Top 5 Questions Patients Ask in a Parkinson’s Disease Clinic

In this video, Dr. Zayas discusses 5 of the most common questions patients ask in a Parkinson’s disease clinic. Topics include Parkinson’s medications, levodopa dosing, new Parkinson’s treatments that may be coming in 2026–2027, sleep problems, diet, supplements, exercise, life expectancy, and health care spending. Many people with Parkinson’s disease wonder why their medication does not seem to work, whether they are taking too much levodopa, what new treatments may become available, why they wake up in the middle of the night, and what they should eat if exercise is difficult. This video explains these common questions in practical language for patients and families living with Parkinson’s disease. Topics covered: 00:44 — My Parkinson’s medication is not doing anything. I do not feel any benefit. Why? 09:31 — How much levodopa is too much? 14:03 — New Parkinson’s disease treatments that may be coming in 2026–2027: completed phase 3 trials and FDA submission 20:26 — “Doctor, I wake up at 3 AM and then I cannot go back to sleep. What can I do?” 35:00 — “I have Parkinson’s disease and hate exercise. What should I eat?” Are supplements helpful? 47:50 — Countries with the highest life expectancy and health care spending: why spending more does not always mean living longer? In the final section, Dr. Zayas also discusses how to make sense of the gap between health care spending and life expectancy. Why do some countries live longer while spending less, and why does the United States spend the most on health care but not rank at the top in life expectancy? This comparison helps explain why health is not determined only by medical care, but also by lifestyle, nutrition, prevention, environment, social habits, and how health systems are organized. Parkinson’s disease treatment is not only about taking levodopa. Medication timing, absorption, sleep quality, physical activity, nutrition, and realistic expectations all matter. The goal of this video is to help patients better understand the most common concerns discussed in a Parkinson’s disease clinic. Medical and Legal Disclaimer: This video is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, or a specific medical opinion for any individual person. Watching this video, commenting on this video, sending a message, or interacting with this channel does not create a physician-patient relationship with Dr. Luis Zayas, GEM Neurology PLLC, or any affiliated entity. The information discussed may not apply to your specific medical condition, medications, diagnosis, risks, or treatment plan. Parkinson’s disease and other neurologic conditions require individualized evaluation by a qualified medical professional. Do not start, stop, increase, decrease, or change any medication, supplement, diet, exercise program, or treatment plan based on this video without first discussing it with your own physician or qualified health care provider. New treatments, clinical trials, FDA submissions, and medication availability may change over time. Any discussion of future treatments is based on information available at the time of recording and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of approval, safety, effectiveness, insurance coverage, or availability. This video does not provide emergency medical advice. If you believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical care. The views expressed in this video are for educational discussion and should not replace professional medical judgment, individualized clinical evaluation, or the advice of your treating physician. #ParkinsonsDisease #Parkinsons #Levodopa #ParkinsonsTreatment #MovementDisorders #ParkinsonsDiet #ParkinsonsExercise #ParkinsonsSleep #Neurology #DrZayas Dr. Luis E. Zayas, MD, PT Founder, GEM Neurology PLLC Triple Board-Certified in Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Epilepsy Fellowship-Trained in Movement Disorders and Neurocritical Care