A community-based support group focusing on sharing relevant information and education about all things Parkinson’s.

Meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday, 10-11am, at Crosspointe Church (5415 Ralston Ave.) next meeting: Tuesday, October 18.

Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group gets together every month with skilled, experienced professionals who present significant breakthroughs, strategies and related issues surrounding Parkinson’s. The group’s mission is for participants to better understand and talk about how this information impacts their own lives and affects immediate family members. In addition to those diagnosed with PD, caregivers, family members and friends are all welcome to attend free of charge.

More than just a meeting, all discussions/presentations offer interactive, compassionate, relevant education on PD. Topics range from “How to get up off the floor when you’ve fallen,” to “Nutrition and Parkinson’s” to “The benefits of deep brain stimulation and assessing if you’re a good candidate for DBS.”

Jon Everhart, retired accountant, US Marine and regular group attendee said, “It’s nice comparing treatments, symptoms, and the challenges we all face living with Parkinson’s.” This caring group empowers people like Jon to be more proactive and to participate in deciding the direction of his treatment, complemented by his team of doctors’ suggestions.

This unique group gives everyone a great opportunity to learn more about current PD research, to gain more awareness about local help and resources, to share relevant experiences with others — and to have fun along the way.

The Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group was recently resurrected (post-Covid) by Dr. Vanessa White, owner of Ventura County Neurofitness (a local fitness program designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s and other neurological degenerative diseases). The impetus for her assuming this responsibility was after her mother-in-law, Toy White, was diagnosed several years ago with PD. This important, special group was born upon her passing.

This month, Dr. Bradley Hiner, Neurologist, will be conducting a Q & A session for all things Parkinson’s.

by Patricia Schallert

There are many seniors among us who have lived and continue to live “success stories.” Let’s meet Don Mills (b. 1932), a life-long resident of Ventura, a retired engineer, a member of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation Advisory Council, the All Eight Boat Club, as well as a proud founding member, along with his wife Edna, of the “Pier Into The Future” charitable foundation that puts on the yearly fundraiser “Pier Under The Stars.”

Don has lived in Ventura his entire life and “no kidding”, he says, his mother was also born in Ventura.

Don’s engineering background allowed him to design and construct some of the Ventura Yacht Club’s first docks, and to help rebuild the Ventura Pier twice, after it was severely damaged by storms.

The Ventura Pier was originally built in 1872. The State of California owned it until 1993 when the City of Ventura took over ownership from the state of California. Five major winter storms destroyed the pier and have either wholly or partially destroyed the pier with the last one in 1995, ripping away its final 420 feet with 18-foot surf. The Ventura pier had just been reconstructed in 1993. It was originally 1858 feet long, but after being nearly destroyed twice, its current length is 1600 feet.

The City of Ventura was responsible for maintaining the pier, but after the severe damage of the storms was simply unable to afford the expenses. When Don and his wife Edna found out about the crisis the pier was in, Edna was working for the Parks and Recreation Commission of Ventura and was able to use her connections to get the “Pier into the Future” foundation started. They were able to raise approximately $800,000 dedicated to the pier’s repairs.

After the damage occurred for the second time, Don and the support team made the decision to “build back stronger, not longer.” Don’s design called for steel pilings, which were necessary because the seabed under the pier is mostly rock. Although the shorter length was a disappointment to some, Don’s design has held up well, and except for the occasional loose plank, the pier today is a safe, stable, and iconic landmark on the Ventura waterfront. The City Council of Ventura dedicated a plaque to Don and his wife in a ceremony on April 1, 1990, at the end of the pier, which is now known as “Mill’s End.”

Sadly, Edna, who had struggled with ALS for several years, passed away 5 days after the dedication. Don has many memories of being on and around the pier as a child and for his entire life, including hundreds of enjoyable strolls with his wife. He can still be spotted walking the pier, watching for ways to keep it in good shape. He is excited that there will soon be new benches, new interpretive panels, new flags, and a renovation of the stairs at the pier, thanks to “Pier into the Future”, in partnership with the City of Ventura to continue to maintain the Ventura Pier for future generations to enjoy.

Although depression is common in older adults, it can be difficult to recognize. For some older adults with depression, sadness is not their main symptom. Instead, they might feel numb or uninterested in activities and may not be as willing to talk about their feelings. Depression not only affects mental health, but also physical health. A review article funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute summarizes hundreds of studies from around the world showing that depression increases risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders. Research has also shown that recurrent depression is a risk factor for dementia. In a study of more than 1,000 older adults, scientists found a relationship between the number of depressive episodes and increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Although different than depression, which is a serious medical disorder, mood changes can also influence aging. A 2020 longitudinal study demonstrated a link between positive mood and better cognitive control. Further studies are necessary to determine whether changes that improve mood could improve cognition. The way you think about aging can also make a difference. Research shows that whether you hold negative or positive views about aging may impact health as you age. Negative beliefs about aging may increase undesirable health outcomes, Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, and cellular aging. Meanwhile, positive beliefs about aging may decrease the risk of developing dementia and obesity.

What can you do?

Depression, even when severe, can be treated. As soon as you begin noticing signs, it’s important to get evaluated by a health care professional. In addition to deep sadness or numbness, lack of sleep and loss of appetite are also common symptoms of depression in older adults. If you think you or a loved one may have depression, start by making an appointment to see your doctor or health care provider. If you are thinking of harming yourself, get help immediately — call the 24-hour 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).

