Visit michaeljfox . org / ask-the-md to learn more about living well with Parkinson ’ s and recent Parkinson ’ s research topics .
Fall / Winter 2023 | Living with Parkinson ’ s 15 disease — from the very beginning of biology , when a person may be at risk but without symptoms , through advancing stages — laying a stronger foundation to predict and ultimately prevent disease .
This work is yet another promising development in a time of unprecedented momentum . But it ’ s a starting point , a stake in the ground ; not the final say on the matter . The frameworks under discussion raise questions they can ’ t yet answer — what ’ s the general timeline from risk to disease , how quickly or slowly does one stage transition to another , how does biology change over time ? This isn ’ t a flaw ; it ’ s how science works — one answer ( in this case , the discovery of a biomarker ) brings a whole new crop of questions . Frameworks intend to stimulate dialogue and further research to answer the very questions they provoke . As they uncover answers , novel insights and better disease measures , they ’ re guaranteed to evolve . And given the current pace of research , this evolution is bound to move quickly .
That ’ s why , as of today , these frameworks are for research — they do not change how doctors diagnose or care for Parkinson ’ s . They don ’ t undo an existing diagnosis , diagnose someone who doesn ’ t have motor symptoms , suggest everyone should undergo testing or alter an individual treatment plan .
But one day , they will change Parkinson ’ s care as we now know it . The frameworks and their
One day , the frameworks will change Parkinson ’ s care as we now know it , becoming a routine part of practice directing personalized treatment and offering information about one ’ s future .
biomarkers will be a routine part of practice that directs personalized treatment and offers information about one ’ s future . Until then , as natural as it might be , seeing where you fit in a framework could raise questions , uncertainty and even worry . For now , the best way to care for your brain or manage your Parkinson ’ s is to work with a movement disorder doctor , live life as healthfully as possible and join research efforts that will usher in an entirely new era of Parkinson ’ s care .
And I ’ m building even more lifestyle-related resources , including MJFF ’ s latest guide on diet ( see box ) and a soon-to-come resource on exercise and Parkinson ’ s .
Visit michaeljfox . org / ask-the-md to learn more about living well with Parkinson ’ s and recent Parkinson ’ s research topics .