PORTLAND—The Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) is forming the first-ever Portland to Coast Relay Team made up of a diverse group of people living with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones. Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, impacting over 10 million people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. BGF is determined to show the diversity in the Parkinson’s community and to share the stories and voices of those who are living with this disease but are often underrepresented in research and advocacy. 

In a true feat of endurance, perseverance, and mind over matter, 12 walkers will be trekking 130 miles from Portland to Seaside on August 26 and 27, 2022. Six of the walkers have Parkinson’s disease, a movement disorder that impacts balance and coordination, causes slowness of movement, muscle stiffness, and tremors. These walkers include women, people of color, single parents, and people with young onset Parkinson’s disease. The other six team members are care partners, loved ones or advocates. The team will be led by BGF’s founder and former NBA icon, Brian Grant. 

“Living with Parkinson’s brings a variety of challenges but many people don’t really understand the disease,” says Brian. “I’m excited to be a part of a team working together to increase awareness of Parkinson’s and help break down the stereotypes associated with the disease.”

The journey will be documented through video to help raise awareness of the broad impact of Parkinson’s disease. Walkers and care partners will also be featured in the second season of BGF’s podcast, On Time: A Parkinson’s Podcast, airing in fall 2022.

“Thanks to the many people who support our programs, we’ll be sharing this experience every step of the way,” says Katrina Kahl, Executive Director at the Brian Grant Foundation. “We want people to see that the Parkinson’s community includes women, people of color, single parents, young people and LGBTQ+ folks. It’s important that their voices and stories are told, too.”

Watch the recording of our June Expert Q&A on estate planning. Kristin Gaston, attorney at Generations Estate Law, discusses the basics of estate planning, including healthcare and incapacity planning;

Thank you to our sponsors, Amneal and Kyowa Kirin, and to all of the generous donations that help support BGF programs.

Joel Mack, MD discusses depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s and ways to improve these symptoms. This Expert Q&A is sponsored by Amneal and Kyowa Kirin.

Expert Q&A Webcast: Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson’s from Brian Grant Foundation on Vimeo.

Watch the recording of our live event for On Time: A Parkinson’s Podcast!

On April 26, 2022, On Time co-hosts Brian Grant and Heather Kennedy were joined by guests Amber Hesford and Kevin Kwok to answer your questions. The show was moderated by Amy Lavallee, who is living with young onset Parkinson’s. Watch the recording to hear the discussion and get advice about living with Parkinson’s.

Problems with sleep are a common symptom of Parkinson’s.

What you eat can help you get a better night’s sleep.

Here are some top nutrients for sleep:

Melatonin​ is nature’s sleeping pill.

Certain foods, such as tart cherries, grapes and walnuts, are rich in naturally occurring melatonin.​In one study, people who drank cherry juice experienced improvement in their insomnia symptoms. Try having a last snack of the day that includes these plant based options for sleep support.

Calcium​ is a mineral that supports melatonin production.

Individuals that have a deficiency in calcium can have waking in the middle of the night and interrupted sleep. Some best food sources include sardines, dark leafy greens, ​green snap peas and okra.

B6 deficiency has been associated with low serotonin and poor sleep.

Some top foods include prunes, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, raw garlic and spinach.

Tryptophan​ is the reason Thanksgiving turkey makes you sleepy.

This amino acid is converted to the neurotransmitter serotonin and then melatonin. Best sources include (yes turkey!), salmon, apples, pumpkin seeds, broccoli, yogurt and oats.

Magnesium​ is often referred to as the “sleep mineral.”

This mineral is connected to over 300 biochemical reactions in the body including relaxation of muscles and deactivation of adrenaline to support sleep. It is the most commonly deficient mineral in adults. Magnesium is found in dark, green leafy veggies such as kale, spinach, arugula, collard greens, and rainbow chard. Try almonds, bananas or avocados to boost magnesium intake.

Beverages can also be packed with vitamins and minerals that support sleep.

Some teas include calming botanicals, such as valerian tea, peppermint tea, passionfruit tea and chamomile tea​ (which increases glycine, a chemical that relaxes nerves and muscles). Try honey with tea as your new night cap!

But watch out for some beverages!

While having an alcoholic drink before bed can induce drowsiness and relaxation it ultimately disrupts deep sleep. Also try to avoid caffeine later in the day to help you fall asleep more easily at night.

“You are what you eat”, applies to both your body and mind. For those managing Parkinson’s disease, sleeping disturbances and insomnia are common. Try incorporating these sleep supportive foods for ​people with Parkinson’s living inspired lives.

Dr. Bethany Tennant is a Naturopathic Physician & Certified Nutrition Specialist and has been involved with BGF since 2012. Dr. Tennant is passionate about neurodegenerative conditions, natural sports medicine and medical nutrition. She sees patients at 2bwell Clinic in Lake Oswego, OR.
@dr.bethanytennant www.drbethanytennant.com

Simple and straightforward, this recipe features healthy salmon that’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Serve with quinoa and you’ve got a nutritious, delicious dinner that meets our nutritional recommendations for healthy living with Parkinson’s.

