UMN Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research

08/21/2026

Kelly Ryberg and Sommer Huffmaster brought incredible energy to this month’s Parkinson's support group & Young Onset group at the YMCA in Hermantown, MN. The community showed up in record numbers! Nearly 80 people joined for connection and PD education.

This momentum matters.
If you want to learn more or get involved, email [email protected]

05/19/2026

Our very own neurologist, Dr. Paul Tuite, joined FOX 9 over the weekend to discuss banning the herbicide paraquat in Minnesota, which has been linked to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

📺 Watch the story below:

Claims of an herbicide called paraquat causing Parkinson's disease have led to calls for a statewide ban in Minnesota. The effort has been added and removed ...

05/18/2026

Join us for the 6th Annual Parkinson’s Awareness Day at Target Field this Wednesday! ⚾️

🗓️ When: Wednesday, May 20th
⏰ First Pitch: 12:40 PM
🎉 Bonus: Ticket purchasers get to take part in an on-field parade one hour before the game!

When you buy your seats through the link below, a portion of the proceeds goes directly toward Parkinson's research.

🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/ParkinsonsAwareness26

See you at the ballpark!

04/08/2026

🎥EVENT INFORMATION: Parkinson’s Documentary at MSPIFF!

The documentary "Come Talk to ME," which explores the communication challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease, is featured in this year’s Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF).

🎬 Film Details:
Filmmaker Deacon Warner follows Parkinson’s disease (PD) activist Jackie Hunt Christensen, who works tirelessly to overcome communication barriers that people with PD face daily. Unable to speak or write, Christensen, and many others, face numerous hurdles in their personal relationships, work, and healthcare providers.

📅 Screening Dates:
Saturday, April 11 at 4:10 PM (World Parkinson’s Day!)
Saturday, April 18 at 2:00 PM

📍 Location:
The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St, Minneapolis

🎟 Tickets & Details:
Individual tickets are available for purchase through the MSPIFF website.
Link: https://mspfilm.org/event/come-talk-to-me/

04/06/2026

📣 Don't forget to register for the Minnesota Spring Parkinson's Symposium! The event will take place THIS FRIDAY. The program is free, but registration is required. We hope to see you there!

👉 Register today: http://tinyurl.com/MNSpringPD2026

EVENT INFORMATION:
🗓 Friday, April 10th, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 North Heights Church, Arden Hills (or via Zoom)
💡 Topics include:
• Myths & misconceptions of Parkinson’s
• Non-motor symptoms and whole-body impact
• Thriving as a caregiver
• Building a strong support system
🎤 Hear from expert speakers and connect with a supportive community.

03/23/2026

Parkinson's Policy Forum 2026 - Our very own Parkinson's senior RN care coordinator, Kailey Gienger, represented Minnesota proudly at this year’s Parkinson’s Policy Forum in Washington, D.C.!

It was an energizing few days of advocacy, connection, and hope.

Thank you to our representatives Betty McCollum, Tom Emmer, Tina Smith, Ilhan Omar, and Amy Klobuchar.
and

With so much uncertainty around federal research funding, it was encouraging to hear strong support from both Rep. Ilhan Omar’s office and Rep. Betty McCollum’s office for increased NIH funding and continued investment in the Udall Center: https://udall.umn.edu/.

Your voices matter, and they are being heard.

03/19/2026

Dr. Joshua Aman visited the KFAN studios and brought along some UMN Neurology swag for the hosts. What a fun chance to build community and we’re grateful for the on‑air shout‑out!

Learn more about Josh's research here: https://med.umn.edu/bio/joshua-aman

03/16/2026

Join us at the annual Spring Parkinson’s Symposium where you won't want to miss Drs. Paul Tuite and Natalie Heinrich as they team up to break down “PD Myths & Misconceptions” and offer practical guidance to support better living with Parkinson’s.

🕙 Program begins at 10:00 AM, resource fair opens at 9:00AM on Friday, April 10.

🔗 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/MNSpringPD2026 - Registration is free, but required!

About Dr. Paul Tuite, MD
A nationally respected leader in movement disorders, Dr. Paul Tuite is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota and founder of the university’s Movement Disorders Division. His career includes pivotal contributions to the FDA approval of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and leadership in the SPARX3 treadmill study. Dr. Tuite is passionate about exercise, whole‑person care, and the essential role of life coaching in the Parkinson’s journey.

About Dr. Natalie Heinrich, PharmD
Dr. Natalie Heinrich is a Medication Therapy Management pharmacist specializing in neurology at M Health Fairview. She is dedicated to empowering individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners through education and collaborative medication management.

We look forward to seeing you at this impactful session for anyone affected by Parkinson’s.

03/13/2026

💤 Struggling with sleep and Parkinson’s? You’re not alone.

Sleep issues like insomnia and acting out dreams are common in Parkinson’s, researchers are learning more about why they happen and what can actually help.

Join the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Third Thursdays Webinar on March 19, 2026 at 12 PM ET to hear experts break down the science and answer your questions live.

✨ Free to attend — register now:
https://www.michaeljfox.org/webinar/sleep-and-parkinsons-whats-going-and-what-can-help