Perron Institute Medical Director, Clinical Professor David Blacker, also a consultant neurologist at the Perron Institute and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH), is incredibly brave in publicly sharing his personal story about living with Parkinson’s disease.

As one of Australia’s leading neurologists, Professor Blacker has made an excellent contribution to the well-being of people who suffer from neurological conditions. Since 2018, he has held a unique insight as both a neurologist and patient.

Professor Blacker is still committed to the Perron Institute and SCGH and continues to look for therapeutic solutions to relieve suffering. With professional fitness trainer Rai Fazio, a former Golden Gloves champion, and a team they have developed a non-contact boxing program, FIGHT-PD, he has personally found beneficial. Read The West Australian 2022 article here about the study progress, which shows non-contact boxing can help Parkinson’s patients.

In 2023, a paper has recently been published in PM&R, the official journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, showing the results from the pilot study. Read more here.

Professor Blacker hopes it will help other people living with Parkinson’s, while more treatments are being developed.

In 2020, Professor Blacker publicly shared his diagnosis and personal experience in a video on the WFN World Brain Day webpage and in a webinar. He also shared his story with Channel Seven News on World Brain Day, and this item was re-broadcast on the Sunrise program the following day. Read more here.

Professor Blacker has also written a paper titled: “A neurologist with Parkinson’s disease“, published in the journal of Practical Neurology.

Professor Blacker continues to provide inspiration to his colleagues, peers and other people living with Parkinson’s, and other neurological conditions.

Watch Channel 7 News video

Watch The West Australian video

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