Episode 132: Managing Comorbidities with Parkinson’s Disease

Just as people in the general population have to contend with various unrelated medical conditions, so may people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Such conditions are termed “comorbidities,” that is, diseases or conditions occurring along with, in this case, PD. Examples are cardiovascular disease, strokes, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, cancer, cataracts, other diseases of aging, as well as those that can occur at any stage of life. An important consideration is to determine which health professional would be best at addressing them and who coordinates the care.

A movement disorders specialist may feel comfortable treating a general neurological condition in addition to PD, but in this podcast episode, movement disorders neurologist Ashley Rawls, MD, MS of the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, emphasizes that one’s time with her is best used addressing the person’s PD, while comorbidities are most appropriately managed by specialists in those particular areas. For best patient outcomes, proper coordination of care and sharing of information will give each health professional a total picture of the person’s medical management, including prescribed drugs and possible drug interactions.

Released: July 12, 2022

Ashley Rawls, MD, MS is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine, specializing in Movement Disorders at the Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases. After completing her undergraduate degree at Duke University and master’s degree in aging and neuroscience from the University of South Florida, Dr. Rawls received her medical degree from the University of Florida in 2014. After medical school, she completed her neurology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. Then, she pursued a clinical movement disorders fellowship and post-doctoral research fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Rawls is board-certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and she is currently licensed to practice medicine in both Florida and California. Dr. Rawls has also been recognized for her diversity and inclusion advocacy, such as serving as co-Chair on the University of Florida Department of Neurology Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and recently being elected to the Journal of America Medical Association (JAMA) Neurology as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Editor.

About Ashley Rawls, MD, MS

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Episode 30: Team Care for PD: Why It’s Important

Episode 21: What Other Conditions Are Related to Parkinson’s?

Episode 31: Team Training for Parkinson’s