Jeopardy! winner with Parkinson's reminds docs what they can't afford to ignore in treatment

A man living with Parkinson’s has fulfilled his dream of winning Jeopardy! Harvey Silikovitz competed on the show in March 2025, despite receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2019.^[]

“It’s been a longtime dream of mine to get here," Silikovitz said on the program.^[] "In 2019, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but I continued chasing the dream, and now here I am."

"After living with Parkinson’s for five-and-a-half years, it’s no longer just about wanting to do well for myself. I would like to give hope and inspiration to the people who are living with chronic illnesses," Silikovitz said.

A message of hope

“The picture of Harvey Silikovitz that appeared on millions of television sets all over the world sent a clear message to the public: Parkinson’s is treatable, and there is a path to a happier and meaningful life," Michael S. Okun, MD, National Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation and Director of the Norman Fixel Institute at the University of Florida Health, tells MDLinx. "It is important for folks who hear the four words ‘You have Parkinson’s’ to never give up and to be aware that there are medications, behavioral, and surgical options for therapy."

Silikovitz shared his experience on Instagram, including his preparation for the show.

“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. But I refused to let that diagnosis deter me from following my long-held dream. I worked hard to manage my Parkinson’s symptoms—even while relentlessly seeking to improve my knowledge base as well as my proficiency at the skills, such as timing on the buzzer, that are crucial to success on [Jeopardy!],” he wrote.

Dr. Okun says symptom management is important for any person living with Parkinson’s. "A Parkinson’s plan is important for management. We recommend being proactive and practical in the approach, and if possible to assemble a multidisciplinary team around you. The team may include a neurologist, a nurse, a neuropsychologist, a psychiatrist, and/or rehabilitation specialists," he says.

“Harvey, like Michael J Fox when he was on the TV show Spin City, carefully optimized his symptoms with medications and reduced his stress and anxiety. These are factors known to worsen the Parkinson’s motor symptoms of tremor, stiffness, and slowness,” Dr. Okun says.

Reframing life with Parkinson’s

Daniel Truong, MD, neurologist and Medical Director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, tells MDLinx that good news stories about Parkinson’s can help patients reframe their perspective of the condition.

“Parkinson’s often comes with depression and anxiety,” he says. “Reading about someone thriving with the same condition can reduce feelings of isolation, helplessness, or despair. It gives patients something emotional to hold onto when the future feels uncertain.” 

“Most clinical information about Parkinson’s is focused on symptoms, decline, and limitations. A steady diet of this kind of info can feel discouraging. Uplifting stories bring balance—they don’t deny the difficulty, but they show the full spectrum of life with Parkinson’s.”