Phil Franchina, Author at American Parkinson Disease Association

“ASK THE DOCTOR” WITH DR. REBECCA GILBERT

Posted on July 24, 2025July 27, 2025 by Phil Franchina

Q: My mother was just prescribed carbidopa/levodopa and she has been incredibly...see more sleepy since she started it. Could this be because of the medication? A: Carbidopa/levodopa can definitely cause fatigue, and your mother may be experiencing this side effect from the medication. When this happens, and the side […]

WALKING WITH PURPOSE: MARTIN’S INSPIRING OPTIMISM

Posted on July 24, 2025July 27, 2025 by Phil Franchina

When Martin Richter was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2013, it felt...see more like the world had caved in. Like many newly diagnosed individuals, he struggled with what the future might hold. But Martin made a choice to fight back. Martin’s symptoms began subtly: reduced handwriting, a shuffling walk, […]

A New Blood Test Could Identify Parkinson’s Disease Before Symptoms Appear

Posted on July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 by Phil Franchina

An exciting development is underway as a new RNA-based blood test could help diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD) prior to...see more the development of motor symptoms. The work, published in Nature Aging, demonstrated a way to target and detect specific sequences contained within transfer RNA (tRNA) for early diagnosis in a simple blood test. This approach will […]

Joining forces to push for federal research funding

Posted on June 25, 2025June 25, 2025 by Phil Franchina

Today in an exciting collaborative effort, three major Parkinson’s disease (PD) advocacy organizations have joined forces to issue a...see more public statement imploring lawmakers to robustly fund the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the upcoming federal budget in order to keep Parkinson’s disease (PD) research moving forward as quickly as possible. This important joint statement […]

American Parkinson Disease Association Welcomes Two Accomplished Leaders to National Board of Directors

Posted on June 10, 2025June 10, 2025 by Phil Franchina

New Board Members Bring Deep Expertise in Health Equity, Policy, and Nonprofit Leadership to APDA NEW YORK, NY, JUNE...see more 10, 2025 — The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is proud to announce the appointment of two distinguished professionals to its National Board of Directors: J. Zoë Beckerman, JD, MPH and Adalynn E. Harris, PhD, MPH, […]

Golf Course Concerns: New Research Shows Link to Parkinson’s

Posted on May 19, 2025May 19, 2025 by Phil Franchina

A recent study in Journal of the American Medical Association...see more has caused a stir, showing that living near golf courses is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The study demonstrated that those living within a mile of a golf course had a 2.25 times increased […]

American Parkinson Disease Association Kicks Off 2025 Optimism Walk Series

Posted on April 7, 2025June 10, 2025 by Phil Franchina

Across the country, local communities will mobilize in the fight against Parkinson’s. NEW YORK, NEW YORK, APRIL 7, 2025...see more – The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2025 APDA Optimism Walk series – a nationwide movement to raise awareness and vital funds for the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community. […]

American Parkinson Disease Association to Educate and Empower During Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month

Posted on March 11, 2025July 3, 2025 by Phil Franchina

APDA helps the Parkinson’s community live life to the fullest in April and year-round. With a diagnosis every six...see more minutes, public awareness and support are crucial. NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 11, 2025 – April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, and the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) will commemorate the month with a “Did You Know?” […]

FDA Approves New Adaptive DBS System

Posted on February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 by Phil Franchina

In exciting news, the FDA approved Medtronic’s deep brain stimulation (DBS) system known...see more as BrainSense™. Unlike standard DBS, which delivers electricity to the brain at pre-programmed settings, this technology can sense the brain’s electric signals, known as local field potentials or LFPs, and adjust the stimulation accordingly. This capability, […]

ONAPGO: A Newly-Approved Medication for OFF Periods in Parkinson’s

Posted on February 5, 2025February 28, 2025 by Phil Franchina

ONAPGOTM: A Newly-Approved Medication for OFF Periods in Parkinson’s Breaking News! The first subcutaneous (under the skin) apomorphine infusion,...see more now called ONAPGOTM, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 4, 2025. Apomorphine is a dopamine agonist whose effects have a rapid onset. It has been available in the US as a […]

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