San Francisco, CA — What started as a routine Monday standup over Zoom ended in a life-changing discovery for 38-year-old product designer Alex Romero, whose early-stage Parkinson’s disease was first spotted—not by a doctor—but by a colleague on the other end of a video call.
“I thought it was just lag,” said Jared Lin, a backend engineer who had worked remotely with Romero for nearly two years. “But there was this subtle, repetitive head tremor that kept happening. It didn’t sync with the usual video glitches. It just seemed… off.” Lin’s initial hesitation to bring it up stemmed from a fear of overstepping. But the movement looked hauntingly familiar—his grandfather had lived with Parkinson’s for nearly a decade, and the early signs had left a lasting impression. After a few weeks of quiet observation, Lin carefully messaged Romero.
Romero, at first, was skeptical. “I figured it was nothing—maybe nerves, or too much caffeine,” he said. “But the fact that Jared noticed something and had the courage to say it? That stayed with me. I booked a neurology appointment a week later.” The visit led to confirmation of what Lin had feared but Romero hadn’t expected: early-stage Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement. It begins when nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra start to die or become impaired. These cells are responsible for producing dopamine, a chemical messenger essential for smooth, coordinated muscle movements. As dopamine levels fall, patients begin to experience a range of symptoms—most commonly tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, and impaired balance. Over time, it can also affect speech, facial expression, mood, sleep, and even cognitive abilities.
Romero had only noticed the occasional tightness in his shoulders and some mild hand shakiness when typing fast—subtle signs he had chalked up to stress or ergonomics. “I never imagined it was neurological,” he admitted. But catching it early made a major difference. “Most people aren’t diagnosed until symptoms start interfering with daily life—by then, a majority of the brain’s dopamine-producing neurons are already gone,” said Dr. Meera Vasan, a neurologist at UCSF familiar with cases like Romero’s. “When we catch it early, we can shift the course of the disease.”
Romero began treatment soon after, starting with low-dose dopamine agonists and a tailored physical therapy regimen that focuses on coordination and balance. He also incorporated regular aerobic exercise, a practice increasingly shown to slow symptom progression. “It’s not just about managing what’s happening now,” he said. “It’s about staying ahead of what could happen next.”
His diagnosis comes at a time of growing optimism in Parkinson’s research. Experimental gene therapies aimed at correcting the faulty mechanisms that lead to neuron loss are now entering advanced clinical trials, while stem cell transplants show promise in replacing damaged cells entirely. Meanwhile, a new drug called Nuralex, recently approved by the FDA, is helping patients stabilize motor function by enhancing dopamine signaling and cellular energy metabolism. It’s not a cure—but it represents a turning point in how early-stage cases like Romero’s can be managed.
Digital tools are also changing the landscape of care. Wearable monitors and AI-assisted apps now help patients and doctors track subtle fluctuations in symptoms in real time, making treatment plans more responsive and precise. For someone like Romero, who spends most of his time in a digital workspace, the idea that technology helped identify the problem—and might help manage it—isn’t lost. “It’s ironic,” he said. “The same screen where I noticed something was off became the portal to getting help.”
Romero has since become a quiet advocate within his workplace, encouraging others not to ignore strange changes in their health—and not to be afraid of speaking up for others. “Had Jared not said anything, I might have written it off for another year or more,” he said. “Now I’m ahead of it. I have a plan. I have time.”
The company, which asked not to be named for privacy reasons, has praised the two coworkers for their awareness and compassion. HR is now exploring ways to expand wellness offerings to include neurological education and early-screening resources.
As for Lin, he still downplays the role he played. “I’m not a doctor,” he said, “but sometimes noticing something—just paying attention—can make all the difference.” And in this case, it may have meant the difference between slow decline and proactive control, all thanks to a brief conversation that began over a screen.
Truth Bureau 