KELLY’S PD TIDBITS; A CARE PARTNER’S MINI-GUIDE SEPTEMBER 2025

In these occasional “Tidbits,” I share calming, practical strategies to support your loved one living with Parkinson’s – while helping you navigate daily challenges with greater ease and confidence.

This week I had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Michael Okun & Dr. Ray Dorsey introduce their new book:  The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention & Treatment (available on Amazon). They described the bones of the book as follows:

• 25 ACTIONS for Parkinson’s (PD) friends to help maximize chances of SLOWING disease progression
• 25 ACTIONS for family, community for prevention and lowering the risk of getting PD

The book's title spells out the “Plan” as an acronym for specific guidance as follows:

• Prevent
• Learn
• Amplify care
• Navigate

Several chapters spell out chemicals tied to the rise in PD.

A chapter is dedicated to a New Care Model. If you like visual imagery, they use the Universe to explain it:

You, my PD friend, are the Sun. Your care partner, closest to you, of course, is Mercury. The other planets are the many providers you need for optimal navigation (Physical Therapy, Movement Disorder Specialist (MDS), Psychologist, Counselor, Speech Language Pathologist, etc). 

One notable study mentioned in their webinar involved 10,000 individuals with PD. It was determined: 

• 12.5% had a genetic risk factor present 
• 87.5% had NO known genetic risk factors

With this in mind, here are a few action steps you will find in their newest publication:

• Wash your produce (organic included). Think soap, vinegar, or a veggie wash. Soak them.
• Change your diet. Dairy and meat-heavy diets may transfer chemicals from animal feed to your food.
• Rethink shopping at grocery stores near high chemical producing spots (e.g. dry cleaners).
• Wine drinkers, vineyard neighbors, farms, golf courses, highways, freeways - these are all viewed as points of higher exposure due to chemicals.
• Dry cleaners - ask if Perc is used. Pollution isn't contained to just where it's processed.  Soil and groundwater in nearby areas have affected child care/school kids.
• Roll up your windows. Invest in an air purifier, if need be.
• Manage/avoid diabetes.
• Consume caffeinated coffee in moderation.
• Dial in on alternatives to chemicals on the farm that are proven harmful.
• Consider a water filter. If using well water, test it regularly. Take action if pesticides/chemicals show up on the radar.
• Be more vigilant in relation to the use of moth balls, flea collars, and other everyday items that are chemical-laden.

Here are some final show-stopping points that I gathered:  

• The biggest disease modifier on the books today is EXERCISE!
• Only 9% of those diagnosed with PD are seeing a MDS. Hopefully we can increase this number.
• PD patients have two times the risk of skin cancer and two times the risk for osteoporosis, so be smart about prevention and regularly seeing a dermatologist.