While living in Beijing with his family nearly a decade ago, John began to experience symptoms that he now associates with Parkinson's disease. At that time, he was unaware of the implications of his stiffness and inflexibility. It wasn't until he returned to the United States and sought treatment for what he thought was a wrist issue that he received a life-changing diagnosis. A neurologist confirmed that his tremor was not related to an injury but was indeed Parkinson's. 

Parkinson's is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. For John, the diagnosis was unsettling – not just because of the symptoms he faced at that time, but also due to the uncertainty of what the future would hold. "It's a progressive disease, and I really didn't have a handle on what life would be like later," he reflects.

Traditional treatments such as levodopa and carbidopa help him manage the symptoms. However, he often experiences "down times," even with perfect medication timing, which makes it difficult to think clearly and control his movements.

Despite the challenges, John remains optimistic about his future, particularly regarding medical advancements. He hopes that ongoing research and new treatments will improve the quality of life for those living with Parkinson's. "I'm personally counting on science to come through and do good things for me," he states.

John is proud of Bayer's commitment to neurological research and highlights their investments in innovative companies like Blue Rock and Ask Bio. He believes that these efforts are crucial in the fight against diseases like Parkinson's, which currently have limited treatment options and a high need for advancements that can modify disease progression.

In conversations with his family, John acknowledges that while Parkinson's is a disease one hopes to avoid, he is grateful for the timing of his diagnosis. "It's better to have it now than to have gotten it 10 years ago," he reflects, alluding to the progress in medical science.