‘Jeopardy!' champ with Parkinson's shares touching story
"Jeopardy!" contestant Harvey Silikovitz, shares how in 2019 he missed the call from producers to be on the show. Five months later he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Now, Silikovitz is finally getting his shot. "After living with Parkinson's for five and a half years, it's no longer just about wanting to do well for myself, I would like to give hope and inspiration to the people who are living with chronic illnesses," he said. TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager shares the Morning Boost.
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Small but 'life-changing' policy helps Parkinson's patients who need emergency care at Guelph's hospital
When people go to the emergency department, they're not allowed to take their own medications while they wait, which Theresa Daly says can be a huge problem for people with Parkinson's. A long-time nurse and social worker who actively works in Parkinson's disease support groups, Daly says she's thrilled the hospital in Guelph, Ont., has recently made a tweak to a long-standing practice to make it easier for Parkinson's patients to take their medications on time. "It's life-changing," Daly said. "Life-giving and life-saving and certainly quality of life saving." Hospitals have a policy that any medication given while a person is in the hospital must be through the pharmacy or a physicians order. Hospitals will monitor every patient's medication to avoid mixing, doubling up, choking or even overdosing. But emergency departments can be very busy and this can lead to people not getting medications on time. One of the more common medications for Parkinson's is Levodopa, used to control some of the physical deterioration symptoms. Daly says when a dose is missed, it can lead to people not feeling "normal" again for days, weeks or even months afterwards. The new policy at Guelph General Hospital says, an emergency department nurse is able to give permission to those with Parkinson's to take the medication they brought from home. Daly volunteers with the southwestern Ontario branch of Parkinson Canada and her brother also has the disease. She says she's very familiar with the toll the conditions take on both a sufferer and their loved ones. "To see them move into suffering because they haven't had their medication on time affects two people. The person with Parkinson's and the one who loves them. So it's a big deal," Daly said. Parkinson's disease is a neurological and degenerative condition. It has no cure and can get worse over time. The most commonly known issues from PD include slowness of movement, rigidity, tremors and instability. There are other symptoms associated with the condition including insomnia, anxiety, depression, bladder issues, faintness, leg swelling, heavy sweating, double vision and a multitude of other challenges. Ian Smith has Parkinson's and in the past few months, he's had to go to Guelph General Hospital three times. "[Parkinson's patients] all have different problems, some more than others ... and generally, hospitals don't like you bringing your own pills in," he said. While Smith doesn't always feel drastic effects if he misses a pill, he's familiar with how demanding the medication schedule can be. He takes three pills a day with specific food and timing restrictions. "My little Parkinson pill isn't high on the priority list because nobody has told them that it should be," Smith said. By allowing Parkinson's patients to monitor their medication, he said it's less stress for both them and, he assumes, the medical professionals. Andrea de Jong is the director of the emergency department Guelph General Hospital hospital. She said it's become a successful best practice to give emergency room nurses the power and knowledge to administer medications without having to get an order from a physician. She said there are still restrictions on who is able to administer Parkinson's medication that's brought in from home, but nurses are very familiar with these guidelines. "This ideally helps them go back home quicker and overall have a better experience here," she said. Daly said that Guelph General Hospital was very quick to approve this directive with their emergency department teams and medical advisory committee and said it's in line with much of the work Parkinson Canada aims to do within hospitals. A patient's knowledge of their own rights and their ability to advocate is a separate hurdle, she said. "There's a double prong education piece to this... people with Parkinson's have to know that it was okay, and emerge has to know that they have Parkinson's and that it's important they get their pills on time," Daly said. Parkinson Canada spokesperson Emma Gostovic told CBC News that the organization wasn't aware of any other hospitals in the country with a similar directive for Parkinson's patients and their medications. Most hospitals are still aware this is a concern and are conscious of medication timing, she said. Gostovic called Guelph General Hospital's model one they'd like to "explore and share with others throughout the clinical community."
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What Happened to A-ha Singer Morten Harket? Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis Explained
Fans of the iconic '80s synth-pop band A-ha were met with emotional news this week as lead vocalist Morten Harket confirmed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. A-ha announced Morten Harket's diagnosis on their official website, highlighting the singer known worldwide for his soaring falsetto in Take On Me. Morten Harket, the frontman of A-ha, publicly revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis. The band shared the announcement in an official post on their website, written by longtime biographer Jan Omdahl. The singer shared that he has quietly battled the condition for years, undergoing two brain surgeries to manage its effects. In the statement, Harket confirmed that he had 'no problem accepting the diagnosis.' He also shared that his perspective was inspired by his 94-year-old father's philosophy: 'I use whatever works.' Despite the challenges, Harket maintains a calm and philosophical outlook, acknowledging the difficulty of managing medication, symptoms, and creativity all at once. According to Jan Omdahl, Harket has been coping with Parkinson's disease privately, letting only a small circle of close confidants know about his condition. The decision to go public wasn't easy, especially considering the unpredictable reaction and stress it might bring. Still, Harket felt it was time. 'Part of me wanted to reveal it,' he said. 'It's my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me.' He emphasized that managing the illness is a full-time job. His treatment includes deep brain stimulation (DBS), a complex neurosurgical procedure that helps alleviate symptoms by implanting electrodes in specific brain regions. Harket underwent DBS surgeries in both June and December of 2024, one for each hemisphere of the brain. The procedures, done at the Mayo Clinic, reportedly softened many of his symptoms. Though he can still drive and appears symptom-free on good days, Harket admits that the disease has clouded his future as a singer. He is uncertain about whether he can or will return to performing. 'I don't feel like singing,' he shared. 'For me, that's a sign. As things stand now, that's out of the question.' Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon. The post What Happened to A-ha Singer Morten Harket? Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis Explained appeared first on Mandatory.
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Florida Poly assistant professor receives Fulbright to continue research in Canada
Chris Kelley, an assistant professor at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, has been selected by the U.S. State Department as a Fulbright Specialist. Kelley, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will travel to Canada in August to collaborate on academic curriculum development at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Florida Poly said in a news release. Kelley's research focuses on Parkinson's disease diagnosis and wearable care technology. The Fulbright Specialist Program provides an opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in project-based exchanges at host institutions around the world, the release said. During Kelley's project at UWindsor, he will primarily collaborate with Jalal Ahamed, associate professor at UWindsor's Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, in building mechatronics systems curriculum while incorporating biomedical aspects, the release said. Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that combines mechanical engineering, electronics and computer systems to design and build intelligent, automated devices and processes, the release said. 'This is a really great opportunity, and I'm excited to be a part of it,' Kelley said in the release. 'Project-based learning engages students and helps them become better problem solvers because instead of doing everything on paper, they're physically working on something and accomplishing a goal.' Kelley collaborated last year with Ahamed to develop sensors that capture changes in the gait of a person with Parkinson's disease. Ahamed was at Florida Poly as a Fulbright Canada research chair, the release said. Kelley will conduct seminars, workshops and lectures on project-based and experiential learning. Upon his return, Kelley plans to begin implementing the new methods into Florida Poly's mechatronic systems, human robotics and other courses, the release said. 'Dr. Kelley's selection as a Fulbright Specialist highlights Florida Poly's growing role on the global stage,' said Mustapha Achoubane, the senior adviser for international relationships at Florida Poly. 'We are dedicated to fostering international partnerships and academic excellence that empower our faculty and students to become leaders and innovators in science and technology worldwide.' This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida Poly assistant professor is named Fulbright Specialist
