February 2012
7 posts
Gene Research Offers Clues to Parkinson’s Disease
In certain people with Parkinson’s disease, mutations in the parkin gene disrupt the proper function of dopamine, the brain chemical that controls body movement.
http://ping.fm/992kN
New Test to Help Doctors Identify, Treat Early Stage Parkinson Patients
Now the pairing of a new drug and a high-tech nuclear brain scan is offering long-awaited help in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
http://ping.fm/Du75Y
Exercise can help minimize effects of Parkinson’s
Medication can be used for symptom relief and to minimize adverse effects, but a growing number of studies suggest the exercise approach brings greater benefits for functional performance in individuals with PD than relying on medication alone.
http://ping.fm/8qrhC
Deep brain stimulation: A competitor for Medtronic in America?
It looks like Medtronic, which had the lucrative deep brain stimulation market all to itself in the U.S., may find itself with some competition.
http://ping.fm/icKTX
Mediterranean diet ‘halves risk of Parkinson’s disease’
A Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish can almost halve the risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to new research.
The study revealed healthy eating habits slashed the risk of the incurable brain disorder by up to 46 per cent.
http://ping.fm/X9EIn
Doctors should screen Parkinson’s patients for signs of abuse
Neurologists treating Parkinson’s disease patients should add one more item to their checklist when visiting with a patient. In addition to checking balance, walking speed and other neurological signs, they should check for signs of physical abuse.
http://ping.fm/jRU9p
MSU Researchers Identify Path To Treat Parkinson’s Disease
MSU researchers have demonstrated the possibility of treating Parkinson’s disease at its inception by treating the protein that triggers it before the disease can sicken the patient.
http://ping.fm/DJIpq
January 2012
1 post
Value of Massage for People with Parkinson’s Disease
Medications have been known to control some of the symptoms of the disease but many specialists believe that massage therapy aids patients afflicted with Parkinson’s disease.
http://ping.fm/Z4Wa4
November 2011
15 posts
SCOTTISH SCIENTISTS IN BREAKTHROUGH ON DANGER GENES
SCOTTISH scientists have made a breakthrough that could see people undergo “genetic testing” to see if they will develop illnesses such as cancer or Parkinson’s disease in later life.
http://ping.fm/GnMkQ
The Truth About the Health Benefits of Tea
The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you’d think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful magical elixir. Improving heart health, reducing cancer risk, warding off dementia and diabetes — there’s barely a health benefit that hasn’t been credited to tea.
...
No extra restless legs syndrome in Parkinson’s
Contrary to previous findings, a new study hints that restless legs syndrome, or RLS, is not more common in people with early Parkinson’s disease.
http://ping.fm/JXxeT
NIH-funded twin study finds occupational chemical exposure may be linked to Parkinson’s risk
A new research report contributes to the increasing evidence that repeated occupational exposure to certain chemical solvents raises the risk for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers analyzed the occupational histories of twins in which one of the pair developed the neurodegenerative disorder,...
Parkinsonian Worms May Hold the Key to Identifying Drugs for Parkinson’s Disease
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have devised a simple test, using dopamine-deficient worms, for identifying drugs that may help people with Parkinson’s disease.
http://ping.fm/NO2n5
New Parkinson’s therapies aim to halt disease, not just symptoms
The introduction of levadopa therapy more than 40 years ago marked a milestone in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The dopamine replacement drug helps control the motor symptoms associated with the neurodegenerative disease, but it does not prevent the further loss of dopamine-producing neurons, so researchers have been on the...
Nutrition for Parkinson’s Disease
Constipation, urinary tract infections (UTIs), thinning bones, and unexplained weight loss are all common in persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Preventing or managing these conditions can be accomplished through proper hydration and nutritional intake.
http://ping.fm/YRVe0
Focus on ‘invisible’ Parkinson’s symptoms
Tremors are perhaps the most well known symptom associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, a new campaign is aiming to raise awareness of some of the lesser known symptoms associated with this condition.
http://ping.fm/vdHIj
New class of Canine Partners
The dogs assist people in Chester County who have mobility or balance issues stemming from a variety of ailments, including muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and even autism.
http://ping.fm/Vwl9Q
Common brain parasite ‘can affect host’s actions’
Boffins here in Blighty say that a brain parasite which is carried by up to 20 per cent of the population is capable of affecting its host’s actions for its own benefit – but against the interests of the host.