This recipe is provided by our partners at Market of Choice. Learn more at www.marketofchoice.com.

Watch Chef Greg from Market of Choice prepare this dish and follow along!

For most people, the cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, though most experts agree that PD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. While we can’t do much about our genetics, we learned in this February’s Expert Q&A with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Earth Justice how we can advocate for federal legislation that will reduce the risk of certain environmental factors.

One herbicide that has been heavily linked to Parkinson’s is paraquat, a widely used commercial weed killer in the U.S. that is banned in 32 countries, including the European Union and China. Paraquat is thought to increase the risk of of PD by 320 percent.

Organizations like the Michael J. Fox Foundation have made it easy for you to contact your members of Congress about the Protect Against Paraquat Act, which would eliminate paraquat from the U.S. agricultural system.

Taking action when and where you can is one way to promote strong mental health as you continue living with PD. Contacting your lawmakers takes less than ten minutes and it feels good to advocate for yourself and others!

Thank you to our sponsors, Amneal and Kyowa Kirin, and to all of the generous donations that help support BGF Parkinson’s programs.

Being a care partner for someone living with Parkinson’s disease can be just as rewarding as it is challenging. We asked Melinda Sych, Brian Grant Foundation board member, how she and her husband, Troy, keep their relationship going strong.

When a partner or spouse is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD), stepping into the role of care partner can be a big change and may eventually take a mental, physical or emotional toll. On the flip side, it can also strengthen the relationship and prompt a newfound appreciation for the fragility of life.

“You can let Parkinson’s disease change your life in a positive way or in a negative way. We choose to let it change us in a positive way,” said Melinda Sych of Vancouver, Washington. “Time is not infinite when you have Parkinson’s. Life becomes more precious, and we value the time we spend together more than we did before he retired and some of his symptoms progressed.”

Melinda and her husband, Troy, have been married since 2012. Troy was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease toward the beginning of their courtship. But that didn’t stop the couple from blending their families, going on fun adventures and building their dream life together.

We asked how she and Troy have kept PD from interfering with their nearly 10 years of marital bliss, and she offered the following advice.

Do your research.

“Educate yourself as best as you can. The progression of Parkinson’s comes in steps and waves. You’ll be fine for six months, then suddenly there is a big step change. Things like body language, facial expression and vocal tone are not the same. If you don’t have that foundation to fall back on, it can be challenging. We navigated through it, but it would have been nice to know those things ahead of time,” Melinda said.

Make friendship a priority.

“My husband and I have an amazing friendship, and that has helped us navigate through these changes. We have a great sense of humor, and let’s be honest – PD requires a great sense of humor. You need to be able to weather some of those darker moments of PD with a laugh. It’s a roll-with-the-punches kind of approach,” she said.

Have an open dialogue.

“We were really proactive in having some of those more difficult conversations almost from the very beginning of our relationship. I would encourage everyone to do that early on whether they have Parkinson’s or not because you never know what’s going to happen. It’s just healthier in my opinion for any couple to proactively plan for the long term,” Melinda advised.

Know when to ask for help.

“You don’t always know when you are needed to be a caregiver and when you are needed to be just a regular partner. As the disease progresses, it becomes harder for them to ask for help. As the caregiver, you need to be able to step in and ask for help on their behalf. That sort of thing can be a challenge to figure out, which is why communication is so important,” Melinda said.

Keep your children in the loop.

“Make sure communication with your kids is meaningful and clear. At first, they don’t see the symptoms; everything looks the same. They don’t understand some of these new behavioral changes that come as the disease progresses or with the medications. If you are not talking openly and honestly with your kids about those changes, it can be a harder adjustment for them. There needs to be more resources for helping children of people with PD,” she said.

Stay active together.

“Staying active helps you maintain a sense of control. There are physical challenges associated with Parkinson’s that forces you to change your lifestyle. If you’re an active person, you need to be flexible and build new activities into your life. It’s important to replace those activities you can no longer do with things that are also active. We have a home gym and a pool. We spend time working out together and also stay active with projects at home and in our garden,” Melinda said.

Find your tribe.

“It can be a huge benefit to get to know other couples who are going through the same thing. We started engaging with other people who had been diagnosed and were in our same age group. They are a blessing in my life and a pleasure to spend time with. I got to know other spouses of Parkinson’s patients and learned a lot of things that you may not necessarily hear from a doctor, such as which medications to stay away from,” she said.

Don’t let PD control your life.

“It’s important to remember that there are a lot of amazing years left in your life that can be high quality, and if you do the right things like exercise consistently and eat healthy, you can make that last a lot longer. Troy and I both try to live the best lives we can live. And I think everybody should aim for that, whether you have Parkinson’s or not.”

Watch the recording of our Expert Q&A: Environmental Advocacy with Ted Thompson, senior vice president of public policy at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Senior Attorneys Patti Goldman and Jonathan Kalmuss Katz from Earth Justice from February 9, 2022.

Thank you to our sponsors, Amneal and Kyowa Kirin, and to all of the generous donations that help support BGF Parkinson’s programs.

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