The Parkinson's Podcast

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup In the final episode of this three-part series, Connie Carpenter Phinney and Dr. Mark Mapstone explore the emotional and cognitive changes that can occur as Parkinson's progresses. They talk openly about issues like apathy, anxiety, executive function decline, and how these changes can affect relationships, communication, safety, and daily life—including decisions around driving and independence. While the conversation acknowledges grief, frustration, and loss, it also offers insight, practical advice, and strategies for living well through change. This episode is for anyone facing or seeking to understand the emotional and cognitive realities of Parkinson's—people diagnosed, care partners, and clinicians alike. Connie Carpenter Phinney is a co-founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation and has been her husband's care partner for over 25 years. Her background in science combined with her lived experience and curiosity helped shape this conversation with neuropsychologist Dr. Mark Mapstone. Connie is the host of the Foundation's Care Partner Meetup, a monthly virtual meetup for Parkinson's care partners held the first Tuesday of each month. To attend the meetup, sign up here: https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/events/parkinsons-care-partner-meetup/ Dr. Mark Mapstone is Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He is a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders and a Fellow of the UCI Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. His research focuses on pre-clinical detection of neurological disease using cognitive tests and biomarkers obtained from blood. He has a special interest in developing strategies to maintain successful cognitive aging. In the clinic, he specializes in cognitive assessment of older adults with suspected brain disease. Dr. Mapstone earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University and completed fellowship training in Neuropsychology and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Rochester. He received a Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Department of Defense. This content is possible thanks to the generosity of our listeners. Every day more people are diagnosed with Parkinson's, and this means our work is more important than ever. Please support our work by visiting https://dpf.org/donate. Interested in our Living with Parkinson's Meetup, Care Partner Meetup, or Live Well Today Webinars? Learn how to join. https://dpf.org/webinars

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson's community—delivered to your inbox. https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup In the first episode of our three-part series about neuropsychology and Parkinson's, Connie Carpenter Phinney and Dr. Mark Mapstone explore how brain chemistry, especially dopamine, relates to thinking, movement, and mood in Parkinson's. They break down key terms like cognition and executive function and offer insights into how Parkinson's affects brain systems beyond motor symptoms. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding how the brain works—and what happens when it changes. **This content is possible thanks to the generosity of our listeners. Every day more people are diagnosed with Parkinson's, and this means our work is more important than ever. Please support our work by visiting https://dpf.org/donate.** Interested in our Living with Parkinson's Meetup, Care Partner Meetup, or Live Well Today Webinars? Learn how to join. https://dpf.org/webinars Visit https://dpf.org to learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's. Speaker Bios: Connie Carpenter Phinney Connie Carpenter Phinney is a co-founder of the Davis Phinney Foundation and has been her husband's care partner for over 25 years. Her background in science combined with her lived experience and curiosity helped shape this conversation with neuropsychologist Dr. Mark Mapstone. Connie is the host of the Foundation's Care Partner Meetup, a monthly virtual meetup for Parkinson's care partners held the first Tuesday of each month. To attend the meetup, sign up here: https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/events/parkinsons-care-partner-meetup/ Dr. Mark Mapstone Mark Mapstone is Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He is a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders and a Fellow of the UCI Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. His research focuses on pre-clinical detection of neurological disease using cognitive tests and biomarkers obtained from blood. He has a special interest in developing strategies to maintain successful cognitive aging. In the clinic, he specializes in cognitive assessment of older adults with suspected brain disease. Dr. Mapstone earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University and completed fellowship training in Neuropsychology and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Rochester. He received a Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and the Department of Defense.

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts More people with Parkinson's are impacted by the LRRK2 (often pronounced "Lark two") gene than you might expect. The NEULARK study is a phase II clinical trial designed to investigate whether a new treatment being researched, NEU-411, can slow disease progression and improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease. NEU-411 is an oral medication designed to inhibit overactivity of the LRRK2 gene. In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, we talk with Dr. Fatta Nahab about the NEULARK study. This episode is sponsored by Neuron23, who is also sponsoring the NEULARK study. Our guest, Dr. Nahab, is Vice President of Clinical and Digital Development for Neuron23. For more information about the NEULARK trial please visit: https://parkinsonsresearchlrrk2.com/ or https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06680830 Season: 6 Episode: 19

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In this episode of The Parkinson's Podcast, we feature excerpts from our July 2025 Care Partner Meetup. In this meetup, Kristin Gustashaw, a registered dietician at Rush University Medical Center, shares real-world advice about food, meds, digestion, and supplements to help care partners and people with Parkinson's make more informed choices. Much of this conversation focuses on the interaction between protein and levodopa. People with Parkinson's and their care partners are often advised not to eat protein near the time when they take their levodopa. Listen in as Kristin shares her perspective on this--as well as other dietary advice--informed by her 25 years as dietician in a movement disorder clinic.

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts This episode of the Parkinon's Podcast features the full, unedited audio from a Live Well Today Webinar. During this live webinar, Dr. Corcos, Professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, shared insights from decades of research focused on the benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson's. Listen in as Dr. Corcos discusses the latest findings in Parkinson's exercise science and offers practical takeaways for incorporating effective movement strategies into everyday life. Some links discussed in this webinar: SPARX Phase 2 Trial--https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2664948 Dr. Corcos' Exercise Advice Article--https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3233/JPD-230277 Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Test Article-https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1877718X251330814 Industrial Chemicals and Parkinson's Blog-- https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/industrial-chemicals-pesticides-and-parkinsons/ Climbing and Parkinson's Blog-- https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/stay-moving-with-parkinsons-tai-chi-ping-pong-and-rock-climbing/ ---- Speaker Bio Daniel Corcos, PhD Professor of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences Daniel Corcos obtained his PhD in Motor Control from the University of Oregon after obtaining his Master's Degree in Psychology. The primary research interests of Dr. Corcos are aimed at helping people with Parkinson's disease improve their quality of life, improve their mobility and cognition, and slow down the rate at which their disease progresses. Integrating neuroscience and expertise in conducting clinical trials, the research of Dr. Corcos focuses on interventions (such as resistance exercise, endurance exercise, stretching and balance training) that aim to reduce the symptoms of the disease and delay the rate at which the disease progresses. Within this context, Dr. Corcos uses exercise interventions whose dose (frequency, intensity, time and type) can be precisely controlled to achieve these goals and thereby develops and integrates laboratory-based interventions that people with Parkinson's disease can employ in their local community. His current research, published in JAMA Neurology suggests that high intensity endurance slows down the rate at which Parkinson's disease progresses. These findings have been covered in the New York Times and the general press world-wide. Dr. Corcos lectures nationally and internationally to physicians, neuroscientists, and people with the disease on the benefits of exercise for those with Parkinson's disease.

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts Join Heather, Kat, and Chris for another episode of The Parkinson's Podcast Unfiltered. Questions addressed in this episode include navigating apathy--which is one of the most difficult non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's for many people--and how to evaluate your own disability, changes in ability, and quality of life. Ask Heather, Kat and Chris a question here: https://dpf.org/unfiltered To learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's visit: https://dpf.org Season 6 Episode 13

To subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel visit: https://www.youtube.com/@davisphinneyfdn/podcasts In their first episode back after a break for Parkinson's Awareness Month and some time to tend to personal needs, Heather and Kat dive into a candid conversation about loneliness. Prompted by a listener's question, they explore how Parkinson's can impact friendships and what it means to navigate shifting social dynamics. Stay tuned: more episodes of Unfiltered are on the way! Ask Heather and Kat a question here: https://dpf.org/unfiltered To learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's visit: https://dpf.org Season 6 Episode 11