http://ping.fm/ew1oe
Nothing like mother’s milk: potential treatments from stem cells in breast milk
Researchers have identified stem cells in human breast milk, which behave similarly to embryonic stem cells when cultivated in a medium containing nutrients.
http://ping.fm/dV3Qp
Eating right with Parkinson’s disease
While there is no special diet required for people with Parkinson’s disease, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is extremely beneficial. With the proper diet, our bodies work more efficiently, we have more energy, and Parkinson’s disease medications will work properly.
http://ping.fm/Y8GUM
Exercise safety and Parkinson’s Disease
Because Parkinson’s disease affects your ability to move, exercise helps to keep muscles strong and improve flexibility and mobility. Exercise will not stop Parkinson’s disease from progressing; but, it will improve your balance and it can prevent joint stiffening.
http://ping.fm/Z6CGo
Structure of Parkinson’s disease protein identified
A team of researchers from the Petsko-Ringe and Pochapsky laboratories at Brandeis have produced and determined the structure of alpha-synuclein, a key protein associated with Parkinson’s disease.
http://ping.fm/WNIYd
Abnormal oscillation in the brain causes motor deficits in Parkinson’s disease
The research group headed by Professor Atsushi Nambu (The National Institute for Physiological Sciences) and Professor Masahiko Takada (Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University) has shown that the ‘oscillatory’ nature of electrical signals in subcortical nuclei, the basal ganglia, causes severe...
October 2011
16 posts
Parkinson’s Treatment Tips for Constipation
Constipation is an alteration in stool frequency, consistency, and/or passage of stool. The normal pattern of bowel movements can and will vary by 1 to 3 days. A stool-voiding pattern of every day or every other day is encouraged.
http://ping.fm/Fbkph
Parkinson’s Treatment Tips for Constipation
Constipation is an alteration in stool frequency, consistency, and/or passage of stool. The normal pattern of bowel movements can and will vary by 1 to 3 days. A stool-voiding pattern of every day or every other day is encouraged.
http://ping.fm/Fbkph
Fall is the season for apples
A variety of health benefits also comes in this tasty fruit. As early as medieval times, apples and products made from apples have been used for their health benefits. The saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is the modern version of the old English saying.
Phytonutrients found in apples helps to protect the brain from age-related diseases, such as...
Exercycle Company’s therapeutics exercise bike wins NIH grant
RSS Industries Inc., which does business as The Exercycle Company, has won a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop powered exercise cycles as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
http://ping.fm/zsiic
Parkinson’s sufferer Mike Allen to climb Kilimanjaro
A Sandhurst man who suffers from Parkinson’s disease is climbing Africa’s tallest mountain to raise cash for others suffering from the disease.
http://ping.fm/98Opn
Stem cell research used cloning technique, paid women for eggs
Scientists announced Wednesday that they had created stem cells from human clones, adding DNA from adult cells to the genetic material in unfertilized eggs. Their creation marked a first in stem cell research and may point the way toward treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
...
HMC adopts music as tool for treatment
Studies are finding that music can have a variety of therapeutic effects. In 1995, researchers found that listening to Mozart before an IQ test boosts scores by roughly nine points. In another research, stroke victims and patients with Parkinson’s disease exposed to 30 minutes of rhythmic stimulation daily showed significant improvements in their ability to...
Diet in Early Stages of PD
In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD), no special dietary changes are typically required. You may want however to increase your intake of foods rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are those chemicals that scavenge and eat-up so-called ‘free radicals’ –- tiny molecules that circulate in your tissues and damage those tissues. Free radicals have a special...
Exercise for People with Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological disorder that can have an effect on motor planning and can cause changes in movement control. Physical therapy treatment often centers on improving safe functional mobility and maintaining ease of movement in people with PD. Exercise is one facet of treatment that can help control symptoms of the...
New test helps identify Parkinson’s disease
A new test is giving doctors and patients a clearer picture of Parkinson’s disease, and Parkinson’s syndrome. Nuclear medicine specialists at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) are now using DaTscan – the first Food and Drug Administration-approved imaging agent to help diagnose patients with suspected Parkinsonian syndromes, such as Parkinson’s...
Parkinson’s Disease - New Finding
Small amounts of diseased brain proteins can be taken by healthy neurons and propagated within them to cause neurodegeneration, says study. This finding sheds light on the mechanism associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD)and provides a model for discovering early intervention therapeutics that can prevent or slow the devastating loss of neurons that...
