The Parkinson's Disease Treatment Book

Parkinson's Treatment: Partnering with Your Doctor to Get the Most from Your Medications

by J. Eric Ahlskog M.D. Ph.D.

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Book Description
Nearly one million Americans, including Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, suffer from Parkinson's Disease. Now, a leader in the fight against Parkinson's, Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog of the Mayo Clinic, has written the definitive guide for patients and their families.

Dr. Ahlskog offers a crystal-clear, nuts-and-bolts approach to the treatment of PD, distilled from over twenty years of experience as a clinician and researcher. His goal is to educate the patient so that they can better team with their doctor to do battle with the disease, streamlining the decision-making process and enhancing their treatment. To do this, Dr. Ahlskog offers a gold mine of information: How do I know if I have PD? What kinds of tests can I take? What medications slow the progress of the disease? What if medications don't help my tremor? What kinds of movement problems may develop later? How can I cope with insomnia and daytime sleepiness, dizziness and depression, memory problems, paranoia, and delusions? Indeed, the book covers virtually every topic related to Parkinson's, from sexual impotence and skin rashes, to the role of nutrition, exercise, and physical therapy. In addition, Dr. Ahlskog discusses brain surgery (though he urges that patients only consider this as a last resort) and such experimental therapies as stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. There are also lists of support and advocacy groups and Internet sites that focus on Parkinson's.

The ultimate guide to symptoms and treatment, this superb book is the first place patients should turn for reliable, easy-to-grasp information on Parkinson's disease.

About the Author
J. Eric Ahlskog, M.D. is Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Medical School, and Chair of the Mayo Section of Movement Disorders, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Widely considered to be a leading authority on this disorder, he has over twenty years of experience treating people with Parkinson's Disease, both in the clinic as a full-time, patient-seeing neurologist, and as a clinical-investigator, responsible for PD treatment protocols.

Exercise and Parkinson's Disease

Delay the Disease - Exercise and Parkinson's Disease

by David Zid, , Jackie Russell, RN, BSN, CNOR, Joanne Adams, BFA & CMI

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Book Review
David Zid, an ACE, APG certified trainer, has collaborated with orthopedic surgeon, Thomas H. Mallory, M.D., who is afflicted with Parkinson's disease, in the development of a Parkinson's specific fitness program designed to proactively minimize tremors and improve flexibility, stability, balance and strength. Delay the Disease contains colorful photographs of Zid demonstrating each move, as well as recommendations for exercise frequency, modification and how to adjust the workout as one improves. Parkinson's patients participating in Zid's fitness program notice improvement in walking, dressing and maintaining balance. Exercises are divided into categories (wake up call, walking and balance, cardiovascular, strength, facial and vocal, and night-time stretching.

About the Author
David Zid is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has been a professional fitness instructor in Columbus, Ohio since 1997. He is the owner and president of Columbus Health Works, a personal training company that he started in 1999. As an energetic coach for hundreds of clients and other personal trainers, he has developed a special interest in the older adult client. Currently, he donates his time as the creator and leader of a group exercise class specifically designed for people with Parkinson's disease.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

This positive, straightforward guide offers proven techniques for finding the right doctors, coping with daily issues, and providing care as the disease progresses. The authors cover young onset Parkinson's disease, and detail ways to keep your mind sharp, your body in shape, your stress under control and live a full, satisfying life.

Parkinson's Disease For Dummies

by Michele Tagliati, Gary Guten & Jo Horne

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Book Review
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease you’re probably wrestling with fear, despair, and countless questions about the future. It’s brighter than you think. In Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies, you’ll discover how to keep a positive attitude and lead an active, productive life as this user-friendly, guide pilots you through the important steps toward taking charge of your condition. It helps you:

• Make sure you have an accurate diagnosis
• Assemble and work with your health care team
• Inform others about your condition
• Choose the most effective medications
• Establish a diet and exercise regimen
• Consider surgical options, alternative therapies, and clinical trials
• Maintain healthy personal and professional relationships
• Adjust your routine as your PD progresses

This one-stop resource provides proven coping skills, first-hand advice, and practical tools, such as worksheets to assess care options, questions to ask doctors, and current listings of care providers.

