with young onset Parkinson's, to discuss how protein interacts with levodopa and why meal timing affects how well your medication works, which key nutrients people with Parkinson's are most commonly deficient in, and why getting your levels checked matters. The conversation also covers iron and magnesium timing, protein redistribution, intermittent fasting, and fueling for exercise and fatigue. Richelle Flanagan is a registered dietitian with over 20 years' experience. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017, when she was 46, after noticing symptoms while 3 months pregnant with her daughter. In addition to her interest in diet and nutrition, she is passionate about the unmet needs of women with Parkinson's. She is a co-founder of the Women's Parkinson's Project and My Moves Matter, a digital health app to meet the specific needs of women living with Parkinson's. Second episode: Coming soon!! Learn more about Richelle's work at https://www.mymovesmatter.com Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org Although a tremor is the most well-known symptom of Parkinson's, a tremor may not be the earliest symptom. Symptoms like loss of smell, constipation, acting out dreams, anxiety, and changes in handwriting can show up years before a diagnosis. Cognitive neurologist Dr. Jeffrey Maneval joins Chris Krueger to walk through the most common early signs, why Parkinson's is so often confused with conditions that mimic it, and the tests that can bring clarity, from sleep studies and DaTscans to skin biopsy and genetic testing. You don't have to wait for a formal diagnosis to start treating symptoms. Dr. Maneval discusses how early interventions, including physical therapy, Parkinson's boxing, voice therapy, and mental health support, can help you live well today, even before you have a diagnosis. Dr. Jeffrey Maneval is a board-certified neurologist at MaineHealth specializing in cognitive disorders, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. As Director of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, he is dedicated to advancing patient care, education, and research to improve the lives of people living with neurological conditions. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup This episode is sponsored by CND Life Sciences, the developer and provider of the Syn-One skin biopsy test.

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, we welcome Dr. Abhi M ahajan and two re tired physici an s living with Parkinson's, D oug R e dosh and Stan Livingston , f or a discuss ion about what's missing in current Parkinson's treatments , how the next generation of treat ments may he lp , and how people with Parkinson 's might approach emerging treatments as they become available . This episode is sponsored by AskBio . Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org Intimacy, in all its forms, doesn't disappear with a Parkinson's diagnosis, but it does change. In this episode, Dr. Kelly Rees joins Chris Krueger for a candid conversation about staying close when Parkinson's changes your body, your self-image, and your relationship. They talk through what to do when touch becomes unpleasant, how to navigate mismatched desire without pressuring each other, impulse control changes related to dopamine agonists, and how couples stay connected when symptoms mean sleeping in separate beds. Whether you live with Parkinson's or care for someone who does, Dr. Rees's closing advice holds the whole conversation: don't give up on yourself. Kelly Rees, PhD is a board-certified therapist who specializes in intimacy, relationships, and sexual wellbeing in the context of Parkinson's. Dr. Rees has 15 years of clinical experience working with adults and couples, and she co-developed a program offering free intimacy and relationship classes to the Parkinson's community. Her work focuses on how Parkinson's symptoms, medications, body changes, and shifting roles can affect desire, connection, and communication, and on helping individuals and care partners adapt in ways that support quality of life and emotional closeness. This conversation comes from the Davis Phinney Foundation's June 2026 Live Well Today webinar. Watch the full webinar video here: https://youtu.be/G6c7SQnHrLs Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org For many people with Parkinson's, speech and swallowing issues are among the more difficult symptoms of Parkinson's. Having speech and swallowing challenges can be isolating and lead to complications like aspiration. In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, listen in as Kevin Lockette, Neal Tomita, and Cheryl Lippman describe their experience with the Harmonica Parkinson's Project and how playing the harmonica can help people with Parkinson's improve their speech and swallowing while also connecting with their community. For more about the Harmonica Parkinson's Project visit https://www.harmonicaparkinsonsproject.com/ Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https:// dpf .org/newsletter-signup

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, Chris Krueger talks with Linda English, David Dietz, and Rachel Ritter about cycling on gravel roads while living with Parkinson's. This podcast was produced in Partnership with Dirty Free Hub, a non-profit organization that provides information about gravel cycling routes in 10 states, British Columbia, and Tasmania. Learn more about Dirty Free Hub at https://dirtyfreehub.org/ . The following is a list of equipment our guests recommended: Dropper post for ease of stopping and starting Rearview bike radar for safety when sharing roads with cars A rearview bicycle mirror can be placed on the handlebars or helmet Flat handlebars can help riders stay more upright Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https:// dpf .org/newsletter-signup Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

Soccer and Parkinson's may not seem like an obvious connection—but for a growing number of people around the world, the beautiful game offers far more than exercise. In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, Chris Krueger talks with Keith Sides about his experience participating in a Walking Soccer for Parkinson's program. Together, they discuss balance, coordination, confidence, community, and the value of trying something new after a Parkinson's diagnosis. Whether you're a lifelong soccer fan or have never kicked a ball before, this conversation explores how finding enjoyable ways to move can support living well with Parkinson's. Read the blog post about the Walking Soccer for Parkinson's program and find links to other resources about walking soccer: https://dpf.org/soccer-and-parkinsons Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Davis Phinney Foundation, Copyright 2026

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In part three of this three-part series on Parkinson's and the senses, the panel covers vision changes like difficulty driving at night, light sensitivity, depth perception, and how DBS adjustments can affect focus. They also discuss vertigo, dizziness, and the urinary urgency that many people with Parkinson's experience but rarely talk about, including practical strategies like pre-boarding flights and planning bathroom access. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Season 7 Episode 8 Davis Phinney Foundation, Copyright 2026

