Sharing Treatment Strategies for Patients With Parkinson Disease Beyond Medication: Esther Labib-Kiyarash, MSHA, CPHQ

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

"Getting a therapist for me post-diagnosis was an absolute lifesaver. It should be something that’s very routine because it’s trauma. It’s a traumatic experience and it’s a family disease. It didn’t just impact me—it impacted my children, my husband, everybody that loves me and that I love."

At the 4th Annual Advanced Therapeutics in Movement and Related Disorders (ATMRD) Congress, held by the PMD Alliance from June 27-30, 2025, patient advocate with young onset Parkinson disease (PD) Esther Labib-Kiyarash, MSHA, CPHQ, held a Conversation Corner on what individuals with PD wish they were prescribed beyond medication. The conversation touched upon how patients often receive only a prescription and a follow-up appointment, potentially leaving out critical components of care that support their quality of life. Drawing from her own journey and the voices of thousands of other patients, Labib-Kiyarash emphasized the need for a more holistic approach to PD management.

As a former health care quality director and current advisory board member of the Parkinson's Foundation, Esther understands the demands placed on providers, but has urged clinicians to recognize that improving care doesn’t always require major changes just more connection and communication. During the conversation at the meeting, she encouraged the use of social media as a valuable tool for patient engagement, education, and support. With the right resources, she believes that it doesn’t have to be hard. Overall, she called on care teams to expand their view of what a “prescription” can mean for patients living with PD.

Prior to the Conversation Corner, Esther sat down with NeurologyLive^® to share more on her patient perspective on the role of nonmedication interventions in managing her symptoms and improving quality of life with the disease. In the interview, she emphasized that although medication is important in care plans, exercise, social engagement, emotional support, and access to peer and professional resources are equally important. She also highlighted how isolation, mental health challenges, and lack of coordinated care affected her early experience with the disease and how she now advocates for greater clinician awareness of support groups and therapy referrals.

Click here for more coverage of ATMRD 2025.

REFERENCES
1. Labib-Kiyarash E. Conversation Corner: What Does a Prescription for Parkinson’s Look Like? A Patient's Perspective. Presented at: ATMRD; June 27-30, 2025; Washington, DC.