Neil Diamond is among the celebrities who have publicly discussed a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. By taking this courageous step, Diamond helped make the Parkinson’s room bigger, contributing to awareness and discussion of Parkinson’s disease (PD) around the world and helping others with Parkinson’s feel less alone.

Although the diagnosis prompted Diamond to retire from touring, he said he planned to continue writing and recording new music. Members of MyParkinsonsTeam often talk about lifestyle-related topics like retirement. “I’m about to retire in May so I can devote all my time to staying active,” one member wrote. Another said, “I was an accounts payable coordinator for over 16 years. I had to retire due to my Parkinson’s.”

Other members find that they can continue their careers while managing PD. “Had no problems with carrying on working with Parkinson’s, but I worked in IT and much of the time worked from home anyway,” one member said.

“My teaching job has been so good to me and my PD has been manageable throughout my career, but I am slower and exhausted by the end of the day,” another wrote.

Members Make the Community Stronger

Since MyParkinsonsTeam launched in 2016, we have grown to become over 74,000 members strong — that’s a big room! Just as Neil Diamond’s announcement amplifies the voice of those with Parkinson’s, each new member on MyParkinsonsTeam makes our community stronger.

Without a Parkinson’s community, it can be easy to feel isolated, like you’re the only one struggling with Parkinson’s symptoms like tremors, difficulty sleeping, and loss of balance. Whether you have spoken directly with other members or not, by joining MyParkinsonsTeam and reading shared experiences, you have become part of the community.

Here are a few easy actions you can take to welcome and support other members:

• Hug or like someone's post
• Say hello to a new member
• Answer a question in Q+A
• Add someone to your team
• Consider other ways to get started on MyParkinsonsTeam

Together we make a stronger community!

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyParkinsonsTeam, over 74,000 people living with Parkinson’s disease come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with PD.

Are you living with Parkinson’s disease? Share your experiences in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.