How does one deal with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease at the age of forty-three? My Degeneration, by former Anchorage Daily News staff cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl, answers the question with humor and passion, recounting the author’s attempt to come to grips with the “malicious whimsy” of this chronic, progressive, and disabling disease. This graphic novel tracks Dunlap-Shohl’s journey through depression, the worsening symptoms of the disease, the juggling of medications and their side effects, the impact on relations with family and community, and the raft of mental and physical changes wrought by the malady. My Degeneration examines the current state of Parkinson’s care, including doctor/patient relations and the repercussions of a disease that, among other things, impairs movement, can rob patients of their ability to speak or write, degrades sufferers’ ability to deal with complexity, and interferes with the sense of balance. Readers learn what it’s like to undergo a dramatic, demanding, and audacious bit of high-tech brain surgery that can mysteriously restore much of a patient’s control over symptoms. But My Degeneration is more than a Parkinson’s memoir. Dunlap-Shohl gives the person newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease the information necessary to cope with it on a day-to-day basis. He chronicles the changes that life with the disease can bring to the way one sees the world and the way one is seen by the wider community. Dunlap-Shohl imparts a realistic basis for hope—hope not only to carry on, but to enjoy a decent quality of life.

They say, "It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness." Peter Dunlap-Shohl counters, "Why not do both? At the age of forty-three, former Anchorage Daily News staff cartoonist Dunlap-Shohl was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a disorder that, among other things, can rob a person of their ability to speak or write and degrades their ability to deal with complexity. In My Degeneration, Dunlap-Shohl recounts his attempt to come to grips with the "malicious whimsy" of this chronic, progressive, and disabling disorder with his characteristic humor and passion. This graphic novel tracks the author's journey through depression, juggling medications and weathering their side effects, the impact of the diagnosis on his personal relationships, and the raft of mental and physical changes wrought by the disease. But My Degeneration is more than a memoir--Dunlap-Shohl gives the person newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease the information necessary to cope with it on a day-to-day basis. He chronicles the changes that life with the disorder can bring to the way one sees the world and the way one is seen by the wider community. Above all, Dunlap-Shohl imparts a realistic basis for hope--hope not only to carry on but to enjoy a decent quality of life.

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is as disorienting as it is devastating. The Complete Guide for People With Parkinson’s Disease and Their Loved Ones helps make sense of what comes next and what can be done, not just for those suffering from the disease but for their family and friends as well. A trained nurse and primary caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, Lianna Marie draws upon over twenty years of education, research, and direct experience. Written in straightforward and easily accessible language, this essential guide aims to help patients better understand their role in their treatment so that they may continue to lead happy and hopeful lives. Topics covered include nutrition and exercise, alternative and complementary therapies, medication and treatment, and what caregivers can do to help. Written by an international expert on Parkinson’s who has confronted the disease firsthand, The Complete Guide serves as the go-to book for comprehensive, easy-to-understand information for all Parkinson’s patients and their loved ones.

Personal in approach, beautiful in design, global in scope, The Peripatetic Pursuit of Parkinson Disease envisions a better world for people with Parkinson disease (PD). Developed by the Parkinsons Creative Collective (all of whom have PD), it is an anthology of the experiences of over 120 experts at living with PD -- the patients themselves. Join them on a journey from diagnosis, to informed patient, to empowered advocate. Filled with information and inspiration, it's a color-illustrated encyclopedia of PD from the patients' point of view. With nearly one quarter of the voices from around the world, it encourages discussion while it speaks to those newly diagnosed as well as to those who have lived with PD for years. Even medical professionals reading the book have found new perspectives on what it is like to live with PD. It delivers much more than the basics about this chronic, progressive, neurological disease. The authors share their stories and strategies on how to improve health, quality of life, and wellness in spite of PD. They also present opinions on how to speed the development of new treatments and how to face other life challenges that come with PD. --For those with PD, it's a support group between two covers; and for everyone else, it's a window into the world of PD.

Chronicles an older woman's unorthodox approach to managing PD. She tells stories, encouraging patients to draw from her experiences points that are relevant to their own lives. She doesn't hide. Hallucinations, constipation, compulsive behaviors, and loss are all part of the picture. So is the emotion of standing on the roof of Africa, dipping her bike wheel in the Mississippi after cycling across Iowa for seven days and paying careful attention as her two year old granddaughter explains how to stop her "dancing hand". Each story is laced with courage, tenacity and love. "Nan shows how even the most challenging obstacles life puts in front of us can be stepping stones to something greater than we ever dreamed!" Linna Dossett Patient efficacy, having some control over her personal Parkinson's path, distinguishes this book from other medical memoirs. Nan encourages patients to take action based on scientific research with measurable outcomes. "You have Parkinson's disease." Those few words throw a person on an ice sheet with no ice axe to arrest the slide. Nan's story can be an ice axe. An estimated 1-1.5 million Americans live with Parkinson's with an additional 50,000-60,000 diagnosed each year, numbers growing as the population ages. Globally, this chronic neurodegenerative disease currently affects about 5 million. Although this book is about her experiences with Parkinson's, it is appropriate for any person who endures a neurodegenerative disease, and those who work with them or care about them.

These practice guidelines draw upon the widest relevant knowledge and evidence available to describe and inform contemporary best practice occupational therapy for people with Parkinson's disease. They include practical examples of interventions to allow occupational therapists to apply new treatments to their practice.