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

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

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 • 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

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Reference, Medical

414 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2001

Reviews

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s this month, and when faced with a situation such as this, I do the only thing I can do- read every possible text on the subject, collect information, and create a list of questions (my doctor LOVES this about me! *she says sarcastically*). That gives a bit of background as to why I have selected this text. (Also- April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month! If you can, please contribute to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson Society of Canada, or a local initiative!).

“Parkinson’s Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families” has two major things working in its favour; one- that its authors are all registered practitioners and medical doctors and two- that it is published by Johns Hopkins Press.

The book itself provides information on Parkinson’s disease (from symptoms to degrees of severity) , genetic and environmental influences, medications, surgical options and important questions to ask practitioners. It covers all of the important and necessary information without being medically heavy and intensive. I found the book easy to read, yet very informative. It is a great tool for those who have little to no understanding of the disease, and it even has a list of questions and answers at the back of the book to sum up the topics discussed.

“Parkinson’s Disease” is a comprehensive guide on the disease, and it is beneficial for both patients and caregivers. The authors cite research and alternative methods (and deem whether they have been scientifically proven to be successful or not), and a wide variety of treatments are covered and discussed in detail.

Some of the medication and genetic material can be a bit wordy and scientific (such is the nature of the thing!), but in general the text is accessible for the layperson.

“Parkinson’s Disease” is a great starting point for those with a personal or general interest in the complex, neurological disorder.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A detailed, informative and educational read that covers almost any aspect you could possibly think of in terms of managing the disease and attempting to maintain quality of life."

Pros: Intricate, detailed, covering basically anything question you or a loved one might possibly have, this was an informative and educational read.

Cons: At times the medical terminology and explanation of what was happening in the brain was hard to comprehend/Though very detailed and covering basically anything you might possibly have a question about, it could, at times, be tedious to read/The fact that Parkinson's is extremely difficult to diagnose and does not have any known cure can be disheartening.

Full Review:

The prospect of any sort of neurodegenerative disease where areas of your brain slowly and surely die, is horrifying. I feel that there are two schools of thought when it comes to diseases like Parkinson's. People either want to know everything they can and will dive deep into literature, studies etc. And then there are the others who don't want to know anything about what's happening to them. I fall somewhere in the middle. I want to be informed so that I can try and be as helpful as possible. But at the same time, the thought that the people I love are slowly and surely going to struggle with increasing disability makes me want to curl up into a ball and cry. And trust me, there were times when I did let the tears flow and allowed myself to feel badly and to ask the ever present but unanswerable question of "why."

But after a time, I took a breath, accepted it and continued to read this book and retain as much as the information as I could. I know that in reading this book, it doesn't mean I will be able to cure anyone. But there's a part of me that feels that with the information I learned from this book, I'll at least be able to be of some help.

The sad reality is that there is no known cause or cure for Parkinson's Disease. Whether it's genetic, environmental etc, there's no true test that can diagnose Parkinson's or give a reason as to why someone develops the disease. But the situation isn't hopeless. The progression of the disease can be slow and if the patient is active in their treatment, open to taking medications, engaging in physical exercise that targets specific parts of the body and being honest with themselves, their families and their doctors, it's possible to maintain quality of life while still battling Parkinson's Disease. It's frightening but at the same time, nothing in the world is certain. I've done what I can to try and take away some of the unknowns and uncertainties and will try and keep them in my mind when dealing with this disease.

[William Schram · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fine reference on Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism but is still somewhat disappointing. As the book states, it is not a substitute for medical care, though it is useful if you have questions about it.

Parkinson's is a chronic disorder that affects the substantia nigra of the Brain. It appears to kill off the neurons that make up that particular portion. Modern Medical Science still knows very little about what causes the disorder and there are no methods to discover it early. Since it affects the chemical interactions of the neurons on a microscopic level the only sure way to diagnose it is to do an autopsy or wait until you have the characteristic tremor and balancing issues.

The book includes symptoms of Parkinson's and symptoms that are not Parkinson's. For example, you might have had a Stroke or Dementia caused by Levy Bodies or any number of things that is not necessarily Parkinson's. Parkinsonism is the term used in the book for disorders that are somewhat like Parkinson's but do not have all of the characteristic symptoms.