About the Author
Michele Tagliati, MD, is Director of the Parkinson's Disease Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Gary N. Guten, MD, MA, is an orthopedic surgeon, author, and Parkinson's patient.

Jo Horne, MA, is the author of three books and a long-distance care partner.

Patients & Families Guide for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families

by William J. Weiner, Lisa M. Shulman & Anthony E. Lang

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Book Description
Recent innovations, including deep brain stimulation and new medications, have significantly improved the lives of people with Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, medical, emotional, and physical challenges remain. The second edition of this accessible and comprehensive guide provides crucial information for managing this complex condition, including details on the use of medications, diet, exercise, complementary therapies, and surgery.

The second edition includes new information about:

• The genetic and hereditary pattern of the disease
• Medications and uses of established medications
• Other approaches to treating the symptoms of Parkinson's
• Juvenile-onset Parkinson's disease
• Normal pressure hydrocephalus
• The effects of fluctuating hormones on disease symptoms
• Fetal cell transplants and porcine cell transplants
• The nutritional supplement Co-Enzyme Q10

Book Review
As a result of actor Michael J. Fox's disclosure that he has Parkinson's disease, public discussion about both the symptoms and treatment of this illness has heightened. This attention is important, according to these authors, all specialists in the treatment of Parkinson's and other neurological disorders, because it is a progressive, chronic disease whose symptoms including trembling, uneasy gait and loss of dexterity mimic those of other diseases, which can often lead to misdiagnosis.

One of the most frustrating aspects of Parkinson's is that it manifests itself differently in each of its victims, which makes coping with this disease particularly challenging. Nonetheless, what is most important, aver the authors, is that both Parkinson's patients and their families have access to the most up-to-date treatment including new drugs, surgery and other therapies (diet, speech therapy, acupuncture), and with compassionate, clear writing, they provide an excellent overview. Leaving no stone unturned, Weiner, Shulman and Lang also advise patients about less clinical but equally important matters such as dealing with health insurance companies and informing employers. Particularly useful for readers are the Q&A section and a comprehensive resource directory. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is the first step, after which patients and their loved ones will find this practical guide the perfect complement to a physician's care.

About the Author
William J. Weiner, M.D., is director of the Maryland Parkinson's Disease Center and professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also serves as the chief of neurology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He is the author of numerous books and papers on Parkinson's disease. Lisa M. Shulman, M.D., is a professor of neurology, holds the Eugenia Brin Professorship, and is the Rosalyn Newman Distinguished Scholar in Parkinson's Disease at the University of Maryland. Anthony E. Lang, M.D., F.R.C.P., is a professor of neurology and holds the Jack Clark Chair in Parkinson's Disease Research at the University of Toronto. He is the director of the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Center at Toronto Western Hospital, as well as the past editor of the journal Movement Disorders and the president-elect of the Movement Disorders Society.

Easy Exercises for the Parkinsonian

This is the only book that tells people with the disease and their caregivers how to follow that advice.

Parkinson's Disease & Art of Moving

by John Argue

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Book Review
Faced with an incurable and often debilitating illness, Parkinson's patients must relearn how to sit up in a chair, speak clearly, keep their balance while walking, and stand from a sitting position. Over 100 photographs illustrate exercises derived from yoga and tai chi techniques; and theater movement skills show readers how to cope as gracefully as possible with the loss of coordination that Parkinson's patients experience.

About the Author
Author John Argue has worked with people with Parkinson's disease since 1985. Drawing on his training and experience in teaching theater, voice, yoga, and tai chi, he has been conducting movement and speech classes for people with Parkinson's disease at his studio and at Kaiser Permanente Hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.