Studies indicate that intense exercise can help train the Parkinson’s afflicted brain to use dopamine more efficiently and be able to do more with less. For people with Parkinson’s, intensive exercise can boost energy, sharpen the mind, elevate spirits and keep the body mobile. As a result, many abandon the very restorative health practices, such as regular exercise, when they are needed the most. Why? Their actual skills and abilities do not suddenly evaporate on the date of their diagnosis, though their mental fortitude often does. Most people living with Parkinson’s reduce or even discontinue regular intensive physical activity after their Parkinson’s diagnosis. There is currently no cure, no bio-markers to aid detection, and little is known about how it is triggered, except that Canadians are disproportionately afflicted Think of dopamine as the electricity in an electric car: without it, the lights dim and the wheels stop spinning. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter necessary for many functions of the brain and body, including muscular control, and its loss affects all forms of movement and balance, as well as non-motor functions such as memory, concentration and motivation. Parkinson’s Disease occurs when the brain’s dopamine-producing cells die prematurely. Get used to it, as Parkinson’s Disease is the world’s fastest growing neurological condition, set to double in number by 2040. You may even know people who suffer from it. You have probably heard of Parkinson’s Disease. The memorial is beautiful, with a nice vista, though it is highly ironic that you can neither walk nor cycle to the site – it is only accessible by car. We stop to visit the Terry Fox memorial marking the location of the halt of his cross country run on the highway nearby. I have learned lots of tricks to keep a lethargy-prone brain active. Jim doesn’t care about these stats, but I do: I use them to trick my brain to stay interested. According to Strava, I get the quickest recorded ride this year (5th all time) and Jim gets third this year (14th all time). Not all is lost, as the first 30 km were on highway 102 which had nice rolling hills. We will deduct this from our banked hours. Today, we decided it is too dangerous, and we get in the RV. Darlene usually drives to a distant meeting spot or the camp, and if she sees that the shoulder is sufficiently narrow or damaged for a large percentage of the ride, she will call. The divers have been outstanding thus far, but with the margin of error so small, the threat is just too high to rationalize away. This is an essential highway, filled with transport trucks of every size, including wide loads. They are commonly 1-2 feet wide, and occasionally nothing. We have big plans for today, but they are impeded by a troubling disappearance act of our highway shoulders. I am proud to say that we have maintained a zero percent murder rate. It is part twisted ballet, and part balletic Twister. You should see our mornings – dressing, making coffee, making breakfast, interviews, gathering provisions for the ride – all without collision, without annoyance, and while preserving each other’s privacy. The most common question that no one asks (□) is “How the heck do you all live in that RV together for 3 months without killing each other?” Well, to begin with, murder is illegal and immoral.
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