Parkinson’s Around The Web

Treatment with Prana Biotechnology’s investigational drug PBT434 showed potential in preventing neuronal death in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. Results showed that PBT434 blocked the formation of alpha-synuclein aggregates, a hallmark of Parkinson’s, and normalized iron levels in the brain, thereby protecting neurons from damage. Prana Biotechnology plans to start a Phase 1 clinical ... read more

Managing a chronic illness can be difficult. There are many different medications to take (often at different times), appointments to remember, symptoms to keep track of, and lots of information to absorb. Thankfully, living in a digital age means that there are numerous mobile apps that can help you manage your chronic illness. We’ve put together a list of some of the ... read more

In this video from Intermountain Healthcare, Parkinson’s disease patient Michael Foerster talks about how his diagnosis has affected his life. He and Dr. Katherine L. Widnell discuss the benefits of exercise for Parkinson’s disease and how it can help slow down the progression of the disease when used alongside medication and other treatments. MORE: How does Parkinson’s disease affect the ... read more

Michael J Fox, the actor and Parkinson’s ambassador, has recorded an emotive message to support a contestant on the TV show ‘American Ninja Warrior’ The actor Michael J Fox has hailed Parkinson’s campaigner and fundraiser Jimmy Choi as an “inspiration” to his family and people with Parkinson’s everywhere. In an emotional video clip, aired ahead of Jimmy’s appearance on the ... read more

A summer school held in Portugal later this year offers a “unique educational opportunity” for nurses from across Europe with an interest in Parkinson’s disease – and there’s still time to apply Nurses from across Europe with an interest in Parkinson’s disease are being invited to apply for a “unique” summer school in Portugal later this year. Applications are still ... read more

Written by Diane Schuirman-Hagedorn A few people around the conference room table looked teary-eyed. The person next to me touched my arm. I’d just announced at a staff meeting that I’d been diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). I was 42. My journey to a diagnosis took nearly six years and included lots of medical appointments and a ... read more

Doctors are using Elekta‘s Leksell Vantage Stereotactic System for precision Parkinson’s disease surgery at three European hospitals. The system has led to improved treatment and patient comfort, the company said. A stereotactic system uses three-dimensional coordinates to locate small targets inside the body. The first surgeries using the system were performed at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London and at ... read more

‘Kinetics’, a play about the freerunning sport Parkour and Parkinson’s, is to be made into an educational film thanks to a Kickstarter campaign which raised £20,000. The play, which toured the UK last autumn, was written by Sue Wylie, a drama teacher who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 2011. After its the initial success, Sue realised it had the ... read more

I received an email from someone concerned that they may have the beginnings of Parkinson’s. I have met others with the disease, but not someone wondering if the symptoms they are experiencing are from it. I keep thinking about him. His worries take me back to the days before my diagnosis, when I was wondering what was going on with ... read more

A recent study has discovered a link between frequent or chronic occurrences of gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections and the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The study’s authors have shown for the first time that the nerve cell protein alpha-synuclein (αS), produced by the enteric nervous system, is a key mediator of intestinal inflammation. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a network of neurons that independently governs the function of the GI tract. ... read more

Earlier this month, members of the Parkinson’s Foundation team joined thousands of movement disorder specialists in Vancouver, Canada.  They were on site for the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, which brings together neurologists with expertise in Parkinson’s and similar diseases to share the latest in advancements in research and care. During the week, our team shared four ... read more

“The experience of living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is unique to each individual. We really strive to listen to our patients, caregivers, families, providers and the community in creating an all-encompassing supportive services program that helps people to adapt and live well with Parkinson’s across the continuum and at all stages of the disease,” said Amy Lemen, MA, LCSW. “One ... read more

“The experience of living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is unique to each individual. We really strive to listen to our patients, caregivers, families, providers and the community in creating an all-encompassing supportive services program that helps people to adapt and live well with Parkinson’s across the continuum and at all stages of the disease,” said Amy Lemen, MA, LCSW. “One ... read more

