By & for those affected by Parkinson’s disease
October 2020
From The Board
Annual Appeal Kicks Off
PD Active’s Annual Appeal, our only yearly fundraiser, is underway and envelopes with your generous donations are beginning to roll in. Your contributions are deeply appreciated and remind us that you value the programs, events and support services we provide. 

One gift came with the following note:
"We are happy to offer this donation to PD Active. It is wonderful to have such an organization in our own backyard. It helps one to shift having Parkinson's disease from being an experience of disability to an experience of life. With gratitude."

PD Active has managed to go virtual and stay vibrant even in the face of unimaginable obstacles. We look forward to hearing from many of you between now and the end of the year. Your contribution of any amount helps. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Save the Date
October FORUM:
Cannabis and the Treatment of Parkinson's:
Is Anything Known?

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2020
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

The medicinal, mind-altering, material, and nutritional qualities of Cannabis have resulted in human relationships with this plant dating back thousands of years. Its complex and unique chemistry has fostered the development of important discoveries in neuroscience. What, if anything, is known about the potential therapeutic effects of Cannabis in the treatment of Parkinson’s.

PD Active depends on donations to bring programs like this to our members free of charge. We remain grateful for your contributions.

Presenter: David E. Presti
You should receive a confirmation e-mail after registering. Contact us
(510) 479-6119 if you need assistance.
UPCOMING EVENTS:

November Forum: Surgical Options for PD - DBS and Beyond; 11/14/20 - 10:30am to 12:30pm Dr. Jaimie Henderson, Stanford Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurology

Round Table: Exercise and Motivation During COVID; 12/8/20 - 4pm to 5:30pm

Classes & Programs
Activity Block Classes (ABC) Keeps You Moving
Stay Active! Try out one of these popular classes sponsored by PD Active.

Pilates - Thursdays 12pm
Mindfulness Meditation - Thursdays 1pm
Tai Chi - Fridays 12pm
PWR! Fridays - 2pm

Zoom links, registration and meeting times for PD Active’s Activity Block Classes are here.
Online Video Archive

PD Active has launched a YouTube channel with a series of exercise videos.
The recent roundtable on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is also available on the channel.

You can find the channel here.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Community Update
PD Active Support Groups Meet Online - Stay connected
PD Active offers a number of support groups.
  • General support group for people with PD – meets weekly on Thursdays, 4pm-5:30pm
  • The Young Onset; Young at Heart PD group - meets twice per month
  • Care partner support groups - meet once a month

If you have questions about which support group is right for you, email [email protected]

A new support group is being formed for adult children whose parents have PD. Stay tuned for more information.
Parkinson Disease Educational Conference
The Parkinson Association of Northern California (PANC) is excited to announce that its 2020 Annual Virtual Conference is scheduled for October 24, 2020 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. The conference will feature a diverse group of experts, movement disorder specialists, neurologists, surgeons, neurophysical therapists and others who will provide information and education. The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Soania Mathur, is a dedicated Parkinson’s advocate, speaker, author, educator and 2019 recipient of the World Parkinson Congress Distinguished Contribution Award.
Registrants will have the opportunity to join in two movement breaks, visit the virtual exhibit hall, enter a drawing, ask the speakers questions and join others at small viewing parties. Registration is $10 per person and includes a gift of Dr. Mathur’s book: Shaky Hands. Registrants will receive a link to access the conference.

For more information and to register go to Panctoday.org
Opportunity to Join Remote Research Study at UC San Francisco
Dr. Caroline Tanner, MD PhD is recruiting for a new, completely remote, home-based clinical trial led by a team of Parkinson’s experts at UCSF in partnership with researchers from across the country. The goal of the study is to help people with Parkinson’s disease reduce the risk of hip fractures.

TOPAZ (Trial of Parkinson’s and Zoledronic Acid) will test if zoledronic acid, an FDA-approved medication for osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) can prevent fractures in people with Parkinson’s disease. To be eligible, individuals must have Parkinson’s disease and be at least 65 years of age.


If you have any questions, please visit our study website or email [email protected], or call us directly at (415) 317-5748.
PD Active is on Facebook! 
We would love to connect with you so check out our Facebook page and share it with a friend. 

You can also become a member of the PD Active Community Group here. The Community Group is free and is intended to provide an online forum available to members only for lively, timely and thoughtful discussions.
Thank you to our Recent Donors
  • Dr. Rima Ash
  • Mary and John Ball
  • Jim Baum and Carol West in honor of Eva Yarmo
  • Stuart Berde in memory of Larry Sirott
  • Ken Blonski and Louise Fender in memory of Wes Blonski
  • Jim Blume and Kathryn Frank
  • Suzanne and Italo Calpestri in memory of Robert "Bob" Moss
  • Margaret Corrigan and Larry Gibbs in honor of Judith Lubman
  • Christine Cziko
  • James Duff and Valerie Yasukochi
  • Judy Gorman
  • April Gray
  • Gabriel Griego and Monique Buffler
  • Janet and Joe Grodin
  • Richard and Janet Hack
  • Deborah Harris
  • William Heinz and Monique Kane in honor of Herb Heinz
  • Mary Hinson in memory of Patricia Needle
  • Cathy Hosteller
  • Christina Kellogg
  • Roberta Kuszel and Andrew Hetz
  • Sally Lappen and Nik Warren
  • Eric Larsen
  • Stanley Leibowitz and Paula Millman
  • Lyle Lopus
  • Kerri and Mark Lubin
  • Stanley and Judith Lubman in memory of Robert "Bob" Moss
  • Stanley and Judith Lubman in honor of KT Warren's baby
  • Michael McKenna
  • Ivan and Maris Meyerson
  • Anne-Marie Miller in honor of Jill Peale
  • Gretchen Muller
  • Carol and Joe Neil in honor of Eva Yarmo
  • Kevin Parichan
  • Ray and Sandra Ponce
  • Philip Schnayerson and Liz Sher
  • Darlene and Richard Smith in memory of Mary King and Norene Manfee
  • Livia Stein in memory of Dorothy Stein
  • Will Travis
  • Greg and Selina Wajnowski in honor of Stanley Lubman
  • Lana Wilson
  • Evie and Gordon Wozniak