World Parkinson's day spreads focuses on exercise

April 11 is World Parkinson’s Awareness Day, bringing attention to a disease that currently impacts nearly 1 million Americans and thousands across New York state.

While there is no cure, new research is proving that staying active could provide a number of health benefits for those living with Parkinson's disease, a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and parts of the body controlled by nerves.

"When you have Parkinson's disease, it's nice to know where your feet are," said David Weston, who lives with Parkinson’s.

With his bright yellow sneakers, Weston is always moving forward. For the former track coach, it’s all he’s ever known. Now 80, he continues to work hard to stay healthy, even after a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2021. 

"It was validation. I had gone for three years with having symptoms but had never been diagnosed yet,” said Weston.

If anything, the diagnosis has served as motivation.

Weston has made it a point to stay active multiple days a week with the hopes of keeping the disease at bay. According to the Parkinson's Foundation, research has shown that physical activity can actually improve symptoms of Parkinson's.

"You can't defeat Parkinson's, but you can really stave it off. And exercise is the one thing that you can do that really makes it makes it, makes you able to continue to work and function," said Weston.

If anything, the diagnosis has served as motivation.

For Weston and many in this class, Amber Pinkey is a life changer. The certified Rock Steady Boxing Coach created a program called “Movement as Medicine,” and it’s proven to be just that.

“The more we move, the better we feel. It's a drug-free approach to feeling good. It creates ... the dopamine and serotonin, all those anti-depressant chemicals in our brain," said Pinkey.

The program is for people of all ages and abilities, and in this class, it's already shown that movement can be medicine.

"They motivate me to get out of bed every single day because they're waiting for me. If they can do it, I can do it," said Pinkey.

"This is a gift for anybody with Parkinson's disease. I really recommend getting involved socially, getting involved physically, and just trying to maintain a standard of living that you're used to," said Weston.