Video recordings of some of PD Active’s events are available on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
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August Speaker Forum: Gut Microbiome and Parkinson’s Disease
(Tuesday, August 8th, 2023)
The Gut Microbiome is the community of bugs that live inside the digestive tract. Studies show that the Gut Microbiome in people with PD is different from that in people without PD. Studies also suggest that these differences may contribute to inflammation, constipation, and PD symptoms. Watch to learn about this fascinating topic as well as learn about an opportunity to participate in an exciting Stanford research study led by Dr. Palushaj. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel. The interest form for the clinical trial can be found here.
July Round Table: Building Your PD Care Team
(Tuesday, July 11th, 2023)
Our community panelists, Kathe Friel (PwP) & her husband Dan, and Kerrie Halmi (PwP) & her husband Mark, shared with us their experiences — good and bad — along their journey to build a Parkinson’s care team. They covered both Kaiser experiences as well as non-Kaiser. Not sure who should be on your “team”? Who should be your team’s “quarterback”? What questions should you be asking your GP about all of this? Find out here! The recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
April Round Table: Occupational & Physical Therapy — Coping with PD On the Daily
(Tuesday, April 19th, 2023)
Dr. Katrina Long, assistant professor at San Jose State University (SJSU) in the department of occupational therapy and research affiliate at Columbia University, and
Dr. Anuja Chandrana, Doctor of Physical Therapy (Board Certified Neurologic Specialist) and assistant professor at San Jose State University (SJSU), summarized for us the physical and occupational challenges confronting people with Parkinson’s. They also shared useful exercises and tips on how to effectively manage day to day life with Parkinson’s. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
March Speaker Forum: Hallucinations and Dementia with PD — What to Know
(Saturday, March 11th, 2023)
Dr. Angelika Zarkali, Neurologist at the Dementia Research Center at University College London (UCL) and Dr. Suzanne Reeves, PhD, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology in the Division of Psychiatry at the University College London (UCL) joined us via Zoom from London. They shared with us their recent findings on hallucinations and dementia pertaining to Parkinson’s disease. They defined for us what hallucinations and dementia might be and what we should look for. They also discussed the origins of these symptoms and treatment options, along with other valuable resources. The presentations are available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
February Round Table: Is it Time to Park the Car?
(Tuesday, February 14th, 2023)
In this interactive Round Table we addressed and discussed the often-challenging, frequently sensitive discussions and decisions around driving with PD. Topics included: * Impairment signs to look for * Resources to consult * Options after you “park the car”*, and more. Melanie Henry; CEO & DriveABLE Licensed Assessment Provider, Driver Cognitive Assessment Center, LLC (DCAC) gave a presentation about driving with PD and is a licensed driving instructor and helps seniors to build on their defensive driving skills and regain confidence behind the wheel. The presentation is available here, the resources here, and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
January Speaker Forum: Sleep Disorders and PD
(Saturday, January 21st, 2023)
Dr. Liza Ashbrook discussed common sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless leg syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder and their relation to PD. The talk addressed symptoms of these disorders, how often they are seen in Parkinson’s disease, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
December PD Active Community Survey Report Back
(Tuesday, December 6th, 2022)
Almost 200 members of the PD Active community completed our survey in the spring of 2022. The results of the survey were displayed and discussed. Presented by the PD Active Board of Directors. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
November Round Table Caregiving for PD: Navigating Your Options and Planning for the Future
(Saturday, November 12th, 2022)
Speakers: Janet Thompson, Veronica Sibley and Janelle Reinelt
In this interactive forum, Janet Thompson, Veronica Sibley and Janelle Reinelt discussed planning for future caregiving needs. We hosted 2 professionals, Janet Thompson and Veronica Sibley, and one care partner, Janelle Reinelt, from PD Active community. Some of the issues we discussed were how do you know when it is time to get outside help, how to select a care community or in-home caregiver, costs and how to afford care, making adjustments to your home, suggestions for care partners to tend to own needs while caring for others. Each panelist presented for 20 min, then we opened up for general Q&A with PD Active care partner available for questions as well. The presentation is available here, the resources page is here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
