Lifestyle and Wellness in Parkinson’s
It may seem a little out of place for a pharmaceutical company to discuss lifestyle changes and non-pharmacological interventions, but we at NeuroDerm believe in a holistic approach to living with Parkinson’s disease.
By taking an active interest in your own personal Parkinson’s, which is different from everyone else’s, and by understanding what works best for you, you will start to feel more in control of your life, improving your general well-being and quality of life.
This approach is also supported by a strong scientific rationale. The brain is known to have separate systems for different functions, such as movement, sensation, thought, emotion, and sleep; yet these systems are also interconnected. It is common knowledge that mood and sleep have a bidirectional relationship, whereby poor sleep can make you irritable, while anxiety makes it hard to fall asleep - thus potentially creating a vicious cycle. Add trouble concentrating to the mix and you can see how cognitive problems can develop when the underlying cause may be anxiety or depression.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has put lifestyle factors front and center. The crisis forced us all to live with unpredictable disruption to our daily routine, coupled with the fear of catching the infection and falling ill
All these symptoms are present in Parkinson’s. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has put lifestyle factors front and center. The crisis forced us all to live with unpredictable disruption to our daily routine, coupled with the fear of catching the infection and falling ill. People with Parkinson’s, who already struggle to leave home for a multitude of reasons, became even more isolated, and found it even harder than usual to access healthcare services and cultural activities. Many people took a turn for the worse, but some of those who were able to adapt to the new situation were able to participate in more activities, albeit remotely.
In this section of the website, we discuss the latest research on all aspects of living with Parkinson’s and on the many things that you can do right now to improve your symptoms and your quality of life, such as: exercise, the gut microbiome and nutrition, spirituality, sexuality, meditation, sleep and digital technologies for remote therapy.
THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment immediately. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that you have read on this website or in any linked article, blog or other materials.