Although you might see commercials or online advertisements for products promising to improve brain health and prevent dementia, be cautious about such products. There currently is no product that will effectively prevent or treat Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Check with your doctor before trying any new medication or supplement.

by National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Many people make assumptions about aging, what it is like to grow “old”, and how older age will affect them. But as we are getting older, it is important to understand the positive aspects of aging. Research has shown that you can help preserve your health and mobility as you age by adopting or continuing healthy habits and lifestyle choices.

As people age, some may find themselves feeling isolated and alone. This can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and sadness. However, these feelings are not a normal part of aging as growing older can have many emotional benefits, such as long-lasting relationships with friends and family and a lifetime of memories to share with loved ones. In fact, studies show that older adults are less likely to experience depression than young adults. So, when should you be concerned? It’s important to remember that older adults with depression may have less obvious symptoms or be less likely to discuss their feelings. Depression is a common and potentially serious mood disorder, but there are treatments that are effective for most people.

As people age, they may find themselves having a harder time falling and staying asleep. A common misconception is that a person’s sleep needs decline with age. Older adults need the same amount of sleep as all adults — 7 to 9 hours each night. Getting enough sleep keeps you healthy and alert. Adequate sleep can also help reduce your risk of falls, improve your overall mental well-being, and have many other benefits.

Not true! Older adults still have the ability to learn new things, create new memories, and improve their performance in a variety of skills. While aging does often come with changes in thinking, many cognitive changes are positive, such as having more knowledge and insight from a lifetime of experiences. Trying and learning new skills may even improve cognitive abilities. For example, one study found that older adults who learned quilting or digital photography had improved memory. Seeking out new social connections with others and engaging in social activities, such as a dance class or book club, can keep your brain active and may also boost your cognitive health.

Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Although the risk of dementia grows as people get older, it is not inevitable, and many people live into their 90s and beyond without the significant declines in thinking and behavior that characterize dementia. Occasionally forgetting an appointment or losing your keys are typical signs of mild forgetfulness, which is very common in normal aging. Nevertheless, you should talk with a doctor if you have serious concerns about your memory and thinking, or notice changes in your behavior and personality. These problems can have a range of different causes, some of which are treatable or reversible. Finding the cause is important for determining best next steps.

As you age, you may think exercise could do more harm than good, especially if you have a chronic condition. However, studies show that you have a lot more to gain by being active — and a lot to lose by sitting too much. Often, inactivity is more to blame than age when older people lose the ability to do things on their own. Almost anyone, at any age and with most health conditions, can participate in some type of physical activity. In fact, physical activity may help manage some chronic conditions. Exercise and physical activity are not only great for your mental and physical health, but can help keep you independent as you age.

NIA researchers discovered that individuals with a DNA variant that has an effect only in an immune cell present in the brain, called microglia, have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Their study results, published July 27 in Science Translational Medicine, suggest scientists should consider cell type when examining possible causes of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Microglia are special cells of the immune system that help protect the brain and nervous system by eating damaged cells or pathogens. The variant the researchers found originates in a region of DNA near the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene, but not inside of the gene. The researchers knew that mutations in the LRRK2 gene and in DNA regions close by LRRK2 contributed to Parkinson’s, but the mechanism for how these variants led to the development of the disease, as well as which cell types were involved, remained unknown.

To address the question, the researchers used brain samples that had previously been sequenced by the North American Brain Expression Consortium. The researchers performed single nuclei RNA sequencing to identify which types of cells in the brain had instructions for making the LRRK2 protein. Once they determined that multiple types of brain cells — including oligodendrocyte precursor cells, excitatory neurons, and microglia — could make lots of LRKK2 protein, they needed to verify which group of cells worked to increase the risk of Parkinson’s. The researchers established that one particular variant increased Parkinson’s risk through microglia, despite being present in many other cell types. The discovery advances the science a step closer to understanding the involvement of gene variants in disease progression.

Scientists have found that people who are members of families that develop late-stage Parkinson’s have mutations in the LRKK2 gene. The current results suggest that people who do not have a family history of the disease may benefit from therapies that inhibit LRKK2, currently in clinical trials. Additionally, the new findings imply microglia with dysfunctional LRKK2 protein may contribute to the inflammation and neuronal death seen in Parkinson’s.

This research was conducted by NIA Intramural Research Program scientists, projects ZIAAG000947 and Z01AG000949.

The main cause of skin cancer is the sun. Sunlamps and tanning booths can also cause skin cancer. Anyone, of any skin color, can get skin cancer. People with fair skin that freckles easily are at greatest risk. Skin cancer may be cured if it is found before it spreads to other parts of the body.

There are three types of skin cancers. Two types, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. These types of cancer are usually found on parts of the skin most often exposed to the sun, like the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. But they can happen anywhere on your body. The third and most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma. It is rarer than the other types, but it can spread to other organs and be deadly.

Check your skin once a month for things that may be signs of cancer. Skin cancer is rarely painful. Look for changes such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a bleeding mole.

Some sun can be good for you, but to keep your skin healthy, be careful:

Limit time in the sun. It’s okay to go out during the day, but try to avoid being in sun during peak times when the sun’s rays are strongest. For example, during the summer, try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies. The sun’s rays can go through clouds. You can also get sunburned if you are in water, so be careful when you are in a pool, lake, or the ocean.

Use sunscreen. Look for sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) number of 15 or higher. It’s best to choose sunscreens with “broad spectrum” on the label. Put the sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every 2 hours. You need to put sunscreen on more often if you are swimming, sweating, or rubbing your skin with a towel.

Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim can shade your neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If you have to be in the sun, wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts.

Avoid tanning. Don’t use sunlamps or tanning beds. Tanning pills are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and might not be safe.

Your skin may change with age. But remember, there are things you can do to help. Check your skin often. If you find any changes that worry you, see your doctor.