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In part two of this three-part series on Parkinson's and the senses, the panel discusses how Parkinson's affects hearing, touch, and the ability to handle busy environments. They cover brain processing sound slower, overstimulation in noisy and crowded places, proprioception and not knowing where your body is in space, the challenge of touchscreens and keypads, and how loss of dexterity has directly impacted their careers. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Season 7 Episode 7 Davis Phinney Foundation, Copyright 2026

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In part one of this three part series on Parkinson's and the senses, Amber, Chris, Sree, Kat, Stan, Larry, and Kristi talk about how Parkinson's affects the senses we don't always think about. The panel digs into smell and taste, from olfactory hallucinations and not knowing if you smell to craving stronger flavors, safety concerns around spoiled food and gas leaks, and digestive changes that come along for the ride. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Season 7 Episode 6 Davis Phinney Foundation, Copyright 2026

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In the series finale of the Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered, hosts Heather Kennedy, Kat Hill, and Chris Krueger answer audience questions, including how to handle well-meaning strangers who grab you when you're frozen or struggling to walk. The conversation turns to what they're each grateful for after years of living with Parkinson's, from the people they've met to the deeper lessons in patience, self-compassion, and acceptance. They also open up about why the podcast has become harder to sustain as their own symptoms progress. It's an honest, heartfelt farewell that captures everything this show has been about. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Season 7 Episode 5 Davis Phinney Foundation, Copyright 2026

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In this episode, Kat's husband Ken joins the panel to talk through the realities of planning ahead, from living trusts and hard family conversations to knowing when your plan needs to change. The conversation also takes on the language of "fighting" Parkinson's, and why both Kat and Ken have moved toward something more like partnership with the disease than battle. Along the way, the panel gets into the tension between independence and asking for help, and what honest communication actually looks like in a relationship shaped by chronic illness. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinsons's: https://dpf.org Season 7 Episode 4

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In part two, Dr. Bas Bloem and Polly Dawkins tackle some of the most pressing topics in the Parkinson's community. They address sexual health, levodopa phobia head-on, share breakthrough research on intermittent hypoxia, and discuss the overlooked connection between gut health and medication effectiveness. This episode offers both cutting-edge science and practical guidance for living well with Parkinson's. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Podcast Produced by Sia Urroz, Davis Phinney Foundation

Learn more about Parkinson's and find support: https://dpf.org In this first part of our two-part conversation, Dr. Bas Bloem and Polly Dawkins discuss why a holistic approach to Parkinson's care matters. They explore the latest evidence on exercise as a disease-modifying treatment, the critical role of supplements and nutrition, and how optimizing every aspect of your life—from sleep to stress management—can transform your quality of life. Whether you're newly diagnosed or living with Parkinson's for years, this conversation offers practical, evidence-based strategies for taking control of your care. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Podcast Produced by Sia Urroz, Davis Phinney Foundation

In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered, the group is joined by a special guest to respond to a listener's question about how their relationship with Parkinson's has changed over time. Together, they talk through the different ways they have named and understood Parkinson's since diagnosis, including ideas of fighting, endurance, acceptance, and daily negotiation. The conversation moves between personal stories, practical coping strategies, and reflections on how identity, energy, and priorities shift as symptoms progress. Rather than settling on one way of framing Parkinson's, the episode explores how those frames evolve. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinsons's: https://dpf.org

In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, Chris Krueger talks with a clinical research team from University of Toronto about how the clinical trial process works, how participants can have the best experience in a trial, and why a team approach to trials is necessary and good. In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Alfonso Fasano, Dr. Arturo Abundes Corona, Sara Naghdlou, a clinical research coordinator with a background in biomedical engineering; and Yu-Yan Poon, a registered nurse who supports trials at the University of Toronto. This episode is sponsored by BlueRock Therapeutics. Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinsons's: https://dpf.org

Occupational therapist and aging-in-place expert Carol Chiang joins us to discuss her new book, Age in Place or Find a New Space. Carol explains why meaningful interactions—not just safety—belong at the center of planning for life with Parkinson's, and how "the choices you make today become the consequences you live with tomorrow." In this podcast episode, Carol discusses the importance of early-stage steps like decluttering and fall-prevention basics, practical visual cueing for freezing, how to break home updates into manageable pieces, and honest caregiver conversations. Carol also shares how to think about modifying a home versus considering a move, and why planning early protects both independence and connection. A grounded, hopeful conversation about creating a home that supports who you are and how you want to live. Learn more about Carol and her work, and find her book at: https://www.EvolvingHomes.com Explore the OT-curated home-modification resource she mentioned: Ask Samie: https://www.asksamie.com/ Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup Learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinsons's: https://dpf.org GUEST BIO Carol Chiang is an Occupational Therapist and founder of Evolving Homes®, specializing in aging-in-place, age tech, and smart home solutions. With 25 years of experience, she helps individuals and families decide whether to "Age in Place" or "Find a New Space®," and supports them through the home changes required at each stage of Parkinson's. A Certified Parkinson's Wellness Recovery therapist and former Olympic-caliber athlete, Carol teaches the importance of planning ahead, using exercise as medicine, and building habits that protect long-term independence. She consults with organizations, startups, and universities worldwide, and has contributed to AARP, the Davis Phinney Foundation, the National Kitchen & Bath Association, and international aging conferences.

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

In this episode of the Parkinson's Podcast, l earn 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 o f 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 Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup

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