Parkinson Weekly

🎙️ We’re back with the twenty-seventh episode of Parkinson Weekly, hosted by Prof. Bas Bloem.
In Episode 27, Prof. Bloem explores an intriguing and under-researched question in Parkinson’s disease: can temperature influence symptoms?
Inspired by a 2024 study published in Parkinsonism and Related Disorders by Nahid Mohammadzadeh & Joseph Friedman the episode examines how exposure to cold may worsen tremor in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Drawing on both clinical observations and emerging evidence, Prof. Bloem discusses how nearly one-third of patients with tremor reported worsening symptoms in cold conditions—often independent of shivering—while warmer environments may offer relief for some individuals.
The episode also reflects on earlier research, including findings from Prof. Bloem’s own “holiday survey,” which suggested that many patients experience symptom improvement in warmer climates, though responses can vary significantly.
Importantly, Prof. Bloem highlights the limitations of current evidence—small sample sizes, self-reported data, and a lack of objective measurements—while emphasising the potential clinical relevance of temperature as a modifiable factor.
Finally, the episode calls for a more personalised, holistic approach to Parkinson’s care, encouraging patients and clinicians to consider environmental factors such as temperature, and urging researchers to further investigate this overlooked dimension of the disease.
Articles can be found here: https://www.prd-journal.com/issue/S1353-8020(24)X0006-1 & https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364544026_How_vacations_affect_Parkinson's_disease
Have a question you’d like Bas to answer in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

🎙️ We’re back with the twenty-sixth episode of Parkinson Weekly, hosted by Prof. Bas Bloem.
In Episode 26, Prof. Bloem explores a thought-provoking shift in how we understand Parkinson’s disease progression.
Inspired by a 2024 study published in Brain by Martin Johansson and colleagues, the episode examines whether we may have been focusing too heavily on the substantia nigra — and overlooking the crucial role of the brain’s cortex.
Drawing on data from the Parkinson Precision Project, the study suggests that faster disease progression may be driven more by a breakdown in cortical compensation than by continued degeneration in the basal ganglia.
Prof. Bloem discusses what this could mean for future disease-modifying strategies, and why approaches that support or protect cortical function — including exercise — may become increasingly important.
A short but impactful episode that challenges conventional thinking and opens new directions for Parkinson’s research.
Article can be found here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37757883/
Have a question you’d like Bas to answer in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

🎙️ We’re back with the twenty-five episode of Parkinson Weekly, hosted by Prof. Bas Bloem.
In Episode 25, Prof. Bloem explores the complex and evolving role of diet in the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Inspired by a recent study published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (2026) by Angelo Gigante and colleagues, the episode examines how different dietary patterns may influence Parkinson’s risk alongside established environmental and genetic factors.
Prof. Bloem discusses findings from a large Italian multi-centre case-control study, which suggests that higher consumption of sweets, red meat, and processed meats may be associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, while fruit intake appears to have a modest protective effect.
The episode also places these findings into context, comparing the impact of diet with other known risk factors such as pesticide exposure, metals, family history, coffee consumption, and physical activity, and highlights the emerging theory that Parkinson’s disease may begin in the gut.
Finally, Prof. Bloem reflects on the limitations of current evidence — including reliance on self-reported dietary data — and emphasises the need for further research to better understand how nutrition could play a role in prevention and disease progression.
Article can be found here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1877718X251388058

Have a question you’d like Bas to answer in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

🎙️ We’re back with the twenty-fourth episode of Parkinson Weekly, hosted by Prof. Bas Bloem.
In Episode 24, Prof. Bas Bloem discusses an important and often overlooked topic in Parkinson’s care: spirituality.
Inspired by a recent paper published in Neurology Clinical Practice (2026) by Dr Indu Subramanian and colleagues, the episode explores how spirituality — the search for meaning, purpose, and connection — can help people living with Parkinson’s disease cope with the challenges of diagnosis and disease progression.
Prof. Bloem highlights the distinction between spirituality and religion, the role of spirituality in fostering hope and resilience, and why addressing spiritual needs may be an important part of holistic care for people with neurological diseases.
The paper also offers practical guidance for clinicians, including simple screening questions that can help open conversations about spiritual wellbeing in clinical practice.
Article can be found here:
 https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200591
Have a question you’d like Bas to answer in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

🎙️ We’re back with the twenty third episode of Parkinson Weekly, hosted by Prof. Bas Bloem.
In Episode 23 of Parkinson Weekly, Prof. Bas Bloem explores the phenomenon of response fluctuations, where the benefits and side effects of oral Parkinson’s medications vary throughout the day. Rather than focusing on a single new study, this episode revisits several influential papers that have reshaped how clinicians understand these fluctuations and their underlying mechanisms.
Listeners will learn about key concepts including “on” and “off” states, predictable wearing-off, dose failures, and different types of dyskinesias—including peak-dose and biphasic dyskinesias. The episode also highlights how Parkinson’s disease progression narrows the brain’s therapeutic window, making it increasingly difficult to maintain stable symptom control.
Prof. Bloem also discusses an often overlooked factor: the gut. Gastrointestinal issues such as delayed gastric emptying, constipation, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and Helicobacter pylori infection can significantly affect how levodopa is absorbed, leading to delayed or unpredictable medication responses.
Finally, the episode explores treatment strategies—from adjusting dosing schedules and adding adjunct medications to the role and limitations of continuous dopaminergic therapies, while emphasising the importance of realistic treatment goals and expectation management.
This episode offers practical insights for clinicians, people living with Parkinson’s disease, and caregivers seeking to better understand and manage medication fluctuations.
Listen now to discover how evolving research is shaping the way we approach response fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease.

Articles mentioned can be found here:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(15)00007-1/abstract
https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.870120304
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2865731/
Have a question you’d like Bas to answer in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.