Listen to our fascinating series of podcasts exploring the latest Parkinson's research (with a Scottish slant!)
Compiled and presented by Dr Julie Jones and Helga Macfarlane
or listen on
SERIES 1 - (2023)
Episode 1 : Dr Angus Macleod, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, NHS Grampian & Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen.
Julie Jones chats to Dr Angus Macleod about his research work and finds out his thoughts on promising developments further afield.
Episode 2 : Dr Carl Counsell, Consultant Neurologist, NHS Grampian & Clinical Reader, University of Aberdeen.
Julie Jones explores Dr Carl Counsell's long career in research alongside his clinical role and academic teaching, and his views on what the future might hold for Parkinson's research.
Recording of online Q & A with Drs Angus Macleod & Carl Counsell.
Originally held 8 February 2023.
Episode 3 : Dr. Julie Jones, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Robert Gordon University & CSO and Parkinson's UK Clinical Academic Fellow
Helga Macfarlane finds out about Julie Jones' research experience, particularly in relation to her ongoing study into exercise for people with Young Onset Parkinson's DIsease.
Episode 4 : Dr. Tilo Kunath, Professor of Regenerative Neurobiology at the University of Edinburgh
Dr Tilo Kunath gives Julie Jones an insight into his work on stem cell models in Parkinson's Disease and the work being done to fully understand the role of alpha-synuclein in the progression of the disease.
Episode 5 : Alan Main, former Global President, Bayer Medical Care & previous Head of Consumer Healthcare at Sanofi.
With a thirty year career in the pharmaceutical industry that has taken him all over the world, Julie Jones caught up with Alan Main on a brief return to his home city of Aberdeen, to find out more about the industry behind all our daily medication.
Episode 6 : James Jopling, Scotland Director, Parkinson's UK
James Jopling joined Parkinson's UK as Scotland Director in April 2022 in the wake of the Covid pandemic and just as the cost of living crisis started to bite. He talks to Julie Jones about the challenges facing the charity, and the role and value of its unique approach to patient involvement in research.
Episode 7 : Professor Gareth Jones, University of Aberdeen
Demystifying all the jargon used in research! Professor Jones guides us through all the different kinds of trials, studies, and research, explaining what the different types are for and what they mean. Julie Jones asks why sample size is important, what is peer review and about the ethics process
Episode 8 : Parkinson's Beats with Jo Holland, Alison Williams and Julie Jones
Research comes in many forms and in this episode we'll be finding out about the evaluation done on the new Parkinson's Beats drumming sessions. Find out how exercise can be fun and what benefits participants got from the sessions. Interviewer Helga Macfarlane.
Episode 9 : Dr Edward Newman, National Deep Brain Stimulation Service in Glasgow
Dr Ed Newman talks Helga Macfarlane through the latest developments in the field of Deep Brain Stimulation, the different types of devices available and what the future might hold.
Episodes 10 & 11 World Mental Health Day Special - two part podcast.
Part 1 - Anxiety Part 2 - Depression
Julie Jones and Neil Morrison from NoSPRIG talk to Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Jennifer Foley and mental health specialist Parkinson's Nurse Emma Edwards about two of the most common mental health issues in Parkinsons - anxiety and depression.
Episode 12 : Professor David Dexter, Director of Research, Parkinson's UK
Professor David Dexter shares his optimism over current trials and studies that are nearing completion. He explains the charity's research strategy, the roles and importance of volunteers and the challenges Parkinson's presents researchers in their quest towards finding new treatments and a cure.
Episode 13 : Dr Anja Lowit, Professor of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Strathclyde,
Speech and language issues can affect many people with Parkinson's at any stage of the disease. In this episode we find out about the various interventions that can help, the challenges of carrying out and analysing research into speech and language and how technology is developing to assist.
SERIES 2 - (2024)
Episode 2/1 : Clare Johnson, Parkinson's Specialist Occupational Therapist, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
As a member of the Parkinson's Disease guideline committee of the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, Clare explains teh vast number of ways Occupational Therapists can help patients and their families cope with the everyday motor and non-motor challenges of living with Parkinson's.
Episode 2/2 : Dr David Breen, Honorary Consultant Neurologist and Senior Clinical Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh.
Sleep issues are one of the most widely reported non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. In this episode Dr David Breen explains the mechanism of sleep, he describes the challenges of researching sleep, and talks us through some of the theories surrounding sleep as a possible predictor of Parkinson's or indicator of prognosis.
Episode 2/3 : International Women's Day Special Episode.
RIchelle Flanagan, co-founder of the worldwide Women's Parkinson's Project and the health and wellbeing app My Moves Matter.
Since attending the World Parkinson's Congress in 2019 following her own diagnosis of YOPD, RIchelle Flanagan has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of women with Parkinson's. Now a leading advocate for females with the PD across the globe, her pioneering work is driving forward long overdue research into how Parkinson's and its medications specifically affect women of all ages.
Episode 2/4 : Dr Kathryn Bowles, Gene Researcher at the UK Dementia Research Institute in Edinburgh and leader of the Bowles Lab.
Kat Bowlres explains her fascinating research into a little known gene that is thought to help protect the brain. It is hoped that discovering how this process works will provide vital new knowledge as to why some people develop Parksinson's and others don't.
Further episodes will be released monthly - watch this space for details!
Podcasts produced with the kind support of Dan Holland, Adventurous Audio Ltd.