Portland Sleep and PD

May’s podcast discusses a common night-time nemesis for people with Parkinson’s…


In the latest Portland Countdown podcast, regular hosts Dave Iverson and Jon Palfreman invite guest neurologist Dr Sam Frank to discuss the impact of the most common sleep issues in Parkinson’s and what can be done to treat them.

While Parkinson’s symptoms can vary greatly from one individual to another, a common denominator for almost anyone with the condition is trouble sleeping. A recent global study revealed sleep as the number one factor affecting the health and wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s.

From the inability to sleep through the night, to difficulty returning to sleep after awakening, sleep problems are all too common with Parkinson’s. Perhaps you’re even reading this because you can’t fall asleep.

Yet disrupted sleep may also be an early warning sign of the disease. What can sleep tells us about the disease and what can we do to make sleeplessness less of a burden for those living with Parkinson’s?

The aim of the Portland Countdown series is to give listeners new perspectives on the latest advances in Parkinson’s research and treatment.

The shows, developed by the World Parkinson Coalition, are aired online on the first Tuesday of every month from June 2015 to September 2016 – when the 4th World Parkinson Congress takes place in Portland, Oregon, US. The podcasts are free and available for download.


The full schedule of show topics and guest speaker profiles is available here