Making the Connection Between Brain and Behavior: Coping with Parkinson's Disease

Very informative for a disease that no one is real sure how to cure yet. Parkinson’s is so unpredictable one day they can’t do something the next day they can one day. They can’t get up and stand the next day. They’re walking around, but it helped me as a caregiver to understand my client much better.

My husband has had Parkinson’s for almost 30 years. For much of that time, we saw it primarily as a movement disorder and that is what his doctors have focused on. In recent years, we’ve seen more cognitive changes. While it’s easy to find general information about some of these changes, Dr. Friedman provides a much more complete discussion of the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s including sleepiness, delusions, compulsive behavior, misperceptions, and poor insight. He also recognizes that many of these issues are more of a problem for the caregiver than for the patient. Dr. Friedman includes discussion of how these issues can be treated and is honest in reporting that some have no known treatment at this time.I found this book extremely helpful in understanding how Parkinson’s is affecting my husband’s thinking and behavior. Having this knowledge, I will no longer be hesitant to initiate a discussion of these issues with his neurologists.

Concise, with good information for those with Parkinsons or those dealing with someone with the disease. I liked this type of information and the way it was laid out in easy to reference chapters was good. We recommended it to my husband's neurologist even.

I think this book is indispensable for PD sufferers and caregivers. Especially good for newly diagnosed people, it is an encyclopedia of useful knowledge. The articles at the end are especially helpful. Do not be without the one on why you should never go to the ER and what you need to know if you are hospitalized or need surgery. There is also an extensive glossary of terms that is an education in itself. This is good, solid information from a neurologist who specializes in PD and knows his stuff. I initially rented it on Kindle but found I had to buy a hard copy for reference. Can't do without this one. My wife has had PD for about 18 years and I am her caregiver.

Looks OK. I haven't had time to read it.

This book was worth the purchase to understand the psychological side of Parkinsons. I think people think the symptoms are only physical (tremors, jerking and slow movement) but there are a lot of other issues that need attention. This helps to understand the emotional, mental and behavioral side of the disease. Very simple to read and follow. Highly recommend! Helps us (my sister and mom) to understand what my dad will be facing.

A Parkie is a person with Parkinson's. Often a newly diagnosed Parkie, no matter how good his or her neurologist, is bewildered by what is happening. This book helps to explain both to the Parkie and to the caretaker what is going on and what can be expected. For example, it is extremely disconcerting to be walking and suddenly "freeze." It is highly disconcerting to fall three or four times a week, especially if you re, as sI am, in your seventies. You can't help wondering what's going to happen next. Nobody really knows, because each Parkie is an individual, but at least this book gives some ideas and some suggestions.

This book has a lot of valuable information for both patients and caregivers. If you are newly diagnosed or a long time patient, you should read this book. It is a must read for caregivers!

good

I would recommend this book to anyone who has just been diagnosed with Parkinson Disease or their Carers. It is written in a way that a person with no medical training or knowledge can understand. As a person with Parkinson Disease I found this book extremely helpful.