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January 2026 Newsletter

Join us in making 2026 a year of community! 

Our favorite thing to do is partner with programs that support wellness in the local Parkinson's community. If you're not excited about our main feature this month (rock climbing), we hope you'll learn something new in Dr. Paul Tuite's advice, or find something interesting in our selection of free events.

Our new year's resolution is to make this newsletter, and the University of Minnesota, a welcoming spot for you to find what you need to feel good, physically and mentally. Newly diagnosed, long-time fighters, caregivers, clinicians, friends and family of those with PD, we're hoping everyone in the Parkinson's community can find something to fill your cup here.

Help us out! Do you have an interesting story to tell? A local support group we should spotlight? Or simply some feedback for us? Drop us a line at udall@umn.edu. 
 

UpENDing Parkinson’s: More Than Just Climbing

UpENDing Parkinson’s turns one this month, and the energy is stronger than ever!

On a recent tour in Bloomington, we met Dean Polsfut, director of UpENDing PD MN, his volunteers (led by Marie Goergen), and the UpENDing PD climbers. What stood out most was how approachable and welcoming the group was. All skill levels were encouraged, and even those trying it for the first time felt right at home. The atmosphere was less about competition and more about getting moving and creating an active support network. It’s a reminder that movement alone can be empowering, but community makes it more meaningful, and more likely that you’ll make it a habit.

Weekly sessions meet at Vertical Endeavors in Bloomington and Duluth. First-time climbers can join for free. Visit the website for registration and more details.

Click the image below to watch the climbers in action!

If you know a local exercise group that we could feature, let us know! Email us at udall@umn.edu. We want everyone to be able to find what “moves” you. 

You Asked, They Answered

Recently, we surveyed our PD community Advisory Board to gather their most pressing questions about Parkinson’s, and then turned to our expert providers for their insights. The answers to this month's questions are provided by Dr. Paul Tuite, MD, a movement disorders specialist at the University of Minnesota.

Please note: These responses are intended as general suggestions and educational information only. They are not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor or personal care team before making any changes to your treatment or care plan.

Question: What happens when you reach the limit on carbidopa / levodopa?  What are the alternate strategies moving forward? 
Answer: "We don't typically think of limits to the dose of carbidopa/levodopa; we think more of the problems that people experience and attempt to address them with various medication and non-medication approaches. Increasing the dose of medication may not necessarily fix a symptom so we either try a different strategy or help people manage or live with their symptoms as well as they can." - Dr. Paul Tuite

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There comes a point for every patient where medication-related side effects become too bothersome to focus on increasing carbidopa/levodopa on its own. At that point, neurologists consider adding complementary drugs such as dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, or COMT inhibitors to smooth out “on-off” fluctuations and reduce dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements). Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a surgical option for those who experience significant motor fluctuations or bothersome carbidopa/levodopa side effects. DBS can allow you to significantly lower your PD meds. A Levodopa Infusion Pump might be another option if you struggle with medications. 

There are also plenty of non-medication and non-surgical approaches that can be taken with or without the options above, like physical therapy and exercise. Physical therapy (for general strength and mobility) and/or occupational therapy (for daily activities like cooking or dressing) could be a good fit for you. Visit MHealth's physical therapy resources here and occupational therapy here.


Question: Balance challenges can become increasingly difficult to manage, is there a solution to this besides exercise activities?
Answer: "Balance is a challenging issue; and fortunately we have several people working on developing a better understanding of this area and hopefully new treatments. One medication, pirepemat (IRL752) is in clinical trials to see if it can help address falls." - Dr. Paul Tuite

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University of Minnesota research studies related to gait and balance collectively aim to understand motor control in Parkinson’s disease by integrating clinical neurology and engineering approaches. Using techniques like DBS, neuroimaging, motion analysis, and biomechanical modeling, they seek to uncover brain pathways of movement dysfunction and optimize therapeutic strategies for symptom management. Read more about some of our studies and research progress here!

Pirepemat (IRL752) is an investigational drug developed by IRLAB Therapeutics to reduce falls in Parkinson’s disease by enhancing brain signal communication. In its Phase IIb trial, it showed a 42% fall reduction overall. Showing that people with moderate levels of the drug in their blood had 51.5% fewer falls, which suggests that the study facilitators can fine-tune the dose even more in the next phase of testing for better results. Read more about this study here.

Exercise Ideas to improve balance in PD
When trying these various exercises, be sure you stay within the limits of what is safe for you and your current level of balance.

• Tandem Walking - walk heel-to-toe for 20 steps, focusing on posture and stability.
• Figure-8 Walking - walk in a figure-eight pattern to challenge coordination.
• Side-Stepping - step sideways across a room to improve lateral stability.
• Standing + Reaching Across Midline - reach to targets placed to the side or behind you to improve trunk rotation and balance.
• Overhead Reaching - Raise arms above your head while standing to challenge your center of gravity.

Please send your PD questions to udall@umn.edu for our next "Ask a Doctor" segment.

If you'd like to book an appointment with Dr. Paul Tuite you can do that on the MHealth website here!

Free Parkinson's Events in January 

Get Connected! 

For further resources check out our website!

Image credits and UpENDing Parkinson's video by Jeanie Pebbles.