Early Parkinson’s diagnosis aided by new technology
To diagnose Parkinson’s disease, physicians for decades have had to rely largely on a keen eye and experience.
Now the pairing of a new drug and a high-tech nuclear brain scan is offering long-awaited help in recognizing the progressive movement disorder, which has neither a specific diagnostic test nor a cure.
...
Physical Therapy Evaluation for Parkinson’s Disease
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) your doctor may refer you to many specialists to help you move and function better. A physical therapist is a movement specialist who can assess and treat the motor control and planning changes that occur with the disease.
http://ping.fm/g2RiD
Caffeine’s buzz chases away women’s depression
Compared with uncaffeinated women, those who drank the equivalent of four or more cups of coffee a day are more likely to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes and less likely to volunteer their time in church or community groups. But a new study finds that well-caffeinated women have a key health advantage over their more abstemious...
Scientists take key step in stem cell therapy
For the first time, scientists have used cloning techniques — inserting genetic material from adult cells into unfertilized human eggs — to create embryonic stem cells.
http://ping.fm/Ajype
Essential Tremor vs. Parkinson’s Disease (ET vs. PD) - Differences & Similarities
Both Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s Disease are common movement disorders that affect many people around the world. Tremor shakes can happen at rest, while holding objects, and can also effect the head and the vocal cords. Neither of these movement disorders can be diagnosed with blood tests or MRI/CT...
September 2011
21 posts
Treating Parkinson’s Disease
Although no cure has been created for Parkinson’s disease yet, many treatment options are available for people with all different types of the disease.
http://ping.fm/RmokR
Parkinson’s experimental gene therapy shows promise
As many as 60,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with Parkinson’s Disease. Patients may have tremors, stiffness, and loss of motor control as the disease progresses. But a new study is showing experimental gene therapy may hold real promise for some patients.
http://ping.fm/iL5Kx
Nutrition for the Prevention of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects brain cells or neurons responsible for muscle movement. Symptoms of Parkinson’s may include trembling hands, jaws, legs or fingers, slow movement and poor balance and coordination. Diet may play a role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s.
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YouTube videos can inaccurately depict Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
Looking online for medical information? Viewers beware, doctors caution. After reviewing the most frequently watched YouTube videos about movement disorders, a group of neurologists found that the people in the videos often do not have a movement disorder. As described in a Letter to the Editor in this...
Parkinson’s patient credits activity for crash recovery
Four months ago, Dan and Cathy Maxwell were involved in a devastating single-vehicle accident in Eastern Oregon.
Dan broke both bones in his lower right leg. His left ankle was shattered. His right shoulder was crushed. His face was torn open by shards of glass.
Cathy was pronounced dead at the scene, just one day before the couple’s 42nd...
Professors look to song to combat disease
While the feel-good effects of singing are well-documented, experts believe that joining a choir could improve the symptoms of a range of health problems including Parkinson’s, depression and lung disease.
http://ping.fm/kbl5j
FDA Blocks Sale of Supplements for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
The FDA filed a permanent injunction against two Minnesota companies that distributed amino acid products marketed as treatments for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and a number of other neurological disorders.
http://ping.fm/JIU1o
Children’s Teeth Help Stem Cell Research
Experts say children’s teeth might hold the key to effective treatments for diseases like Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.
Children’s teeth may be more valuable than a quarter under their pillow from the Tooth Fairy.
http://ping.fm/IBzaX
HEALING OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE THRU EXERCISE
Exercise plays a key role in the management of Parkinson’s disease (PD). If done regularly, it may slow down the progression of the disease. It usually includes stretching, strength training and aerobic activities.
http://ping.fm/RJRSJ
Isotope Biomarkers Reveal Protein Fingerprints of Brain Disease
Rational and exploratory biomarker discovery approaches through putative linkage with pathways relevant to neurodegeneration; Real-time indices of neuronal dysfunction and reparative processes; Ability to measure dynamic biological and biochemical processes occurring in neurodegeneration and to move quickly from animal studies to...
Coffee could offer key ingredient for new treatments for Parkinson’s disease
Caffeine is a methylxanthine, a stimulant derivative of xanthine, as is theophylline (in tea), and theobromine (in chocolate). Methylxanthines are among the most widely consumed substances in the world. Caffeine is present in many foods and drinks and reportedly consumed at an average rate of 200mg per day by...
