Michael Okun

Neurologist, Author, The Parkinson’s Plan, Medical Advisor Parkinson’s Foundation, Distinguished Professor UF Fixel Institute

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

The Parkinson’s Plan is now a New York Times Bestseller. As exciting as this news is, we are calling on you to join the movement. Every copy sold benefits Parkinson's. It is time. Just as the world rallied around polio, HIV and breast cancer, the moment has arrived for Parkinson’s disease. We cannot stand by as the fastest growing neurodegenerative disorder continues its rapid rise. Cases are rising faster than Alzheimer's. We have proposed a bold strategy: level the increase of the disease to 0. Preventable exposures to toxins and pollutants must be employed. We call for a 10 fold increase in research funding. We must move the needle. We call for 100 percent access to levodopa for everyone, everywhere. The 0-10-100 goals give us a clear target. However movements are not built on goals alone, they are built on action. That is why we created the Parkinson’s 25: A comprehensive list of things each of us can do right now, whether or not you have Parkinson’s. This is not just about medicine, it is about people, families and communities uniting. The time has come for Parkinson’s. Let’s create a movement.
https://t.co/U2RkjRjEdi @nytimes @Oprah @OprahDaily @ParkinsonDotOrg @FixelInstitute @movedisorder @AANmember @SfNtweets @Bilirakis @RepPaulTonko @RepWexton #parkinson #TheParkinsonsPlan #Parkinsons #NYTimesBestseller #Parkinsons25

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

Bravo on the recent reauthorization of ACT for ALS. This bill was critically important because federal programs were set to expire, threatening momentum in expanded access to investigational therapies and ALS research. The ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends programs that help people with ALS who may not qualify for traditional clinical trials access promising experimental therapies, while simultaneously collecting data that can move the entire field forward. For a rapidly progressive and fatal disease like ALS, time matters. We need rigorous science, but we must pair that rigor with urgency, access, and hope. Reauthorizing ACT for ALS keeps that critical pathway moving forward. Additionally, the Healey ALS platform has been more quickly identifying and testing the most promising ALS therapies.
https://t.co/fSzQ3Ebrr7

[Apeksha Pokalkar, MBBS @PokalkarApeksha]

Wrapped up @VUMChealth Annual Focus on Common Movement Disorders course.
DBS programming, neurotoxin injection, video case studies & pump workshops with @MichaelOkun, Dr. Charles, Dr. Davis & Dr. Hassell were all so intriguing. Learnt alot & grateful to @UKYNeurology @GuduruZain

[BaseballHistoryNut @nut_history]

72-years ago today, Willie Mays made “The Catch”

What's amazing is not just the catch (which is incredible in itself) - but how he was able to basically stop on a dime, turn and throw to freeze the runner. Willie Mays had it all

[Brandon Luu, MD @BrandonLuuMD]

85% of the things people with anxiety worried about never turned out badly.

And when something bad did happen, they coped better than expected 79% of the time.

[togetherforsharon @togetherforsha1]

🎬 SHARON’S STORY IS LIVE! ❤️

Today, my mother’s story becomes a message for the world.

🎥 Watch Sharon’s Story: Parkinson’s, Advocacy & Family

Please WATCH. SHARE.

Let’s send a message that needs to be heard:

NO ONE IS EVER ALONE. 💜

🎥 Watch now: https://t.co/T7npyzYvLA

[Parkinson's Foundation @ParkinsonDotOrg]

The Parkinson's Foundation Helpline has been receiving an increase of calls regarding dubious and sometimes dangerous study offerings that have been shut down by the FDA and regulatory agencies all over the world.

Medical tourism, travel to places with little medical or scientific regulation for unverified treatments, can put people at serious health and financial risk.

Be careful with any trials or experimental treatments that make big promises, skip over risks or ask for payment. ⚠️ Legitimate clinical trials do not charge people to take part.

When considering a trial, be sure to ask questions about study protocols and talk with your healthcare team to determine whether it's a good fit for you. If you’re unsure about a study’s legitimacy, contact the Parkinson’s Foundation Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO.

