Jun 2, 2026
Many caregivers experience a sense of loss for the person they were before
Written by Jamie Askari | May 26, 2026
My husband, Arman, who has early-onset Parkinson’s disease, and I don’t get to the movies very often. Instead, we prefer to wait and stream films from the comfort of home. But when the movie “Wicked” was released in theaters in November 2024, there was no way our small TV with its basic speakers was going to cut it. So we ventured out to the theater.
Since it was Thanksgiving week, two of our children were home to see it with us, which came with the added bonus of helping us at the theater. While it was wonderful to share this movie experience with them, it was also great to have the help, as places like movie theaters have become a significant challenge for us, so we rarely go. Navigating the crowds can be overwhelming, and seating is often complicated for those who use assistive devices, so having our children along to assist made a world of difference.
The music, the sets, and the costumes were as perfect as I had imagined. It was beautiful to see Marissa Bode, the actress who played Nessarose, as she is the first actor to use a wheelchair in real life to portray this character.
Although the movie was a few years back, I still often listen to all of the music from it. As I was cooking dinner the other night, the song “For Good” came up on my playlist. It’s the kind of song you want to sing at the top of your lungs, no matter how terrible you sound! As I was chopping vegetables and belting out the song, I thought about its lyrics and realized there are many parallels to my role as Arman’s caregiver.
The line “I have been changed for good” hits close to home, as I have actually changed immensely since my husband’s diagnosis. There is a past version of me that got left behind somewhere along my caregiving journey. Bits and pieces of me slowly shed as I evolved into the person I am today. That is a person I don’t even remember anymore.
What I do remember is that she slept peacefully through the night, lived without constant fear, walked into rooms without scanning for fall risks, and didn’t hold her breath as she waited for the next crisis. She was carefree, calm, and easygoing, with a lightness about her. She was able to relax and enjoy the moment. I hope that my children remember her, especially on the days that I don’t particularly like the new version of me.
Jun 1, 2026
iRS platform is being developed as a possible early detection tool
Written by Andrea Lobo | May 28, 2026
- German researchers developed an iRS blood test that may help support earlier Parkinson’s detection.
- The test is designed to identify misfolded alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson’s disease.
- The technology could one day support earlier diagnosis and treatment decisions, but regulatory approval is needed before public use.
A team of researchers in Germany has developed an immuno-infrared sensor (iRS) designed to detect misfolded alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson’s disease, in body fluids including blood and the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The researchers say the technology could one day support earlier diagnosis, potentially before symptoms appear.
The team is led by Klaus Gerwert, PhD, professor at Ruhr University Bochum and founder and CEO of Betasense. The company is using iRS in clinical studies, and studies have shown the platform can detect disease-related alpha-synuclein misfolding in body fluids.
According to Grischa Gerwert, the paper’s first author, this technology may have broad applications for analyzing a wide variety of molecules in complex solutions. “This method holds promise for broad clinical application and population-wide screening in the future,” Grischa said in a university news story.
The paper, “An Immuno-Infrared Sensor Detects Preclinical Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease by Protein Misfolding,” was published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry B.
Why alpha-synuclein matters in Parkinson’s
In Parkinson’s, misfolded alpha-synuclein forms oligomers – early clumps of the protein – that can aggregate into fibrils deposited in Lewy bodies. Alpha-synuclein clumps are thought to contribute to nerve cell damage linked to the disease’s symptoms. Misfolded forms of alpha-synuclein also can be detected in body fluids, including blood and cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Diagnosis is largely based on motor symptoms, including slowed movement, rigidity, and tremor, which usually appear after substantial nerve cell damage. While therapies can ease Parkinson’s symptoms, earlier diagnosis could help support earlier treatment and future therapeutic strategies.
“Because of this, there is a broad consensus in the scientific community that therapy needs to begin much sooner, even before the typical insoluble protein deposits form in the brain,” Klaus Gerwert said.
iRS was developed using specific antibodies attached to the sensor with a patented surface chemistry to isolate misfolded proteins, including alpha-synuclein, from body fluids. It allows measurement of the degree of alpha-synuclein misfolding, addressing the need for a noninvasive, cost-effective blood test.
The sensor can distinguish alpha-synuclein monomers, oligomers, and fibrils based on where each form absorbs infrared light. During the alpha-synuclein aggregation process, from monomers to oligomers and fibrils, this infrared signal shifts, indicating increasing protein misfolding.
