Article: Here’s a clearly written and quite exciting article on the steps you can take (besides medical help) to control your Parkinson’s symptoms and perhaps even thwart their progression: Improving Brain Function with Exercise, Connectedness and Creativity. Key sentence: “there is now scientific evidence to suggest that certain activities — exercise, social connectedness and creativity — may not only be therapeutic for Parkinson’s symptoms, but may actually change the brain.”
In other words, “…we now know that in addition to your medications, there are some activities that may ease your motor symptoms, improve your quality of life…and perhaps even change your brain.”
Anecdote: A friend of mine, Beth, left this comment elsewhere on this website: My father has Parkinson’s. I’m a big fan of physical therapy, having had it help me with some range of movement issues. After many years of dealing with his PD (he’s now 92), he finally went for his first session with a physical therapist just last week and — lo and behold, much to his surprise — the professionals had something beneficial to offer him. He’s quite pleased with the advice and exercises they recommended. He’s also doing Chi-Gong at home (with my mother who is 87) and says that it helps him with the Parkinson’s. (Chi-Gong and Tai Chi are recommended by the National Parkinson Foundation.)
I’d write more, but I’m heading out to the gym! Read more here.
