Show Notes
In this episode we speak to Professor Rimona Weil from University College London. Rimona is one of the world’s leading experts in Parkinson’s dementia.
It’s not as depressing as you might think!
She talks about ground breaking research which has discovered a link between vision and dementia, tells us who’s most at risk and whether it’s possible to prevent it! Plus how using pictures of cats and dogs can help to understand how cognition is affected in Parkinson’s.
We also talk about people’s reluctance to talk about Parkinson’s dementia…
If you want to get involved with the professor’s latest research project, which will involve at least 5 visits to London, brain scans and blood tests, you can email her: [email protected]
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/thinking-and-memory-changes
More from 2 Parkies in a Pod: a Parkinson's Podcast
In this episode of 2 Parkies in a Pod, we’re talking about one of the most frustrating and sometimes confusing parts of living with Parkinson’s - ON and OFF periods. What does it actually mean to be “ON”? What does being “OFF” feel like? And why can Parkinson’s symptoms sometimes seem to change throughout the day? We’re joined by Professor Camille Carroll, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at Newcastle University, whose work focuses on Parkinson’s, personalised care, digital monitoring and motor fluctuations, including “wearing-off.” Please remember that the podcast is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you’re experiencing changes in your Parkinson’s symptoms or medication response, speak to your Parkinson’s team or healthcare professional. https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/get-involved https://www.ejsactpd.com/ https://www.researchplusme.co.uk/join-parkinsons-research/ Please subscribe, rate & review [email protected]
Having witnessed her younger brother being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of just 20, Anne had seen Parkinson’s first hand - but in a cruel twist of fate she was herself diagnosed more than 30 years later. How they have both dealt with their diagnosis is a truly inspiring story. Listen in for a powerful conversation about family, resilience, exercise, friendship and finding a positive way forward with Parkinson’s. Plus Dave gets an unexpected visitor... Richard Brocklesby Sailing Fundraiser https://gofund.me/704a90bee Walkies for Parkinson's https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/event/walkies-for-parkinsons/home Par-Con 2026 https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/community/par-con Submit your video questions for Par-Con 2026 at [email protected]
What happens when you’re told you have Parkinson’s — and years later, you’re told you don’t? Mike Bells talks about the first signs, how the diagnosis affected both him and those around him, and the impact the Parkinson’s medication had. Then came the shock.. Mike was de-diagnosed almost a decade later. Mike opens up about what it felt like to discover the news and what life looks like now. Plus, Dave hits 60… and Kuhan gets back behind the wheel!
Guest: Dr Ashwini Oswal For many people living with Parkinson’s, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is one of the biggest treatment decisions they’ll ever face. But when is the right time to start thinking about it? Should DBS be viewed as a last resort, or could earlier intervention offer greater benefits? In this episode of 2 Parkies in a Pod, we’re joined by Dr Ashwini Oswal, Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. His clinical work and research focus on Parkinson’s disease, Deep Brain Stimulation and the next generation of adaptive DBS technology. Together, we unpack the evidence behind DBS, explain how it works, discuss who is most likely to benefit, and explore whether the 5-2-1 rule is a useful guide for referral. We also talk about the role of medications such as Entacapone, Opicapone & Amandatine, ask whether DBS could one day prove to be neuroprotective, and look ahead to the exciting future of adaptive DBS. https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information/treatments/deep-brain-stimulation How to get involved in table Tennis https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/news/2025/table-tennis-england-and-parkinsons-uk-announce-partnership/ The advert that made Dave Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GEpT3e7Dfg Please rate, review and subscribe 2parkiesinapod.com
Guest: David Dexter, Director of Research, Parkinson’s UK There’s a real sense of optimism in Parkinson’s research right now! In this episode we’re asking whether we’re closer than ever to treatments that can slow, stop, or even reverse the disease. David Dexter joins us to discuss exciting developments including breakthrough stem cell research, the promising results from a drug called Syntara, why reducing brain inflammation could be a game changer, and how Parkinson’s UK decides which research to back. We also chat to Yorkshireman Andy Cassy who’s had millions of Stem Cells “planted” in his brain. Two years on from his 12 hour operation, is it working? We also explore whether stress affects Parkinson’s, if an apple a day really can help keep the neurologist away, the science behind fatigue and NAD+ a cheap energy boosting supplement We finish with a fun quick-fire round to discover the person behind the scientist. Plus- how Dave managed to skip into Wimbledon for semifinals day. Parkinson’s UK Research https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research Par-Con 2026 https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/community/par-con Symprove https://shop.parkinsons.org.uk/pages/partner-symprove NAD+ https://amzn.eu/d/0aA8NY3s Why am I so tired? https://www.2parkiesinapod.com/podcast/episode/223d81c7/why-am-i-so-tired Ask the professor https://www.2parkiesinapod.com/podcast/episode/2da15954/ask-the-professor 2parkiesinapod.com [email protected] Please subscribe, rate & review