May 29, 2026
I realized how tiring it is to be reminded that people see you differently now
Written by Crystal Onyema | May 27, 2026
As you probably know by now if you’ve been reading my column, my late uncle Brandon liked to stay on the move.
His career involved hands-on work, building things from the ground up, and figuring out problems on his own. That hardworking mentality wasn’t just part of his job. It was part of his personality. He liked feeling capable, useful, and active. Sitting still for too long just wasn’t him.
So when his Parkinson’s disease began to progress, one of the hardest adjustments for him wasn’t just the physical changes. It was when he realized that people were starting to treat him differently. And one of those people was me.
It wasn’t out of cruelty. I loved my uncle and wanted to protect him. But as his tremors and movement devolved, I started being extra careful around him. I spoke more gently, rushed to help before he could finish things himself, and sometimes watched him too closely instead of just being there with him.
One evening, we were standing outside talking when I noticed his tremors acting up more than usual. Without really thinking about it, in a soft tone, I immediately asked him if he was OK and whether he needed help.
His response caught me off guard. He snapped and told me he was cold and didn’t want people treating him like he was fragile. For a moment, the mood shifted completely. And honestly, I understood why.
May 28, 2026
Medically reviewed by Susan W. Lee, DO — Written by Erica Hersh — Updated on July 17, 2025
A pill rolling tremor is an early symptom of Parkinson’s disease. You will want to consult a doctor, because early diagnosis and treatment can help control your Parkinson’s symptoms and reduce complications.
If you have a pill rolling tremor, it looks like you are trying to roll a pill or another small object between your thumb and index finger. It’s a resting tremor, meaning that it is most likely to happen when your body is relaxed rather than when you’re using your hands.
A pill rolling tremor is one of the most common tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease. It’s usually one of the earliest symptoms.
What causes it?
Tremors are caused by problems in the parts of the brain that control movement, including the cerebellum and basal ganglia.
Some types of tremors can be inherited, Others are caused by factors such as:
- neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke
- excessive caffeine consumption
- an overactive thyroid
- liver or kidney failure
- anxiety, stress, and fatigue
Tremors in general are one of the major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, occurring in approximately 75% of all cases.
In Parkinson’s disease, nerve cells in a part of the brain called the basal ganglia degenerate and produce less of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. The basal ganglia use dopamine to form connections and communicate between neurons. When there’s less dopamine, there aren’t proper connections and communication.
The basal ganglia are responsible for making sure your body movements are smooth. When there aren’t as many connections in this area of the brain, they can’t do their job as well, leading to tremors and the other movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The conditions that can cause pill rolling tremors are all serious conditions, so if you have developed a pill rolling tremor, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible.
May 27, 2026
Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — Written by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D. on February 6, 2023
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that can affect several areas of the brain. The area it affects the most is known as the substantia nigra, which is involved with movement. Nerve activity in other areas of the brain can also be affected, contributing to motor and nonmotor symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological condition that can cause problems with movement, coordination, and balance. It’s estimated to affect almost 1 million people in the United States.
PD affects the nervous system. In this article, we’ll look at the ways it impacts the nervous system, what treatments can help, and the general outlook for PD.
In Parkinson’s disease, nerve cells in the brain become damaged and start to die. What exactly causes PD is still unknown. Generally speaking, it’s believed to develop due to a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Indeed, some people with PD show genetic changes that are known to be associated with the condition. However, most people with PD don’t have these genetic changes.
People with PD do have accumulations of abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies in certain nerve cells. The formation or presence of Lewy bodies appears to contribute to PD, likely by disrupting certain processes within these cells, resulting in cell death.
Parkinson’s disease can have a variety of effects on the nervous system. This contributes to the types of symptoms associated with PD.
Motor symptoms
PD can affect several areas of the brain. The area that’s most significantly affected is called the substantia nigra, which is involved in movement.
The nerve cells in this area make a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other.
Dopamine is important for controlling certain aspects of movement. It’s also involved in many other functions like attention, memory, and mood, just to name a few.
In PD, as the nerve cells that make dopamine die, less dopamine is produced. This leads to the characteristic motor symptoms that are associated with PD, such as:
- tremors
- slow movement, known as bradykinesia
- rigid muscles
- trouble with coordination and balance, which affects gait and increases the risk of falls
In late-stage PD, the corpus callosum and corticospinal tracts of the brain are sometimes involved. It’s thought that this is due to the chronic changes in motor activity that PD causes. Changes in these areas of the brain can also contribute to motor symptoms.
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