I am under a doctor’s care for Parkinson’s and take Requip and Levadopa daily. In the last five years, I have not had to increase the dosage.

I EXERCISE EVERY DAY. Everything I do has Parkinson’s as the enemy in my mind. I exercise to keep my joints flexible and I work out with sufficient intensity to increase blood flow to the brain for a sufficient period of time.

In the winter, I go to a gym and use a rowing machine, which gets my heart rate up and gives my joints a good workout. I do Pilates and work on my sit-ups to keep my abdominal muscles strong. Other exercises involve various machines in the gym. Recently I began taking Tai Chi classes for balance.

During the warmer months, I row at the Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport, Connecticut and have participated in several rowing competitions. Rowing is not only a great physical challenge, it puts me out on the water where I am most happy.

Aside from medication and physical exercise, I do all the things I have suggested in this pamphlet; ballroom dancing, Japanese language lessons, book club, creative writing classes, and spend time with interesting people of all ages.