January’s speaker, Dr. Mark W. Lusk, Professor Emeritus, Department of Social Work, UTEP, presented on the effects of depression and coping with Parkinson’s disease. He details psychological (negative thoughts, social isolation) and biological factors (brain changes) as well as environmental factor stress, medication side effects) that cause depression in PD patients, and how to cope with it.

Dr. Lusk specializes in medical/hospital social work and has experience with clients with Parkinson’s.