gait
May 11, 2019 – Parkinson’s Weekly Update
Weekly Update - Highlights include: Mayo Clinic researchers explore the relationship between low levels of Vitamin B-12 and Parkinson’s; appendix removal might or might not affect Parkinson’s risk; monkey butt research finds PD related proteins linked to inflammation; impulse control disorders and PD; Pharmaceutical News from the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology; technology targets freezing of gait; creating your own placebo effect; inspiring people with Parkinson's talk boxing, DBS and poetry; and more ...
Device Provides On-Demand Cues to Recover from “Freezing of Gait”
A Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University) student project to help a local military veteran has become a business designed to help patients with Parkinson’s disease overcome a debilitating and dangerous symptom known as “freezing of gait.” De Oro Devices, based in San Luis Obispo, California, recently edged out six other startups for a $100,000 investment during the second annual Central Coast Angel Conference Pitch Competition held in April by the university. While working on the project as part of the Quality of Life Plus (QL+) program, which pairs the challenges of wounded vets with student projects, student Sidney Collin ...
March 31, 2019 – Parkinson’s Weekly Update
This is a recap of the most interesting news and discussions related to Parkinson’s Disease this past week. We start by looking ahead to Parkinson's Disease Awareness which starts on Monday by revisiting the funniest (and most relatable) Parkinson's Disease awareness video of all time. We then realize that we may be personally too aware of PD, so we take a look at awareness months for other diseases and health issues. Next up we try to avoid the big gun debate while reporting on an intriguing case study of "gun therapy" for Parkinson's; a hip-hop dance demonstration inspires one of ...
Electroskip device straps to shoe and uses auditory cues to improve gait
Some ideas take time to find their direction. In 2010, Jamie O’Neil, Communication Studies professor at Canisius College in Buffalo (New York) developed a project that he called Skippisox. These were socks that you wear and they would make noise. Another professor at Canisius College, Bill Sack, was working with using robotics to create music. Together, they developed Electroskip, which is is a wearable technology that attaches to shoes and detects the amount of pressure that the wearer puts on their heels or toes. The sensors use a wireless data transmitter to send this information to a computer, which generates audio feedback ...
VibeForward – In-shoe wearable uses vibration tech to reduce freezing of gait
Resonate Forward LLC, has received a $440,000 grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to test a wearable device, called VibeForward, that uses vibration therapy to reduce symptoms of freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. This funding is part of a Fox Foundation initiative launched in 2018 to evaluate non-pharmacological interventions that have the potential to significantly improve the daily lives of people with Parkinson’s, particularly related to the treatment of gait and balance. Injuries from falls severely impact the quality of life for people with Parkinson's Disease, as evidenced by Michael J. Fox's personal ...
Beyond l-dopa for PD gait disturbances, balance issues and falls – CDP Choline?
A study published this week raises an interesting point: Mobility deficits, including gait disturbance, balance impairments and falls, are common features of Parkinson's disease (PD) that negatively impact quality of life. Mobility deficits respond poorly to dopaminergic medications, indicating a role for additional neurotransmitters. Due to the critical role of cortical input to gait and balance, acetylcholine-an essential neurotransmitter system for attention-has become an area of interest for mobility. Overview of the cholinergic contribution to gait, balance and falls in Parkinson's disease I find this interesting, because the first Movement Disorder Specialist that I met with to confirm my Parknson’s ...
February 25, 2019 – Parkinson’s Weekly Update
This is a recap of the most interesting news and discussions relating to Parkinson's Disease this past week. We saw people with Parkinson's in Tasmania (Australia) turning heads with the latest Parkinson's Disease fashion trend, wearing red light buckets on their heads. They say it helps improve their symptoms. We saw study results that told us that while research on the gut bacteria/PD connection continues, we should also be aware that gut bacteria can interfere with levodopa treatment. Rock and roll legend Peter Frampton was diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis, a rare disease that based on some of the symptoms, ...
Honda Walking Assist receives MJFF grant to assist mobility in people with PD
Last week, Honda announced today that they were awarded a grant by The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to research the safety and potential positive impact that Honda's Walking Assist Device could have in helping people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Honda has partnered with Ohio State University conduct a Phase II randomized controlled trial to study the impact of an eight week intervention using the Walking Assist Device to improve mobility in people with PD. Press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honda-rd-americas-collaborates-with-the-ohio-state-university-and-the-michael-j-fox-foundation-to-research-walking-assist-device-efficacy-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease-300789381.html Clinical trial details: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03751371 “Honda Walking Assist” is a training device that efficiently supports walking which is based on the inverted pendulum ...