October Speaker Forum: Speech and Swallowing Challenges with Parkinson’s
(Tuesday, October 11th, 2022)
Speakers: Alyssa “Lyssa” Rome (SLP, private practice), Julie Hicks (SLP, Stanford & CSEB), Janelle Reinelt (PDA member)
Lyssa Rome is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in holistic, person-centered treatment for adults with neurogenic communication, cognition, and swallowing disorders. Julie Hicks is a speech-language pathologist providing outpatient neurologic rehabilitative care at the Stanford Neuroscience Health Center. She is also a clinical lecturer and practicum supervisor for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB). Janelle is a PD Active member whose husband has Parkinson’s. Janelle and her husband, Jerry, have been working with Lyssa for some time, and they are pleased with the results. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
PD Active Round Table: The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act
(Tuesday, September 19th, 2022)
The discussion with Nora Eigenbrodt, Public Policy Officer with the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, was very informative about The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act (H.R. 8585). This groundbreaking, bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress in July 2022 and at the round table we discussed what the National Plan will accomplish, where it is in the legislative process now, what the timeline is, the National Day of Action: how you can participate, and also tips for speaking about the National Plan. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
September Speaker Forum: Hope and reality on the path to curing Parkinson’s disease: My perspective as a patient, scientist, and entrepreneur with Matt Jacobson
(Saturday, September 10th, 2022)
Matthew P. Jacobson, Ph.D., has been a faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at UCSF since 2002. In 2012, shortly before turning 40 years old, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Since then, he has served as Chair of his department, and co-founded 6 biotechnology companies, including two that are now listed on NASDAQ, Global Blood Therapeutics and Relay Therapeutics. His interest in neurodegenerative diseases predates his diagnosis, and he is working on developing new therapeutics for Parkinson’s Disease at UCSF and in one of his companies, NineSquare Therapeutics.
Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
August Round Table: The Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab’s Ongoing Clinical Trials
(Tuesday, August 9th, 2022)
Ask the Experts Round Table by PD Active had an open conversation with research assistants from Helen Bronte-Stewart’s Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab, Stanford University. They discussed the field of Parkinson’s research and presented on ongoing and recruiting clinical trials at the Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab, with an emphasis on the technology that enables their research. We discussed and answered questions on the topic. The session was hosted and moderated by PD Active. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
June Speaker Forum: A Caregiver’s Journey with Dave Iverson
(Saturday, June 11th, 2022)
Dave Iverson is a writer, documentary film producer/director and retired broadcast journalist. When Dave was 57, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. When he was 59, he moved in with his 95-year old mom Adelaide when she could no longer care for herself. His new memoir Winter Stars: An Elderly Mother, an Aging Son and Life’s Final Journey tells the story of the 10 year caregiving odyssey they shared until her passing at the age of 105.
Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
April Round Table: Long Term Disability, Estate Planning & Trusts
(Tuesday, April 12, 2022)
Ask the Experts Round Table by PD Active had an open conversation with two attorneys Dan Feinberg & Travis Neal helping us navigate trust/estate planning and answer questions about long term disability as well as disability employment discrimination. We discussed and answered questions on the topic. The session was hosted and moderated by PD Active. The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
March Speaker Forum: Movement Problems in PD: Understanding Dyskinesia & Gait, & How to Treat Them
(Saturday, March 12, 2022)
Dr. Salima Brillman is a board-certified neurologist with a fellowship in movement disorders, which includes Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Brillman became one of the first concierge movement disorder neurologists in the Bay Area, seeing patients in her office, in their homes or via telemedicine. Dr. Brillman has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all forms of movement disorders and is proficient in DBS, Duopa and Neurotoxin therapies.
Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
February Speaker Forum: Tips for Living Well with Parkinson’s Disease
(Saturday, February 12, 2022)
Dr. Soania Mathur, diagnosed with PD at age 27, is a renowned expert on living well with PD. This Forum was held in a “fireside chat” format discussing questions submitted by attendees. Dr. Mathur’s website Unshakable MD: https://www.unshakeablemd.com/ and other resources from her talk are PD Avengers: https://www.pdavengers.com/ and the Book: Ending Parkinson’s Disease, A Prescription for Action (Dorsey, Sherer, Okun, Bloem, 2020). Free copy: info@endingpd.org.
Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
January Speaker Forum: The Influence of Environmental and Occupational Toxins on Neurological Diseases
(Saturday, January 8, 2022)
Beate Ritz (https://ph.ucla.edu/faculty/ritz) is Professor of Epidemiology with co-appointments in the Environmental Health department at the UCLA School of Public Health and in Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Ritz’s research focuses on the health effects of occupational and environmental toxins such as pesticides, ionizing radiation, and air pollution on chronic diseases including neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders (Parkinson’s disease, autism cognition).
The PD Active live webinar taught about the health effects of occupational and environmental toxins on chronic diseases including neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
October Speaker Forum: Exercise Is Medicine
(Saturday, October 16, 2021)
Dr. Luthra is a neurologist at UCSF Health who cares for patients with Parkinson’s disease, tremors, dystonia (a movement disorder that causes uncontrollable muscle contractions), ataxia (a nervous system disorder that causes loss of coordination and slurred speech) and other movement disorders. One of Dr. Luthra’s research interests is in finding better treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, including exercise.
The PD Active live webinar taught about how Exercise is Medicine for PD. Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
August Round Table: Tech Tips for People with Parkinson’s
(Tuesday, August 17, 2021)
Ask the Experts Round Table by PD Active had the support of our iPhone expert Monique Does. We discussed tips and answered tech questions on how to use your smart phone (Apple or Android). Attendees asked and submitted questions on the topic. The session was hosted and moderated by PD Active. The presentation is available to view and download: Tech Tips Presentation.
July Speaker Forum: Palliative Care and Parkinson’s: A Total Health Approach
(Saturday, July 10, 2021)
Dr. Maya Katz is a movement disorders neurologist at Stanford Health Center. Her main clinical and research focus is optimizing the delivery and accessibility of palliative care for people with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Dr. Katz is dedicated to taking a comprehensive approach to well-being and to optimizing quality of life for patients and their families.
The PD Active live webinar taught about Palliative Care and Parkinson’s. Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The presentation is available here and the recording is on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
June Round Table: Finding Your Voice with PD
(Tuesday, June 6, 2021)
“Finding Your Voice with PD” with speakers Heather Kennedy and Sharon Krischer was a fascinating talk about the physical challenges to the emotional struggles associated with voice and PD. Our panelists shared their expertise and our attendees made connections to their own lives. That event can be viewed on the PD Active YouTube channel.
April Round Table: What to Know About the Legal and Some Insurance Issues Surrounding PD
(Tuesday, April 13, 2021)
Our April Ask the Experts Round Table was well received. The topic was “What to Know About the Legal and (some) Insurance Issues Surrounding PD”, and our panelists were Deborah England (attorney specializing in labor law) and Brandie Sendziak (attorney specializing in SSD/SSDI). Our attendees had lots of good questions. That event can be viewed on the PD Active YouTube channel.
March Speaker Forum: Holistic Treatments for PD: Wellness, Integrative Medicine, Social Isolation
(Saturday, March 13, 2021)
Dr. Indu Subramanian received her medical degree from the University of Toronto, Canada. She completed a neurology residency and a Movement Disorders fellowship at UCLA. Currently Dr. Subramanian is a Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCLA. She established the movement disorder clinic at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration and is the Director of the South West PADRECC (Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Care) Center of Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr. Subramanian has a strong interest in integrative medicine with a special interest in Yoga and Mindfulness. She is designing a yoga teacher training program for yoga instructors interested in working with PD patients. Dr. Subramanian is board certified in Integrative medicine and is passionate about palliative care in Parkinson’s disease. She is the host of a virtual support group and webinar series with world experts in PD.
