Promising Parkinson’s therapy helps patients find their voices
No-cost program serves those across Colorado with the disease and provides graduate students with experiential opportunities.
In 2018, Steve Galpern noticed something wrong with his neck. He also had occasional challenges while typing and putting on his jacket.
After months of working unsuccessfully with a physical therapist to address the problem, he visited a neurologist in search of some insight.
“He took one look at me and said, ‘You have Parkinson’s disease,’” Galpern recounted.
That was the moment he joined the more than 15,000 Coloradans similarly diagnosed. Though exact numbers can be hard to pinpoint, close to 1 million Americans are estimated by the Parkinson’s Foundation to have the progressive disorder of the central nervous system, with the number expected to reach 1.2 million by 2030.
Fortunately for Galpern, a principal gift officer with Metropolitan State University of Denver, the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program launched at the school in 2023. It has had a transformative impact on his quality of life since he began treatment in January.
“The program’s focus on doing everything with intent has made a huge difference — in my speech but also my overall attitude,” Galpern said. “I learned more in one program video than I did in the prior six years.”
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. But targeted therapy has been shown to have an effect on the disease’s progression and reduce complications, said Lesley Edwards-Gaither, Ph.D., assistant professor of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences and faculty researcher for SPEAK OUT! Therapy at MSU Denver.
As the designated SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Research Center for Colorado and Wyoming, MSU Denver’s Bookhardt Family Speech-Language Clinic offers no-cost speech-therapy service to Parkinson’s patients throughout the neighboring states. Graduate students in the University’s Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology run sessions under guidance of licensed clinical educators and faculty members, affording them opportunity to put their curriculum into practice.
And though individual treatment lengths vary, patients have access to the services for the rest of their lives.
“As speech-language pathologists, we see communication as a basic human right,” Edwards-Gaither said. “It’s unfair that Parkinson’s diminishes that. Moreover, it inhibits the ability to connect.”
RELATED: Grad students provide gender-affirming voice care for Denver’s trans community
The exact causes of Parkinson’s disease are unclear but are believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. When nerve cells in the brain’s basal ganglia (a group of nuclei responsible for motor control) become impaired or die, they stop producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter related to movement, memory and motivation, along with other bodily functions.
This loss of dopamine can lead to the presentation of four main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: tremors or shakiness, muscle stiffness, slowed movement and a loss of balance. The prevalence of each symptom can vary widely from one person to another.
By the time most people are diagnosed, they’ve already lost up to 80% of their dopamine-producing neurons. And though age is clearly a contributing factor, 5% to 10% of cases occur before the age of 50.
“It has become incredibly pervasive,” Edwards-Gaither said. “In every aspect of my life, I’m seeing almost everyone directly or indirectly has a connection to Parkinson’s.”
Furthermore, there have been few innovations in treatment since the introduction of dopamine replacements/agonists in the 1960s, which is what makes SPEAK OUT! Therapy, developed by the nonprofit Parkinson Voice Project, unique.
Therapy consists of both collaborative and individual work via an online telehealth platform and portal. Students help clients in one-on-one sessions twice weekly, either in person or via video calls, for four to six weeks before moving on to group sessions.
Taylor Hare is working with participants to develop voice and swallowing exercises. A master’s student in MSU Denver’s Speech-Language Pathology program, she noted that doing everything with intent and focusing on automatic motions that others may take for granted such as walking, talking and swinging arms while moving are key to successful treatment.
“Focused exercises build those habits so clients can swallow, be heard and live life to the fullest,” Hare said.
Swallowing is crucial, she said, as one of the most common causes of Parkinson’s-related death is aspiration, in which liquid can inadvertently go into the lungs.
The MSU Denver undergraduate alumna’s experiences have informed and affirmed her path. Hare encountered challenges with literacy as a child; now, she uses that “comfort with discomfort” as a motivating factor in her work.
“I can take the struggles I faced and turn it into something to help others,” she said. “You can really see the improvement in voice and use of intent over the course of three months. It’s just awesome.”
RELATED: Taking steps to promote seniors’ physical and cognitive health
It’s only the beginning of the effort as well, as SPEAK OUT! Therapy is working to expand into Wyoming. Edwards-Gaither has a multiyear plan, with ongoing research studies and viability for multilingual services on the docket for next year.
She also wants to focus on teleservice efficacy and forming localized support groups. This support can be a lifeline for rural residents, as many clients are homebound or have limited access to in-person care due to logistical and/or financial considerations.
“Parkinson’s doesn’t discriminate based upon where you live,” Edwards-Gaither said. “Our clients are the ones doing the work, but if we can help plant the seeds with therapies like this, it can truly be transformative.”
Learn more about MSU Denver’s SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program at the Bookhardt Family Speech-Language Clinic, a part of the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute.
