My journey with Parkinson’s - years 12 to 18

Dr. Christian Hageseth is an 82-year-old retired psychiatrist. His first symptoms of PD started 18 years ago, yet he only started taking L-Dopa 2 ½ years ago. He credits his success in slowing PD—almost to a halt—to his attitude, exercise, and practicing yoga. He directed his local PD support group from 2012 to 2019. During that time, the numbers of attendees went from thirteen to more than one hundred every month. 

Today he feels it is critically important for PWPs to avoid spending their time looking for for the next new drug to show up. Instead, he says to live life to its fullest. He reminds us that PD does not appreciably shorten the life span of PWPs. And he also reminds us that medications such as L-dopa do not increase longevity. He has always viewed PD as a challenge, not a curse.