A funny, highly personal, gorgeously written account of what it's like to be a 30-year-old man who is told he has an 80-year-old's disease."Life is great. Sometimes, though, you just have to put up with a little more crap." --Michael J. FoxIn September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease -- a degenerative neurological condition. In fact, he had been secretly fighting it for seven years. The worldwide response was staggering. Fortunately, he had accepted the diagnosis and by the time the public started grieving for him, he had stopped grieving for himself. Now, with the same passion, humor, and energy that Fox has invested in his dozens of performances over the last 18 years, he tells the story of his life, his career, and his campaign to find a cure for Parkinson's.Combining his trademark ironic sensibility and keen sense of the absurd, he recounts his life -- from his childhood in a small town in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television which made him a worldwide celebrity. Most importantly however, he writes of the last 10 years, during which -- with the unswerving support of his wife, family, and friends -- he has dealt with his illness. He talks about what Parkinson's has given him: the chance to appreciate a wonderful life and career, and the opportunity to help search for a cure and spread public awareness of the disease. He is a very lucky man, indeed.The Michael J. Fox FoundationMichael J. Fox is donating the profits from his book to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is dedicated to fast-forwarding the cure for Parkinson's disease. The Foundation will move aggressively to identify the most promising research and raise the funds to assure that a cure is found for the millions of people living with this disorder. The Foundation's web site, MichaelJFox.org, carries the latest pertinent information about Parkinson's disease, including:--A detailed description of Parkinson's disease--How you can help find the cure--Public Services Announcements that are aired on network and cable television stations across the country to increase awareness--Upcoming related Parkinson's disease events and meetings--Updates on recent research and developments

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 diagnosisAssemble and work with your health care teamInform others about your conditionChoose the most effective medicationsEstablish a diet and exercise regimenConsider surgical options, alternative therapies, and clinical trialsMaintain healthy personal and professional relationshipsAdjust your routine as your PD progressesThis 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.

A revised and expanded edition of an account of a group of 20 patients who survived the sleeping sickness epidemic of the 1920s, and the awakening effect they experienced forty years later through the drug L-DOPA, which was administered by Dr Sacks himself. First published in 1973.

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

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.

Oliver Sacks has always been fascinated by islands--their remoteness, their mystery, above all the unique forms of life they harbor. For him, islands conjure up equally the romance of Melville and Stevenson, the adventure of Magellan and Cook, and the scientific wonder of Darwin and Wallace.Drawn to the tiny Pacific atoll of Pingelap by intriguing reports of an isolated community of islanders born totally color-blind, Sacks finds himself setting up a clinic in a one-room island dispensary, where he listens to these achromatopic islanders describe their colorless world in rich terms of pattern and tone, luminance and shadow. And on Guam, where he goes to investigate the puzzling neurodegenerative paralysis endemic there for a century, he becomes, for a brief time, an island neurologist, making house calls with his colleague John Steele, amid crowing cockerels, cycad jungles, and the remains of a colonial culture.The islands reawaken Sacks' lifelong passion for botany--in particular, for the primitive cycad trees, whose existence dates back to the Paleozoic--and the cycads are the starting point for an intensely personal reflection on the meaning of islands, the dissemination of species, the genesis of disease, and the nature of deep geologic time. Out of an unexpected journey, Sacks has woven an unforgettable narrative which immerses us in the romance of island life, and shares his own compelling vision of the complexities of being human.

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.

While patients and families are aware of the physical challenges that accompany Parkinson’s disease, few are prepared for the common behavioral issues that impact their quality of life, including depression, anxiety, dementia, paranoid delusions, and sleep disorders. This book, the only one of its kind, focuses entirely on an area that most doctors overlook. Written in layman’s terms, it helps readers understand and cope with a wide variety of Parkinson’s-related behavioral issues and offers guidance on communicating with the healthcare team.

Being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease can be distressing, and adjusting to the effects of the disease is often difficult. This indispensable resource for patients, family, friends, and caregivers helps patients rise above PD’s challenges by working smarter, maintaining a positive outlook, and conserving time and energy. Organized by subject, the book covers a wide range of topics, including making the home more accessible; dressing aids and simple clothing adaptations; using technology to improve communication; eating and drinking tips for people with difficulty swallowing; mobility and exercise; managing home health care; cars and driving; leisure and recreational activities; travel; and much more. A resource section at the end of each chapter contains contact information for the agencies, organizations, and products mentioned. Completely revised and updated to include over 65 new tips and 40 additional resources, the book enables readers to become more independent and lead remarkably unlimited lives.

Whether you're a newly diagnosed patient, or are a friend or relative of someone suffering from Parkinson Disease, this book offers help. Completely revised and updated, The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center 100 Questions&Answers About Parkinson Disease, Second Edition is the only text available to provide both the doctor's and patient's views and gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, quality of life, and sources of support. Written by an internationally recognized expert on Parkinson Disease, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this devastating disease.