It's a fabulous resource
Female carer partner, aged 45
In January 2025, Nutrition PD received an Innovation Funding from Parkinson’s UK. Our goal was to see if people with Parkinson’s and their care partners would use and benefit from the programme. We also wanted their feedback on how to improve it and whether it could help them with their diet and symptoms.
With this funding, we launched a 3-week user testing pilot of the Mediterranean PD programme with 30 participants across the UK. The programme included videos, recipes, meal plans, and a chat group where participants could ask a dietitian questions.
After the user testing pilot, participants were asked to complete an online survey. Ten of them also took part in interviews to share their thoughts on the programme.
The results exceeded our expectations. Highlights include:
- 60% of participants completed the full programme
- 89% said they were satisfied or very satisfied and would recommend it to others with Parkinson’s
- Participants rated themselves an average of 9.4 out of 10 for their likelihood to make positive dietary changes because of the programme
Feedback from Participants
Satisfaction
"Much needed and excellent resource"
Male carer to his wife who has later onset Parkinson’s disease and mid stage, age between 61-70, diagnosed 6 - 10 years ago.
"Would have no hesitation in recommending the programme to others"
Male carer to his wife, age between 61-70, diagnosed 6 - 10 years ago.
"I really enjoyed it - thank you"
Female aged between 51 - 60, diagnosed over 6-10 years ago.
Impact
"It's made me more regular"
Female, aged between 61 - 70 years, diagnosed 6 - 10 years ago.
"I was really struggling to go to the toilet .... a Mediterranean diet really helped that"
Male, aged 51 - 60, diagnosed 11 - 20 years ago.
"It’s empowering"
Male, aged greater than 70, diagnosed 1 - 5 years ago.
Better Diet
"..now every meal I'm having salads with it, or broccoli, the amount of veggie I'm eating is so much more than I was before"
Male, aged 51 - 60, diagnosed 11 - 20 years ago.
"I have this typical meal plate, you know, with half half of veg, especially leafy stuff."
Male, aged between 61 to 70, diagnosed 1 - 5 years ago.
Innovative
"the lady giving the speech? Really, I mean, that was absolutely fantastic, because I thought she was really good…. Didn't think that it was an avatar “
Male carer to his wife who is aged between 61 - 70 years, diagnosed 6 - 10 years ago.
"She was very, very clear, and the language was very, very clear and unambiguous"
Female, aged 51-60, diagnosed 6-10 years ago.
Just Right
"It was kind of like Goldilocks. It's not too much, not too little"
Male, aged 61 to 70, diagnosed 1 - 5 years ago.
"(I have) a better understanding of a better diet and a better diet for Parkinson's"
Male, aged 61 to 70, diagnosed 1 - 5 years ago.
Experts
"It was official … because it was dieticians"
Female, aged 51 - 60, diagnosed 6 - 10 years ago.
"It gave me knowledge that I didn't have before"
Male, aged 51 - 60, diagnosed 11 - 20 years ago.
"I was expecting confirmation of what I already knew. So it came as a bit of a surprise when there was more to it than that"
Male, aged 61 to 70, diagnosed 1 - 5 years ago.