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• The road ahead: 2022 January 20, 2022 # # # # The first post at the start of each year on the SoPD website tries to provide an overview of where things are in the search for ‘disease modifying’ therapies for Parkinson’s.  It is an exercise in managing expectations as well as discussing what research events are scheduled for the next year so that we can keep…
• The road ahead: 2021 January 25, 2021 # # # # At the start of each year, it is a useful practise to layout what is planned over the next 12 months. The events that are scheduled for the year to come, so that we can keep an eye out for them. Obviously, where 2021 will end actually is unpredictable, but an outline of what is scheduled…
• The road ahead: 2020 January 5, 2020 Here at the SoPD, we are primarily interested in disease modification for Parkinson’s. While there is a great deal of interesting research exploring the causes of the condition, novel symptomatic therapies, and other aspects of Parkinson’s, my focus is generally on the science seeking to slow, stop or reverse the condition. At the start of each year, it is a…
• The Big 16: What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Who Has Parkinson’s March 13, 2018 What would you say to a friend or family members who just told you they have Parkinson’s? If you’re like most people who are faced with that news, your hope is that you’d have the right reaction, say the right thing and be the exact kind of support they need at that moment. However, as a human being, you’d be…
• Let’s talk snus use July 5, 2021 # # # # Environmental factors that influence the risk of developing Parkinson’s have long fascinated researchers as the offer the opportunity to generate testable hypotheses about what could be causing/influencing the condition. These environmental factors are typically explored via epidemiological studies that look at the behaviour and environmental interactions of large groups of people, including some who have developed…
• 2019: Year in review December 31, 2019   In this end-of-year post, we review the Parkinson’s research that caught our attention at SoPD HQ in 2019. Month-by-month we will briefly discuss some of the major pieces of research/announcements that have defined the year and advanced our understanding of Parkinson’s. The list is based on nothing more than the author’s personal opinion – apologies to any researchers who…
• Speech, Voice & Parkinson’s Q&A with John Dean January 28, 2021 We recently hosted a webinar with speech-language pathologist John Dean. You can get access to the recording here. We received so many questions during the session that we weren’t able to answer them all; so, John was kind enough to do some written Q&A for us. “When is a good time to start speech therapy?” It’s much better to maintain…
• That time APOE met Alpha Syn February 10, 2020    Recently two independent research groups published scientific papers providing evidence that a genetic variation associated with Alzheimer’s may also be affecting the severity of pathology in Parkinson’s. The genetic variation associated with Alzheimer’s occurs in a gene (a functional region of DNA) called ApoE, and the Parkinson’s pathology involves the clustering of a protein called alpha synuclein. Specifically, both…
• Oh dear: Dairy? May 10, 2022 # # # # Dairy-based products make up a significant portion of the world’s diet and represent a fundamental component of most western cuisine. Previous research has, however, pointed towards an association between consumption of dairy and risk of Parkinson’s. New research provides further support for this connection. In today’s post, we will look at the mysterious bond between dairy…
• Making a strong case for GCase November 25, 2019   Novel therapies are increasing being developed to focus on specific subtypes of Parkinson’s. The hope is that if they work on one type of Parkinson’s, then maybe they will also work on others. Many of these new experimental treatments are focused on specific genetic subtypes of the condition, which involve having a specific genetic variation that increases one’s risk…
• Forget Special K, maybe focus on LysoK February 20, 2021 # # # # Over the last 20 years, researchers have identified a number of genetic variations that can confer an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s. Tiny alterations in regions of DNA (called genes) – which provide the instructions for making a protein – can increase one’s chances of Parkinson’s. A better understanding of the biological pathways associated with these…
• I have Parkinson’s and am experiencing X. Who should I see? February 10, 2020 We receive emails every day from people wondering who they should see for a wide variety of issues that often go hand-in-hand with Parkinson’s. Since it comes up often enough, we decided to create a guide that answers exactly that.    To put this piece together, we gathered up the 15 most frequently asked questions we’ve received from our community members…
• Repurposing bumetanide for Alzheimer’s October 15, 2021 # # # # Bumetanide (Bumex) is a diuretic drug (a medication that removes water, by increasing the production of urine). It is used to treat swelling caused by heart failure or liver or kidney disease. It is a widely used drug that has been well characterised in clinical use. Recently researchers conducted a screening study to identify clinically available…
• Role of Environmental Factors in Parkinson’s Development Investigated in Review Study February 4, 2019 The hallmark presence of Lewy bodies in the pathway related to sense of smell and in the gut years before a Parkinson’s diagnosis, as well as the potential cumulative impact of different triggers, may help researchers understand the environmental factors that contribute to the development of the disease, according to a review study. The study, “The Search for Environmental Causes…
• Unmasking LRRK2 and GBA May 22, 2021 # # # # Connecting genetics and biology is complicated. Researchers around the world have struggled to determine what each functional region of DNA is doing individually, let alone in combination with other regions. And sometimes when the output of combinations is examined, the results can be unexpected. Recently, researchers looked at the consequences of having a particular combination of…
• G.P.N.M.B June 14, 2021 # # # # There is a critical need for good biomarkers in neurodegenerative research. A biomarker is an objective indicator of a medical state that can be assessed from outside a patient, and can be measured accurately and reproducibly. It could come in the form of a medical imaging application or a biological sample (such as a blood test).…
• How to Bring Light to the Darker Side of Parkinson’s: A Primer on Hallucinations and Delusions and How to Manage Them July 18, 2018 When most people think of Parkinson’s, they think of the motor symptoms that often come with it: tremor, rigidity, slowness, shuffling. However, they are often unaware that Parkinson’s comes with a wide variety of non-motor symptoms that can affect thinking, mood and behavior as well. Parkinson’s disease psychosis is a non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s that causes people to experience hallucinations…
• GCase: Mutants matter? February 20, 2022 # # # # Tiny genetic variations in a region of DNA called the GBA gene are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s. The information in the GBA gene provides the instructions for making an enzyme (called GCase) which is involved with waste disposal inside of cells. Individuals with Parkinson’s who carry a variation in their GBA gene…
• Monthly Research Review – July 2021 July 31, 2021 # # # # At the end of each month the SoPD writes a post which provides an overview of some of the major pieces of Parkinson’s-related research that were made available during July 2021. The post is divided into 10 parts based on the type of research: Top 5 pieces of Parkinson’s news Articles of general interest Basic biology…
• Genetics in PD – More Than What You Inherit June 18, 2019 By Hugh Johnston   Not all genetic causes of PD are inherited; some are likely associated with somatic genetic mutations.  Unfortunately, we do not have a good idea of how large the impact of somatic mutation is in PD, nor do we have an effective test to identify the mosaic of somatic mutations in any given patient.  It is good…
• Genetics in PD – More Than What You Inherit June 18, 2019 By Hugh Johnston   Not all genetic causes of PD are inherited; some are likely associated with somatic genetic mutations.  Unfortunately, we do not have a good idea of how large the impact of somatic mutation is in PD, nor do we have an effective test to identify the mosaic of somatic mutations in any given patient.  It is good…
• Genetics in PD – More Than What You Inherit June 18, 2019 By Hugh Johnston   Not all genetic causes of PD are inherited; some are likely associated with somatic genetic mutations.  Unfortunately, we do not have a good idea of how large the impact of somatic mutation is in PD, nor do we have an effective test to identify the mosaic of somatic mutations in any given patient.  It is good…