The PD Active live webinar taught about Wellness, Integrative Medicine, Social Isolation and Holistic Treatments for PD. Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The recording is available on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
February Round Table: Dying with Dignity
(Tuesday, February 9, 2021)
This was an Ask the Experts Round Table by PD Active with panelists Sue Moss (PDA member), Thalia DeWolf (RN) and Janet Thompson (Senior Living Counselor). It was a free-flowing conversation with panelists’ views, information and experiences. Attendees also asked and submitted questions on the topic.
Did you miss the Round Table or want to revisit it? The recording is available on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
January Speaker Forum: Nutrition and the Neuroscience of PD
(Saturday, January 9, 2021)
Dr. Laurie Mischley studied naturopathic medicine (ND) at Bastyr University and epidemiology (MPH) and nutritional sciences (PhD) at the University of Washington. Her work is focused on identifying the nutritional requirements unique to individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.
The PD Active live webinar taught about nutrition and the neuroscience of PD. The presentation by Dr. Mischley was followed by discussion and questions from participants. Did you miss the Speaker Forum or want to revisit it? The recording is available on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
December Round Table with Claire McLean, DPT and Nate Coomer, DPT on Exercise and Motivation During COVID: Avoiding Depression and Apathy
(Tuesday, December 8, 2020)
PD Active convened an Ask the Experts Round Table; “Exercise and Motivation During COVID: Avoiding Depression and Apathy” with panelists Claire McLean, DPT and founder of Rogue in Motion and Nate Coomer, DPT and founder of The Daily Dose PD.
The conversation was lively and informative. Did you miss the Round Table or want to revisit it? The recording is available on PD Active’s YouTube channel.
November Speaker Forum: Surgical Options for PD: DBS and Beyond- A Look at Pain and Pain Management with Dr. Jaimie Henderson
(Saturday, November 14, 2020)
Dr. Henderson is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurology at the Stanford University Medical Center. His clinical focuses are Functional Neurosurgery, Movement Disorders, Epilepsy, Neurological Surgery, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Neuromodulation. He spoke to the PD Active community on “Surgical Options for PD: DBS and Beyond” as well as Chronic Pain and Pain Management.
A recording of Dr. Henderson’s Forum/Webinar is on PD Active’s YouTube Channel.
October Speaker Forum: Cannabis and the Treatment of Parkinson’s:
Is Anything Known? with David E. Presti
(Saturday, October 10, 2020)
The medicinal, mind-altering, material, and nutritional qualities of Cannabis have resulted in human relationships with this plant dating back thousands of years. Its complex and unique chemistry has fostered the development of important discoveries in neuroscience. What, if anything, is known about the potential therapeutic effects of Cannabis in the treatment of Parkinson’s. David E. Presti teaches neurobiology and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has been on the faculty in molecular and cell biology for nearly 30 years.
A recording of Dr. Presti’s Forum/Webinar is on PD Active’s YouTube Channel.
August Round Table on DBS: What to Expect and How to Live With It
(Tuesday, August 18, 2020)
This was a free-flowing conversation: Our panelists shared their experiences, and our attendees asked questions on the topic. The session was hosted and moderated by PD Active.
Experienced Community Panel
Karen Garrison (DBS patient)
Mike Gabel (DBS patient)
Amy Scheinbaum (care partner of DBS patient)
A recording of the DBS Round Table is on PD Active’s YouTube Channel.
July Forum/Webinar with Dr. Diviya Kaul on Medications in Parkinson’s Disease
(Saturday, July 11th, 2020)
Diviya Kaul, MD is a Movement Disorders Specialist currently working at Kaiser Permanente in Walnut Creek. Her webinar about medications in PD was live and there was an opportunity to engage by submitting questions as she presented. This is a condensed version of the slides that were used in her presentation.