News 12 at 6 O'Clock, January 29, 2010

AUGUSTA -- Elizabeth Thompson calls him Dr. A. His real name is Abiodun Akinwuntan. He's a physical therapy professor at MCG. Thompson only remembers the results he's given her, not necessarily how to pronounce his name.

"I had some friends that wouldn't drive with me before, now they're like -- 'OK!'"

Thompson, one of five Parkinson's patients, is using a driving simulator to slow the effects of the disease. But she had to learn to slow down, too.

"She was always overspeeding, she never used the rear view mirror, and even when she was not passing other cars, she stayed on the left lane of the highway," Akinwuntan said.

The first time she drove she had five crashes. The program is set up for them to happen when a driver breaks any traffic law. But a few visits later, she doesn't crash at all.

It's an accomplishment that comes from tests that help eyesight, reaction time, and confidence.

"If she then feels more comfortable to drive, we hope it will encourage her to get involved in many more activities of daily living, driving to the grocery store to do her shopping, moving around and basically improve her social life," he said.

"My husband says I'm a speed demon. I've slowed my speed up, I watch my speed limits, and I try to get over in the right lane faster than I did before," Thompson said.

But what she really wants to slow down -- is life for her and others.

"I feel like if anything that will help find a cure or an answer makes someone who comes along after me have a better life, it's more than worth it."