Jun 9, 2026
A Parkinson's journey is rarely straightforward and varies from patient to patient
Written by Mary Beth Skylis | June 4, 2026
Before my dad’s Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2013, my understanding of the disease was limited. I knew someone from church who had it, mainly because their tremors made it extremely visible. But I knew little about the disease’s nuances, such as who is most likely to be diagnosed with it, how people experience it differently, and how its treatment isn’t simple.
Based on my experience over the years, the following are five common misconceptions about Parkinson’s that I’ve encountered:
1. Tremors are always a part of having Parkinson’s: Because tremors are one of the most recognizable Parkinson’s symptoms, it’s easy to assume that one must experience them in order to have the disease. While my dad has always experienced this symptom, not everyone does.
2. Parkinson’s affects only older people: As Parkinson’s News Today notes, “most people with Parkinson’s first start to notice symptoms when they are age 60 or older. In about 10% to 20% of cases, however, Parkinson’s begins before a person turns 50. These cases are commonly referred to as early-onset or young-onset Parkinson’s.” My dad was diagnosed at about age 60, but the disease clearly can affect a wide range of ages.
Jun 8, 2026
Last updated Aug. 1, 2025, by Patricia Weiser, PharmD Fact-checked by Patrícia Silva, PhD
Cognitive changes Tips Brain exercises Helpful tools
Cognitive changes are a common part of living with Parkinson’s disease. These shifts in memory, attention, or decision-making may start subtly but can grow more noticeable over time.
The good news is that with the right tools, habits, and support, it’s possible to stay mentally engaged. From lifestyle strategies to targeted brain exercises for Parkinson’s, there are practical steps you can take to support long-term cognitive health.
Cognitive changes in Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease doesn’t just affect movement — it can also affect how you think, focus, and remember things.
These changes are often linked to the loss of dopamine, a brain chemical that helps with both movement and mental function. Parkinson’s may also affect other brain chemicals, like norepinephrine and acetylcholine, which play a role in memory and attention.
Cognitive symptoms tend to be mild at first and often become more noticeable over time. They may include:
- trouble concentrating or staying organized
- challenges with decision-making or planning
- changes in memory, such as forgetting how to do familiar tasks
- slower processing or delayed verbal responses
- trouble finding words or remembering names of everyday items
- problems with spatial awareness and perception, especially in low light
- difficulty with slurred speech or word confusion.
Other mental health symptoms like depression, anxiety, and apathy often overlap with cognitive changes. These conditions can show up at any stage and may make memory and attention problems feel worse.
Talk with your healthcare team as soon as you or a loved one notices any changes. Early support can make a big difference.
Jun 5, 2026
Multiple states are now considering legislation to ban the herbicide
Written by Doc Irish | June 2, 2026
There are moments when a disease stops being only a medical story and becomes a public trust story. A prevention story. A question of whether the people who know enough to act will do so in time. I think Parkinson’s disease is having one of those moments now.
For years, many of us living with Parkinson’s have been told some version of the same unsatisfying sentence: We do not know what caused it. Parkinson’s is complicated. Genes, aging, and biology matter. No one should pretend that one chemical explains every diagnosis. But uncertainty is not ignorance. And it is certainly not an excuse for paralysis.
The Parkinson’s Foundation says genetics contribute to about 10% to 15% of Parkinson’s cases, while environmental factors, including pesticide exposure, can influence risk. That leaves millions of us living in the gray zone between “we do not know” and “we should have known enough to do more.”
Paraquat sits squarely in that gray zone. This highly toxic herbicide has been linked in multiple studies and advocacy campaigns to increased Parkinson’s risk. Its use is already banned in more than 70 countries, including China, where it is still manufactured and exported, yet remains legal in the United States. Advocates, scientists, patients, and families have warned about it. Still, the chemical remains in use.
Jun 4, 2026
Experimental treatment's safety, tolerability will be assessed
Written by Andrea Lobo | June 2, 2026
- A Phase 2a trial of Jotrol is enrolling Parkinson's disease patients.
- Jotrol aims to reduce brain inflammation and oxidative stress.
- The trial will assess Jotrol's safety, tolerability, and effects on motor/non-motor symptoms.
Patient enrollment has started in a Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating Jotrol, an oral formulation of resveratrol developed by Jupiter Neurosciences as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, the company has announced.
The RESET trial (NCT07592767) is recruiting up to 30 patients at three sites in the U.S.: Georgetown University MedStar Hospital in Washington, DC; Montgomery and Franklin Square MedStar Hospitals in Maryland; and MedStar McLean Clinic in Virginia.
The trial, which will assess the treatment’s safety, tolerability, and pharmacological properties, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027.
“With enrollment now underway in the Phase 2a RESET trial we have reached a critical operational milestone. We look forward to generating the clinical data needed to evaluate JOTROL’s potential and to serve patients, providers, and the broader scientific community,” Christer Rosén, Jupiter’s CEO, said in a company press release.
Jotrol preserved motor function in mouse model
Parkinson’s is marked by the loss of brain cells called dopaminergic neurons, which produce dopamine, a signaling molecule involved in motor control. Lack of dopamine signaling leads to the disease’s symptoms, including movement problems and cognitive issues.
While the exact causes of Parkinson’s aren’t fully known, research suggests that excessive brain inflammation and oxidative stress, a type of cellular damage, help drive nerve cell damage and contribute to disease progression.
Resveratrol is a compound found in certain plants, including grapes, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, meaning it can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. However, its use has been limited due to digestive issues when taken orally at high doses.
Jun 3, 2026
By Simon Spichak, MSc / Published On: May 11, 2026
“Originally published on Being Patient, an editorially independent news site covering the latest research on Alzheimer’s disease and brain health.”
A new study finds that the protein alpha-synuclein may accelerate harmful tau buildup in women’s brains, offering new insight into disease progression.
Alzheimer’s is defined by beta-amyloid plaques which build up between brain cells and tau tangles that slowly destroy them from the inside. But many people with the disease also accumulate other toxic proteins within the brain.
Alpha-synuclein, a protein that misfolds across Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies, is also commonly found clumping up in the brains of around half of Alzheimer’s cases.
Until recently, scientists could only measure alpha-synuclein during an autopsy. Using new cerebrospinal fluid tests, researchers from the Mayo Clinic could detect these misfolded proteins in living study participants.
Their latest research, published in JAMA Network Open adds sex to the story. The presence of misfolded alpha-synuclein was linked with 20-fold faster accumulation of tau tangles in women but not in men.
“This finding may explain why some women experience more aggressive dementia progression,” said lead author Elijah Mak of the Mayo Clinic. “Although we’d like to emphasize that more research is needed with larger sample sizes.”
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.
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