Bill Easterly, an NYU economics professor and expert in foreign aid and development in Africa, has found a new passion in pingpong as a way to cope with his Parkinson’s disease. Easterly feels his brain come alive when playing pingpong, which has no cure but can cause tremors, slow movement, and depression. He plays several times a week at SPIN New York Flatiron as part of PingPongParkinson, a nonprofit with over 300 chapters in 25 countries and an inaugural New York Open tournament.
PingPongParkinson has been a success, with participants praising the rhythmic movements and social interaction for boosting mood and helping delay the progression of their Parkinson’s symptoms. Retired writer and artist Joan Greenberg, who started with a tremor and no longer has one, credits the pingpong for her improvement. Being part of PingPongParkinson has created a social circle of proactive individuals who share their experiences of living with Parkinson’s.
Nenad Bach, a Croatian-American musician who founded PingPongParkinson in 2017, has played a crucial role in bringing together over 3,000 players worldwide, including 50 at the Flatiron location. The sessions at SPIN feature 17 to 25 seniors playing at designated tables three times a week. Nobody is turned away due to the $15 fee, as pros help participants get into the swing of things at the PingPongParkinson sessions.
Parkinson’s disease affects nearly 1 million people in the country, with new cases expected each year. The disease causes the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to issues with movement, motivation, and reward. Table tennis is a perfect match for Parkinson’s, as it significantly improves motor function, requires hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes, and can strengthen cognitive skills like concentration and decision-making. The sessions help reintegrate patients back into society, reducing self-consciousness and increasing understanding of Parkinson’s.
Dr. Elizabeth Kera, an expert in neuropsychology and a co-founder of the first New Jersey chapter of PingPongParkinson, emphasizes the benefits of table tennis for Parkinson’s patients. She notes that the game can help activate areas of the brain to produce more dopamine, aiding in motor function and cognitive skills. The game helps patients feel less self-conscious and increases understanding of Parkinson’s as a chronic illness like diabetes or hypertension.
Easterly acknowledges the PingPongParkinson community for helping him cope with the depression that followed his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Easterly’s mild symptoms have allowed him to continue teaching full-time and finish writing a book. He enjoys playing pingpong to get better, facing off against his son and group members. Winning or losing doesn’t matter to him; the game is a way for Parkinson’s to lose, leading to a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie within the PingPongParkinson community.
