Parkinson’s and loneliness

In this episode, we’re looking at the relationship between Parkinson’s and loneliness.

There are many reasons that people with Parkinson’s might experience feelings of loneliness – these might include isolation because of communication challenges, stigma surrounding symptoms, and difficulties explaining the realities of the condition to anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves.

A lot of this has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic – as social distancing, self-isolation and lockdowns have made it harder to connect.

Our first guest is Wytze Russchen, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008. Before moving to Spain, Wytze had a fast-paced career as a lobbyist in Belgium – but says that his pace of life has slowed down since diagnosis. He’s experienced mental health symptoms associated with Parkinson’s – and says that it’s been difficult to communicate some of the challenges linked to the condition, even to close friends and family.

He is joined by Dr. Indu Subramanian, a movement disorder neurologist based in Los Angeles, US. Indu recently worked on a study which suggested that people with Parkinson’s who experience loneliness may have more severe symptoms and a worse quality of life. She also brings her interest in yoga, mindfulness and other alternative treatments to the discussion.

In this episode, Wytze and Indu discuss why connecting with others is so important, how to find ways of coping with loneliness – and why it’s vital to learn to appreciate the little things.

This podcast has been supported by a grant from the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe, whose mission is to improve patient wellbeing, using digital or innovative solutions.

Parkinson’s Life magazine is produced by Speak Media on behalf of the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, the leading voice for Parkinson’s in Europe. For the latest research and information on Parkinson’s, visit EPDA.eu.com.

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