Regarding the poll on PD and creativity ...

I read the following in the June/July issue of AARP Magazine and found it very interesting.

"The Drugs: Levodopa and other dopamine agonists for Parkinson's disease

Potential Perk: A surge in creativity

The Evidence: For Parkinson's patients, tremors, loss of fine motor skills and muscle stiffness can make artistic activities that require dexterity more challenging. All the more surprising, then, that some patients develop new and impressive creative abilities, including painting and writing, during treatment, according to Rivka Inzelberg, M.D., a professor in the department of neurology at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Published this year in Behavioral Neuroscience, Inzelberg's review identifies two underlying factors — levodopa and dopamine agonists, often used together in PD treatment to improve motor control. Both increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter that may be involved in brain pathways that "awaken" creativity."

[sparkyparky]

This has happened to me, too. I have written 4 books for children on Parkinson's, several poems unrelated to Pd and a short story. I had thought it was to do with being a grandmother and wanting to make my mark whilst I could- but yes, I have restarted knitting, could also be to do with new granny status, and have joined a choir. I do feel more innovative, but could be to do with rethinking oneself after diagnosis?

[PatV]

makes sense. I have creative urges, but daily life uses up most of my energy.

[JohnPepper]

I only ever took sinamet for three months. I only took eldepryl for ten years, so I had very little experience of levodopa drugs. I successfully took up oil painting six yeras after diagnosis. I also tried, quite successfully to do sculpting. Could it be that since diagnosis, I had to give up my job and therefore had a lot more time on my hands? Could it be that, in order to paint properly, I had to concentrate very hard on moving my brush very carefully? I don't think that levodopa can be credited with my artistic success!

John