Consuming at least three servings of low-fat dairy per day is enough to increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 34 percent, compared to consuming less than one serving daily. So says a study, “Intake of Dairy Foods and Risk of Parkinson Disease,” published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). For the study, researchers at Boston’s Harvard T.H. ... read more

Psychosis is the term used when patients experience hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are more likely to occur in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease, but younger and newly diagnosed patients may also experience them. Delusions are less common and only affect around 8 percent of people living with the diseases. According to the National Parkinsons Foundation, there are a few reasons ... read more

Approximately 50 percent of Parkinson’s disease patients will experience differences in a variety of cognitive skills and mild cognitive changes as their condition progresses. However, this doesn’t mean they have dementia, which is diagnosed when a person experiences problems with more than one cognitive area and the impairment begins to affect daily life. MORE: 10 complications of Parkinson’s disease  Cognitive impairment can ... read more

What do herbal detoxes entail? What is involved when it comes to the physical sensations and outcomes? Here is a fascinating email account I received permission to post from Deborah. Robert Rodgers PhD Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease Herbal Detoxes “I’ve been detoxing on herbs for 2 years now so detox pathways feel very … Continue reading Herbal Detoxes ... read more

Rodale Inc. ​Your immune response to the dreaded stomach bug can have a dark side The short-term effects of a stomach bug suck: cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and an inability to stray more than a few feet from the toilet. But the long-term effects might be way more serious, research from Georgetown University Medical Center suggests. That’s because when you get ... read more

We talk to Ciara Clancy, specialist Parkinson’s physiotherapist and founder of Beats Medical, about how her award-winning mobile app, based on ‘metronome therapy’, is giving patients the tools to improve mobility What inspired you to launch the app, and how long did it take to create, once you’d had the idea? One of the reasons I wanted to become a ... read more

Treatment with a drug called CLR01 improved balance and movement coordination in mice with early stage Parkinson’s disease, according to results of a new preclinical study. Researchers said CLR01 acts by decreasing the amount of unstable alpha-synuclein, one of the two forms of the protein existing in the brain, and the one that is believed to be associated with the ... read more

Have you ever felt lost when choosing an exercise programme given the many options out there? Parkinson’s experts Josefa Domingos and Sara Riggare explain why it’s so important to make sure you’re enrolled onto the right type of regime The beneficial effect that physiotherapy and exercise can have on the physical capacity in people with Parkinson’s, has been proven in ... read more

The only people who genuinely understand the complexity of being a caregiver to someone with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are people who are or have been caregivers themselves. That’s why we partnered with Honor to gather helpful tips from the people who know best: experienced caregivers. After hearing from 120 Parkinson’s caregivers, we compiled the top seven tips every Parkinson’s caregiver ... read more

Written by Diane Schuirman-Hagedorn At 42, I found an answer to my nearly six-year medical mystery: young onset Parkinson’s disease. The first symptom I noticed was pain. At 37, I strained a hip flexor on a summer hike. Within six months, I also had sacroiliac joint pain. Then my shoulder started to hurt, too. My healthcare providers chased the ... read more

The Parkinson’s Foundation has produced a series of podcasts, titled ‘Substantial Matters: Life and Science of Parkinson’s’. The free episodes, hosted by Dan Keller, will discuss a wide range of Parkinson’s topics, including early warning signs, treatments, exercise and nutrition The Parkinson’s Foundation has produced a series of free podcasts, titled ‘Substantial Matters: Life and Science of Parkinson’s’, focusing on ... read more

The National Parkinson Foundation has produced a series of podcasts, titled ‘Substantial Matters: Life and Science of Parkinson’s’. The free episodes, hosted by Dan Keller, will discuss a wide range of Parkinson’s topics, including early warning signs, treatments, exercise and nutrition The National Parkinson Foundation has produced a series of free podcasts, titled ‘Substantial Matters: Life and Science of Parkinson’s’, ... read more