Description

Show Notes:

Interview 1: Paul

Recently retired neurologist.
Was diagnosed in 2018 with Parkinson's himself.
Wanted to share his knowledge and help others
Shared journey built connections can help offer other hope.
Can feel better than you did before if you start implementing changes
Changes are happening with mindset
This depth of understanding will help people understand Parkinson's better.
Has 100 people participating in his program.
It is becoming increasingly common.
In 2021 there were 12mil It is a growing issue.
$5 from books bought from Parkinson's WA website.

Interview 2: Chris

One of his objectives is to prove you can live well with PD
Works hard at living well
Stress sleep reduction and business impacts health
Having PD provided a powerful perspective.
Lifestyle interventions have a strong impact on managing disease
Have seen people with end stage PD and it can be confronting.
Integrated approach to living better lives.
There are underlying exposure concerns that need to be considered.
Many things linked to PD.
Lessons to be learnt from other conditions.
There is more to lifespan than lifespan there is health span.

Where the Excerpt Came From:

First Chapter of Book.

Guest Bio:

David Blacker's career in medicine and neurology has spanned four decades, during which he helped lead a revolution in the care of acute stroke. As a doctor, mentor and medical researcher his work has impacted many thousands of patients, hundreds of doctors and numerous scientific medical fields.

In 2018 he received the life changing diagnosis of Parkinson disease, which lead to a reshaping of his career to focus on research and advocacy in PD. He now writes and speaks widely about his personal experience with PD, and hopes to assist others by sharing this. Additionally, he is striving to help his medical colleagues gain a greater insight into living with PD and to improve their communication and interactions with people with PD.

This change in direction created some unexpected opportunities, such as the surprising collaboration with former national boxing champion, Rai Fazio to develop a boxing exercise program for PD. This included a ground breaking clinical trial (FIGHT-PD) and now highly successful training program which is improving the quality of life for people with PD.

In 2023, he faced further challenges with complications following prostate cancer surgery, and a retinal detachment leading to impaired vision. Using the knowledge gained through exercise based therapy, and with the expertise of his wife Kirsten, in yoga, he has fought back to become fitter than ever. This journey from being a doctor to a patient, and all the challenges that posed are described in, My FIGHT with PD, a neurologist with Parkinson disease.

After retiring from clinical practice in 2023, he has continued research into PD and stroke, based at the Perron Institute for neurological and translational science. Also in 2023, he was awarded a membership of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to medicine and neurological research.

Booklist: