NWLA Parkinson's Resource

NWLA Parkinson's Resource Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from NWLA Parkinson's Resource, 1811 East Bert Kouns Ind. Loop, Shreveport, LA.

🌟 The Northwest Louisiana Parkinson’s Resource empowers, educates & supports people with Parkinson’s, families & caregivers through compassion, education, wellness & advocacy—building a connected community where no one faces Parkinson’s alone.

Just a little sneak peek at what’s to come 💙
07/24/2026

Just a little sneak peek at what’s to come 💙

07/19/2026

🧠💊 Parkinson’s & Vitamins: Supporting Your Brain While Replacing Dopamine

Did you know that some vitamins and nutrients can become depleted or deserve extra attention when living with Parkinson’s disease—especially if you’re taking levodopa or other dopamine replacement medications?

While vitamins won’t replace your Parkinson’s medications, they may help support overall health, energy, bone strength, and nerve function.

✨ Key vitamins to discuss with your healthcare provider:

🟡 Vitamin B12
Long-term levodopa use may contribute to lower B12 levels in some people. Low B12 can worsen numbness, tingling, balance problems, fatigue, and memory concerns.

🟢 Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays an important role in nerve health. (If you’re taking carbidopa/levodopa, normal dietary B6 is generally not a concern, but always check before taking high-dose supplements.)

🔵 Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)
Works alongside B12 to support healthy nerves and may help lower homocysteine, which can increase with long-term levodopa therapy.

🟣 Vitamin D
Many people with Parkinson’s have low vitamin D levels. Keeping levels in a healthy range may support bone strength, muscle function, and reduce the risk of falls.

⚪ Magnesium
May support muscle function, sleep, and constipation—common concerns in Parkinson’s disease.

🟠 Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Found in fish oil, omega-3s may support brain and heart health and may have anti-inflammatory benefits.

💙 Before you start supplements:
The best approach is to check your levels first. Many deficiencies can be identified with simple blood work, allowing your provider to recommend the right dose instead of guessing.

Common labs to discuss include:
✔️ Vitamin B12
✔️ Vitamin B6
✔️ Folate
✔️ Vitamin D
✔️ Iron studies (if restless legs or fatigue are present)

Remember: More isn’t always better. High doses of certain vitamins can be harmful or interfere with medications, so always talk with your Parkinson’s care team before starting supplements.

Take care of your brain, bones, and body—because managing Parkinson’s is about much more than dopamine. 💙

What an incredible afternoon with the Northwest Louisiana Parkinson’s Resource Group! 💙We had another fantastic turnout ...
07/17/2026

What an incredible afternoon with the Northwest Louisiana Parkinson’s Resource Group! 💙

We had another fantastic turnout today, and seeing so many familiar and new faces reminds us why this community is so special.

A huge thank you to Dr. Jamie Toms for stepping in on short notice and delivering an outstanding presentation on Parkinson’s disease. He did a wonderful job busting common myths, answering questions, and sharing practical information that empowers both people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners.

We also have to give a special shoutout to our youngest (and definitely cutest!) volunteer, Ambrose, who greeted attendees with a smile, helped at the registration table, and reminded us that compassion and service have no age limit. We sure appreciate his help! 💙

As always, we enjoyed great food, great fellowship, and even better conversations. These meetings are about so much more than education—they’re about building a community where no one has to face Parkinson’s alone.

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make today’s meeting such a success. We can’t wait to see you all next month!

07/17/2026

🚨 Plot Twist! 🚨

Well… our VYALEV speaker got called away at the last minute, but don’t worry—we’ve got an All-Star pinch hitter! ⚾

Like a true MVP, Dr. Jamie Toms jumped in to save the day and will be our guest speaker this afternoon! If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a neurosurgeon gets an emergency call to the bullpen… today is your chance to find out. 😄

As always, we’ll have plenty of food, snacks, drinks, and even better company.

📅 Today
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Willis-Knighton Institute for Health
2611 Greenwood Road

Come hungry, bring your questions, and join us for another great afternoon of learning, laughter, and support. We can’t wait to see everyone!

07/13/2026

📣 JOIN US THIS FRIDAY! 💙🧡

We are excited to welcome a special guest speaker from VYALEV® to our Northwest Louisiana Parkinson’s Resource meeting!

💡 VYALEV is a newer advanced therapy for Parkinson’s disease that provides continuous, 24-hour subcutaneous delivery of foscarbidopa/foslevodopa. Instead of relying only on pills taken throughout the day, this therapy delivers medication continuously under the skin—helping provide more consistent levodopa levels and improve motor fluctuations and “OFF” time for appropriate patients.

Come learn more about this exciting advancement in Parkinson’s treatment and bring your questions!

📅 THIS FRIDAY
⏰ Meeting starts promptly at 1:00 PM
📍 Willis-Knighton Institute
2611 Greenwood Road

🍽️ Food, cookies, and drinks will be provided! 🍪🥤

As always, I can’t wait to see everybody! Whether you are living with Parkinson’s, a caregiver, family member, or simply want to learn more—YOU are welcome! 🧡

Please share and help us spread the word! 💙

06/25/2026

The Power of Positivity Starts With You

Living with Parkinson’s disease doesn’t mean you lose control over everything. While none of us can control every symptom or every challenge life brings, we can choose how we respond.

Research continues to show that our thoughts, attitudes, and daily habits can have a meaningful impact on our emotional well-being and quality of life. Positivity isn’t about ignoring the hard days or pretending everything is okay. It’s about choosing hope, gratitude, resilience, and purpose—even when life is difficult.

Some days will be harder than others, and that’s okay.

But every morning, you have the opportunity to ask yourself:

* What am I grateful for today?
* What can I accomplish today, no matter how small?
* How can I make today meaningful?

