Parkinson Research Foundation

10/16/2026

💚 The Power of Community

People with Parkinson’s who stay connected through support groups and community programs may experience:

✨ Better quality of life
💊 Improved medication adherence
💚 Lower rates of depression

You do not have to face Parkinson’s alone.

🤝 Connection matters. Community matters.

10/09/2026

More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease.

The number of people living with Parkinson’s has more than doubled globally over the past 25 years.

🌎 Parkinson’s affects people and families around the world.

💚 Global research brings global hope.

10/02/2026

Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, can help manage certain movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Small electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain to deliver controlled electrical impulses that help regulate abnormal brain signals.

⚡ DBS is sometimes described as a “pacemaker for the brain.”

💚 Advancing treatment. Improving lives.

09/30/2026

The right mobility aid can help people with Parkinson’s stay active, independent, and safe. 👣 This informative post from Parkinson’s News Today offers helpful guidance on choosing the right walking aid and improving gait safety. 💙

The right walking aid can help you stay active and independent with Parkinson’s. Here’s how to choose.

When Parkinson’s disease makes walking harder or less safe, a mobility aid can support balance, help prevent falls, and keep you moving with confidence. There’s no one-size-fits-all option. The best choice depends on your symptoms, your environment, and how you like to get around.

Common walking aids for Parkinson’s:
• Canes are easy to use, adjustable, and portable. Some have tripod or quad bases for added stability.
• Walking poles, or hiking sticks, can help improve posture while you’re on the move.
• Walkers and rollators with wheels are easier to turn than standard walkers and may reduce fall risk.
• Wheelchairs are useful for travel or longer distances, though they may require assistance.

Some aids include special features to help with freezing, the sudden feeling that your feet are stuck. Laser canes project a line to prompt a forward step, while auditory cues, like a metronome’s rhythmic beat, may help increase stride length or walking speed. Research on these tools is mixed, but many people find them helpful.

Not sure which to try? A physical or occupational therapist can assess your needs and help you choose an aid that fits your body, abilities, and daily life. They can also make sure it’s adjusted correctly and teach you to use it safely.

A walking aid works best alongside other gait safety strategies:
• supportive shoes with nonslip soles
• taking bigger, heel-first steps
• keeping your head up and looking ahead
• strength and balance exercises

Using a mobility aid isn’t giving up. It’s a tool that can help you keep doing the things you enjoy, safely.

Our foot health and gait safety guide explores walking aids and other strategies for confident walking with Parkinson’s.

Link in the first comment.

09/25/2026

🧠 Did You Know?

Up to 80% of people living with Parkinson’s may develop some degree of cognitive impairment over time.

Cognitive changes may affect:
💭 Memory
🎯 Attention
🧩 Thinking and problem solving

When these changes significantly affect daily life, they may be diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease dementia.

💚 Parkinson’s affects more than movement.

09/18/2026

🧠 Did You Know?

Dopamine does more than control movement.

It also plays an important role in:
💭 Memory
❤️ Mood
🎯 Motivation
🏆 Reward

Because Parkinson’s affects dopamine producing cells, the disease can affect much more than movement.

💚 Parkinson’s is more than a movement disorder.

09/11/2026

💡 Did You Know?

Women with Parkinson’s disease have historically been underrepresented in clinical research. Research suggests that women may be diagnosed later than men, experience different symptom patterns, and respond differently to some Parkinson’s medications.

Yet much of what we know about Parkinson’s has been based on research that included more men than women.

💚 Including more women in Parkinson’s research is essential to better understand the disease, improve treatments, and provide more personalized care for everyone living with Parkinson’s.

09/07/2026

🇺🇸Happy Labor Day from the Parkinson Research Foundation! 🇺🇸

Today, we honor and appreciate the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers in our community and across the country. Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and meaningful Labor Day! 💙

09/04/2026

💡 Did You Know?

Not everyone living with Parkinson’s disease experiences tremors. In fact, up to 30% of people with Parkinson’s may never develop a tremor.

Parkinson’s can look very different from one person to another. Symptoms can vary widely, which is one reason the disease can be challenging to recognize and diagnose.

💚 Understanding that Parkinson’s is more than tremors can help increase awareness and encourage earlier recognition.

🧠

09/03/2026

Get to know Dr. Robert Hauser!

Dr. Hauser is a Professor of Neurology, Molecular Pharmacology, and Physiology at the USF College of Medicine and Director of the USF Health Byrd Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center.

Dr. Hauser has dedicated his career to advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. With more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and decades of leadership in the field, his research is focused on advancing our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders, with the goal of developing better treatments and ultimately working toward a cure.