This Friday, April 11th, is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Day.

Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world. 

Right now, more than 10 million people globally are living with the disease, and in the U.S. alone, nearly 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

My maternal Grandfather developed Parkinson’s, and I remember how much his hands would tremor.

Parkinson’s is not inevitable. 

In many cases, it's preventable.

I heard Dr. Ray Dorsey, Professor of Neurology at the University of Rochester and co-author of Ending Parkinson’s Disease, on a podcast. 

His research points to environmental toxins—paraquat, a pesticide—and industrial chemicals like TCE, used in dry cleaning and degreasers—as major contributors.

Dr. Dorsey calls Parkinson’s a “man-made pandemic.”

My Grandfather was a civilian chaplain embedded with the US Army during the Korean War.

I often wonder if he was exposed to chemicals in the field.

Dr. Dorsey’s research shows that Parkinson’s may start in the gut—years before neurological symptoms appear.

• The gut is often the first place where Parkinson's-related proteins (called alpha-synuclein) begin to misfold and spread—long before tremors or stiffness set in.

• Many people with Parkinson’s experience gut-related symptoms like constipation years before diagnosis.

• These misfolded proteins may travel from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, suggesting that a dysfunctional gut could play a key role in disease development.

The health of your gut microbiome matters so much—not just for digestion but for long-term brain health.

I use the GI Map test to assess gut health in my practice. 

It is an FDA-approved test developed at Georgia Tech.

One of the many markers we look at is a keystone bacteria called Akkermansia. 

In balanced amounts, it's beneficial. 

However, elevated levels of Akkermansia have been associated with neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Multiple Sclerosis.

This is one of the many reasons I’m so passionate about root cause testing—you deserve to understand what’s going on before symptoms become a diagnosis.

Here are some simple, powerful steps you can take:

✔️ Limit toxic exposure – Choose organic produce, avoid pesticides like paraquat, and always filter your drinking water.
✔️ Support your gut – Eat a diverse, fiber-rich diet that feeds your good bacteria.
✔️ Reduce inflammation – Sleep, stress, and blood sugar balance are all key.
✔️ Test, don’t guess – A GI Map test can reveal what’s going on in your gut and how to support it.

If you are ready to take a proactive, root-cause approach to your health, I’d love to support you.

If you'd like to learn more about how the GI Map can help you improve your overall health, please schedule a time with me below.