One of the most overlooked gifts of a positive attitude is that it doesn’t just affect you—it affects everyone around you.

To our caregivers: Your loved one is watching you just as much as you’re watching them. Your encouragement, your smile, your patience, and your optimism can provide strength on the days they need it most.

To those living with Parkinson’s: Your attitude also has incredible power. When you choose hope over hopelessness, gratitude over frustration, or laughter over despair, you’re not only helping yourself—you are lifting up your spouse, your children, your friends, and your caregivers.

Positivity is contagious. So are kindness, laughter, encouragement, and gratitude. The emotional tone we set often spreads throughout our home, our support groups, and our community.

This doesn’t mean you have to be positive every minute of every day. It’s okay to have difficult moments, to grieve, to feel frustrated, or to ask for help. Those feelings are real and valid.

But after those moments, remind yourself:
You still have a choice in how you move forward.

Let’s challenge ourselves this week:
💙 Share one thing you’re grateful for.
💙 Encourage another member of this group.
💙 Tell your caregiver “thank you.”
💙 If you’re a caregiver, take a moment to care for yourself too.
💙 Choose one positive action every day.

Together, we can create a community where hope is stronger than fear, encouragement is louder than discouragement, and positivity becomes something we share with one another.

Your diagnosis does not define you.
Your circumstances do not define your future.
Your attitude has the power to influence not only your own journey—but the journey of everyone who walks beside you.

“A positive mindset doesn’t change Parkinson’s, but it can change how we experience the journey—and that difference matters.” 💙

06/24/2026

🚨 Hospitalized with Parkinson’s Disease? One Simple Mistake Can Lead to Serious Complications.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Parkinson’s medications can be given “when convenient” in the hospital. Unfortunately, that’s simply not true.

For individuals living with Parkinson’s disease—especially those with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)—hospitalization for pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, surgery, dehydration, or another medical problem can quickly lead to worsening symptoms if Parkinson’s care is not maintained.

Even though the hospitalization may have nothing to do with Parkinson’s disease, the following can result in serious complications:
❌ Delayed or missed Parkinson’s medications
❌ Medications that block dopamine (such as certain anti-nausea or antipsychotic medications)
❌ Failure to recognize or check a DBS system
❌ Lack of communication with the patient’s movement disorders team

These issues can cause:
• Severe rigidity
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Increased falls
• Confusion
• Aspiration pneumonia
• In rare cases, a life-threatening condition called Parkinsonism-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome.

What patients and caregivers can do:

✅ Always carry an updated medication list with exact medication times—not just how many times a day.
✅ Bring your DBS programmer to the hospital.
✅ Inform every provider that you have Parkinson’s disease and, if applicable, Deep Brain Stimulation.
✅ Ask that your Parkinson’s medications be given on time, every time.
✅ Request that your movement disorders specialist be contacted if there are sudden changes.

Education saves lives. Many healthcare providers rarely encounter patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease or DBS, and simply increasing awareness can prevent unnecessary complications.

Please share this post. It may help protect someone you love.

— Wendy Taylor, AGPC-NP, CMRD

06/23/2026

🍄 Psilocybin and Parkinson’s Disease: What Does the Research Say?

Interest in psilocybin (the active compound found in certain mushrooms) has grown rapidly over the past decade as researchers investigate its potential role in treating depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD, and other neurological conditions.

More recently, Parkinson’s disease has entered the conversation.

Parkinson’s is often thought of as a movement disorder, but many individuals also experience depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep disturbances, and cognitive changes. These non-motor symptoms can significantly impact quality of life and may even appear years before motor symptoms develop.

In 2025, researchers at UCSF published the first clinical study examining psilocybin-assisted therapy in people living with Parkinson’s disease. The small pilot study found that treatment was generally well tolerated and was associated with significant improvements in depression and anxiety. Researchers also observed preliminary improvements in cognition and motor symptoms, although larger studies are needed to better understand these findings.

Scientists are particularly interested in psilocybin’s potential effects on neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. While these mechanisms remain under investigation, they represent an exciting area of ongoing research.

It is important to remember that psilocybin remains an investigational therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Larger clinical trials are currently underway to better understand its safety, effectiveness, and long-term effects.

At NWLA Parkinson’s Resource, we believe it is important to stay informed about emerging research while recognizing the difference between promising early findings and proven treatments. Scientific progress often begins with questions raised by patients, caregivers, and clinicians, followed by careful research designed to find answers.

What are your thoughts on emerging therapies such as psilocybin? Have you followed any of the recent research?

This post is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Individuals should discuss any treatment decisions with their healthcare

Thank You, Dr. Guidry!A heartfelt thank you to Paul Guidry for taking the time to speak at today’s Northwest Louisiana P...
06/12/2026

Thank You, Dr. Guidry!

A heartfelt thank you to Paul Guidry for taking the time to speak at today’s Northwest Louisiana Parkinson’s Resource meeting. We truly appreciate your expertise, insight, and dedication to helping our Parkinson’s community better understand the importance of comprehensive primary care and preventive health.

If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Guidry and his practice, be sure to visit Sure Access MD⁠￟.

As a reminder, the next time you’re visiting your primary care provider, try to slow the appointment down a bit and make sure all of your questions are answered. It’s also important to review whether you are up to date on recommended lab work, including Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, folate, and other tests that may impact your overall health and well-being.

Thank you to everyone who attended today’s meeting. We look forward to seeing all of you next month as we continue our mission of Education • Support • Advocacy for those living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners.

Address

1811 East Bert Kouns Ind. Loop
Shreveport, LA
71106

Telephone

+13182122720

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