Key Concepts
Parkinson's disease, early onset Parkinson's, Levodopa, deep brain stimulation (DBS), resilience, patient advocacy, adaptability, optimism, goal setting, healthy habits, correlation between exercise and heart disease.
Diagnosis and Impact of Parkinson's Disease
In 2011, at the age of 38, Kathy received a diagnosis of early onset Parkinson's disease after experiencing a tremor in her finger. The diagnosis was delivered in Hamburg, Germany. Parkinson's disease has over 40 symptoms affecting both the body and mind, including apathy, depression, tremor, stiffness, rigidity, urinary issues, and sleep issues. The speaker highlights the uncertainty of which symptoms will manifest and to what extent.
Parkinson's is more common than people realize, affecting 1 in 15 men in the Western world. It's growing 20% faster than Alzheimer's disease, making it the fastest-growing neurological condition.
The Stagnation of Parkinson's Treatment
The most significant breakthrough in Parkinson's medication, Levodopa, occurred in 1961. This is contrasted with advancements in other areas, such as the moon landing (1969) and the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), highlighting the lack of progress in Parkinson's treatment. Levodopa's effectiveness diminishes over time, leading to fluctuations in symptoms.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as a Treatment Option
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) involves implanting electrodes in the skull, connected via wires to a battery pack and computer in the chest. The patient can control the stimulation with a remote. The speaker underwent awake brain surgery for DBS in 2020. During the surgery, the speaker was asked to speak and move her fingers to ensure the correct area of the brain was targeted. The speaker shares a video demonstrating the immediate effect of DBS, showing her tremor ceasing when the stimulation is activated.
Patient Advocacy and the Importance of Resilience
Following the successful DBS surgery, the speaker quit her job to dedicate herself to patient advocacy. She emphasizes that while we cannot future-proof the world, we can future-proof our reaction to events. Resilience is presented as the key to dealing with life's curveballs.
Parky the Raccoon and the Traits of Resilient People
Parky the Raccoon is the mascot of the World Parkinson Coalition, chosen to represent the traits of adaptable, resourceful, clever, creative, and curious individuals. These are the traits that resilient people need. The speaker identifies three key elements of resilience:
- Having Choices: While one cannot choose to have Parkinson's, one can choose their reaction to it.
- Being Optimistic: Maintaining a positive outlook about the outcome.
- Having Goals: Pursuing a purpose, such as patient advocacy.
Quote: "He who has a why to live can bear almost anyhow."
Building Resilience Over Time
Resilience is not innate but is built over time through experiences and learning. Examples are given of a 2-year-old learning to cope with having a toy taken away, a school child dealing with failing a test, and a young adult dealing with heartbreak.
The London Bus Study and Healthy Habits
In 1949, Jerry Morris discovered that London bus drivers had twice as many heart attacks as bus conductors. This was attributed to the conductors' physical activity running up and down the stairs of the double-decker buses. This study established a correlation between exercise and heart disease. The speaker argues that we should create healthy habits, not just physical ones, but also habits that foster resilience.
Conclusion
The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to tap into their "inner raccoons" and cultivate resilience in the face of an uncertain future. The main takeaways are the importance of resilience in navigating life's challenges, the power of choice in reacting to adversity, and the need to cultivate healthy habits for both physical and mental well-being.
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