Learn more about safely getting involved in research: https://t.co/OMKeCPtPGd

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

The FDA has approved tavapadon (JUVMO), a new once-daily dopamine D1/D5 receptor partial agonist for Parkinson’s disease that can be used as an initial symptomatic therapy or added to levodopa in people experiencing motor fluctuations, with the goal of improving good “ON” time. If you try tavapadon, remember that it is not automatically a replacement for your current Parkinson’s medications and that changes should be made with your treating clinician. Although clinical trials suggest that some of the problems traditionally associated with dopamine agonists may occur less frequently with this more selective drug, as tavapadon moves into real-world use we need to remain vigilant for the full spectrum of dopamine agonist related effects, including sleepiness, hallucinations, orthostatic hypotension, dyskinesia, and impulse-control behaviors (shopping, gambling, hypersexuality, others). New mechanism and once-a-day dosing are exciting, but careful monitoring after approval will tell us how tavapadon performs in the broader Parkinson’s community.

[MLB Network @MLBNetwork]

Jacob Misiorowski's 2026 regular season stats:

16-5
1.80 ERA
252 K
0.80 WHIP

#MLBTonight

[togetherforsharon @togetherforsha1]

🎬 The Documentary.. IS LIVE!

Sharon’s Story is now available! ❤️

Please watch & SHARE. My dream: 1 MILLION+ views to raise Parkinson’s awareness and remind the world: NO ONE IS EVER ALONE.

🎥 https://t.co/T7npyzXXW2

#parkinsonsawareness

[UCSF Health @UCSFHospitals]

Great news! Dr. Kristine Yaffe has won @theNAMedicine's 2026 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health for her pioneering research on cognitive aging and dementia prevention. Congratulations, Dr. Yaffe! 🎉 https://t.co/rwp3vzHZe8

[MLB @MLB]

The regular season came and went, but the moments will last forever ⚾️❤️

[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ @baseballhall]

Jacob Misiorowski held opposing hitters to a .157 average – the lowest in a full season on record – while helping the @Brewers win a franchise-best 103 games.

Miz’s cap and spikes from his final regular season start are headed to Cooperstown.

[Dr. Sanjay Gupta @drsanjaygupta]

Would you feel comfortable uploading your medical history to an AI platform?

I took the leap, and I think this technology could become integral to healthcare.

Check out the latest episode of Chasing Life on the CNN app. Also available here: https://t.co/kYepm3DkNb

[Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases @FixelInstitute]

We celebrated our wonderful APPs and rehab team with a make-your-own soda and popcorn bar! 🥤🍿 Thank you to our amazing APPs and rehab therapists for all you do for our patients and the Fixel Institute community! 💙

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

What are the hard questions we need to be asking about youth football? The one thing that really sticks with me from this study is how early these brain injuries are occurring and how often they happen again. In this cohort of more than 72,000 children and young adults with sports and recreation related traumatic brain injury, tackle football alone accounted for nearly 1 in 5 injuries, and an astonishing 37% of football players experienced a repeat TBI. Even more concerning, injuries during elementary-school years were associated with later emotional and behavioral problems, reminding us that we are exposing brains to trauma during critical periods of development. I love sports and recognize everything they can give a child including fitness, teamwork, confidence and community; however I think we should be asking whether tackle football needs to begin so young? I don't have the answer, but consider there is plenty of time to learn how to tackle and there is only one developing brain to protect.
https://t.co/JBxwXE2BHE

[JAMA Neurology @JAMANeuro]

Playing or singing music reliably relieved benign essential #Blepharospasm in a professional oboist, while nonmusical mimics did not, demonstrating a complex sensory trick. https://t.co/cJ1bV5xJid

[JAMA Neurology @JAMANeuro]

📑 JAMA Neurology #Review: Neurological manifestations of #Hantavirus infection include encephalopathy, pituitary apoplexy, hemorrhage, and neuropathy; most are secondary to systemic illness but can be severe. https://t.co/5NjTpQPBMN

[Martin Picard @MitoPsychoBio]

If you ever encounter a fanatic mitochondriac trying to convince you that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and the most fascinating element of your body—don’t be fooled.

Mitochondria are way more than powerhouses…

Diffuse their delusion: https://t.co/aBpYCzptwE

[MLB @MLB]

Max Scherzer leaves the mound to a standing ovation for what could be the final time in his legendary career 👏

[Jonathon J. Parker MD PhD @Dr_JP_Parker]

A whirlwind three days of new innovations, scientific debate, and ideas being tested and refined — all focused on addressing the needs of patients who can benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation. Onwards.
@DBSThinkTank @MichaelOkun @KDFooteMD @JWongggMD @FixelInstitute @MayoClinicNeuro