So as I said, this book is enjoyable but incomplete. Our knowledge of this disorder is full of some gaping holes and that irks me. Unfortunately I am not a researcher or anything, but that does sound like an interesting problem to tackle.

[Caroline McGaughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Partner, who is 66 years old, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease last year. We noticed that he was experiencing hallucinations, slow movement, disturbed sleep, and twitchy hands and legs when at rest. He had to stop taking pramipexole (Sifrol), carbidopa/levodopa, and 2 mg of biperiden because of side effects. Our family doctor recommended a PD-5 treatment from natural herbs centre. com, which my husband has been undergoing for several months now. Exercise has been very beneficial. He has shown great improvement with the treatment thus far. He is more active now, does more, and feels less apathetic. He has more energy and can do more activities in a day than he did before. As far as tremors I observe a progress, he improved drastically. I thought I would share my husband's story in case it could be helpful, but ultimately you have to figure out what works best for you. Salutations and well wishes

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago. For over two years, I relied on Levodopa and several other medications, but unfortunately, the symptoms kept getting worse. The tremors became more noticeable, and my balance and mobility started to decline quickly. Last year, out of desperation and hope, I decided to try a herbal treatment program from NaturePath Herbal Clinic.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but within a few months of starting the treatment, I began to notice real changes. My movements became smoother, the tremors subsided, and I felt steadier on my feet. Incredibly, I also regained much of my energy and confidence. It’s been a life-changing experience I feel more like myself again, better than I’ve felt in years.If you or a loved one is struggling with Parkinson’s disease, I truly recommend looking into their natural approach. You can visit their website at www.naturepathherbalclinic.com.
info@naturepathherbalclinic.com

[Kristin Smeltzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease at 67. His symptoms were shuffling of feet, slurred speech, low volume speech, degradation of handwriting, horrible driving skills, and his right arm is held at 45 degree angle. He was placed on Sinemet for 7 months and then Sifrol and rotigotine were introduced which replaced the Sinemet but he had to stop due to side effects. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment, I quit my meds due to side effects. Our care provider introduced us to Kycuyu Health Clinic Parkinson’s herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle. My husband has recovered significantly! Visit www. kycuyuhealthclinic. co m

[Melissa Baez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2019, I began experiencing symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which was diagnosed in 2021. Among my severe symptoms were tremors, difficulty walking, weakness throughout my body, and stiffness and rigidity. My meds only provided temporary relief, so I decided to try other approaches and started the PD-5 treatment program from uinehealthcentre. net. With the help of this therapy regimen, I have seen significant improvements in my walking, balance, tremors, and appetite, and I have resumed my guitar playing again and sign my name as I had before Parkinson's. I am incredibly grateful.

[readyfreddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book roughly a year after my dad’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. I’ve struggled a lot with his diagnosis causing anxiety and depression regarding his condition. This book gave me some reassurances in an easy-to-understand way, compared to other books and articles that I’m reading.

[Zainab Zaidi]

Very informative!

[Daryl Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference covering all aspects of Parkinsons. The comprehensive detail helped me better understand the disease, treatment and medications. Highly recommend

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive but not in a bad way as it probably helps with remembering the details.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good information. Unfortunately there’s really only one way to finish this book.

[Jerry]

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[Zainab Zaidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought me close to my mother.I got to know her struggles!

[Pr Latta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third editon came out just as a family member was diagnosed with Parkinsonism. Written on a fairly high reading level, this books gives comprehensive coverage to the many facets of Parkinson's without sugar coating yet engenders hope. Photographs are black and white and dated-lookiing but are adequate to get their messages across. This is a resource book and probably won't be read through cover to cover, but will be consulted frequently. It belongs on every Parkinson's family's bookshelf.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a lot of solid medical information for people looking to learn more about Parkinson's disease. The book sticks with traditional western treatments and I would have liked to learn about additional therapies.

[Lynn Lipinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guide, updated in 2007, of the symptoms and treatment of Parkinson's disease. A great resource to have on the bookshelf of any patient, caregiver or family member touched by this disease.

[Lynne Radcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good resource to answer questions both my husband and I had about his recent Parkinson's diagnosis. Amazing how the symptoms he shows were listed one after another. Well worth reading!

[me · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book on the topic