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Monday, December 23, 2013

http://www.caregiverproducts.com

I normally don't advertise a sight. I haven't purchased anything yet but this sight may help someone.

A very good site for possible items needed such as eating utensils for  hands that tremor. All different items to maintain a better  way of coping using things to make us feel independent.

http://www.caregiverproducts.com

Weighted Utensils - Silverware, Flatware, Cutlery, Cups, Plates and Bowls

Weighted utensils are ideal for those with Parkinson's Disease or hand tremors. The ergonomic designs of these Weighted Utensils help reduce hand tremors allowing more control when eating. The heavy weighted utensils help to stabilize the tremulous hand and to give proprioceptive feedback to those with sensory problems.
PRODUCTS (TOTAL ITEMS: 21)
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Left Hand Weighted Youth Teaspoon
Left Hand Weighted Youth Teaspoon
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Your Price: $12.95
Weighted Eating Utensils
Weighted Eating Utensils
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Youth Weighted Right Hand Fork
Youth Weighted Right Hand Fork
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Youth Weighted Right Hand Teaspoon
Youth Weighted Right Hand Teaspoon
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Freedom Standard Cupholder
Freedom Standard Cupholder
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Freedom No Slip Scoop Plate with Suction Pad Base
Freedom No Slip Scoop Plate with Suction Pad Base
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Freedom No Slip Divided Plate with Suction Pad Base
Freedom No Slip Divided Plate with Suction Pad Base
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Freedom LargeCup Holder
Freedom LargeCup Holder
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Youth Weighted Fork
Youth Weighted Fork
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Weighted Cuff for Disposable Razor
Weighted Cuff for Disposable Razor
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Left Hand Weighted Youth Fork
Left Hand Weighted Youth Fork
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Dysphagia Cup Almond
Dysphagia Cup Almond
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Monday, November 25, 2013

New Gene Targets For Parkinson’s Treatment Found After 22,000 Individual Scans
















shutterstock_145282792
(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.)  Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have targeted a new set of genes responsible for igniting key mechanisms of Parkinson's disease.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have uncovered a new batch of genes that may provide breakthrough treatment options for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, the degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that begins with reduced motor control, and eventually worsens to include neurological decay.
In the new study, NIH researchers combed through 22,000 individual genes in order to arrive at several dozen that they believe could offer therapeutic benefits for patients suffering from Parkinson’s. Through their research, they also found certain genes that may hold the key to diseases of the mitochondria; structures often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cell, because of their role in producing the cell’s energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), through respiration.
“We discovered a network of genes that may regulate the disposal of dysfunctional mitochondria, opening the door to new drug targets for Parkinson’s disease and other disorders,” Dr. Richard Youle a researcher at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and a leader of the study, said in a statement.
The study utilized RNA interference — a naturally occurring process scientists have used since 1998 to manipulate a cell’s genes — in order to investigate the effect of turning off nearly 22,000 genes individually. The team was searching for parkin, a protein that swims freely inside the cell and tags damaged mitochondria as waste. Specifically, they were investigating how silencing each gene affected parkin’s ability to tag the mitochondria, a process that, if unfulfilled, leads to an accumulation of the damaged structures inside the cell. Among the dozens they found linked to decreased parkin tagging, the team found at least four, called TOMM7, HSPAI1L, BAG4 and SIAH3, that may act as helpers.
“These genes work like quality control agents in a variety of cell types, including neurons,” said Dr. Youle, adding that some genes, such as TOMM7 and HSPAI1L, inhibited parkin tagging, while others, including BAG4 and SIAH3, enhanced tagging. “The identification of these helper genes provides the research community with new information that may improve our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.”

Currently ranked as the 14th leading cause of death in the United States, Parkinson’s affects roughly one million Americans — exceeding the combined diagnoses of multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Approximately 60,000 Americans are newly diagnosed each year, with men roughly one-and-a-half times more likely to have the disorder than women.
Some Parkinson’s cases have been linked to mutations in the genes that code for parkin, a factor that initially prompted researchers to investigate the specific genes responsible for parkin tagging. While the specific mechanisms behind Parkinson’s aren’t well known, researchers speculate genetics and environmental factors play partial roles. The greatest symptoms of Parkinson’s originate in the decreased activity in dopamine-secreting cells in the brain, which result from mitochondria-induced cell death. Sufferers lose motor function and various cognitive processes as the disease worsens.
Being able to pinpoint which genes ultimately regulate this mitochondria function will help scientists develop treatment options that target certain genes specifically, obviating the need for blanket treatments with harsh side-effects.
“This study shows how the latest high-throughput genetic technologies can rapidly reveal insights into fundamental disease mechanisms,” said Dr. Story Landis, director of the NINDS. “We hope the results will help scientists around the world find new treatments for these devastating disorders.”
Source: Hasson S, Kane L, Yamano K. High-content genome-wide RNAi screens identify regulators of parkin upstream of mitophagy. Nature. 2013.

Friday, November 15, 2013

NEW DRUG FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE PSYCHOSIS

2th November 2013 - New research

Lancet [2013] Oct 31 [Epub ahead of print] (J.Cummings, S.Isaacson, R.Mills, H.Williams, K.Chi-Burris, A.Corbett, R.Dhall, C.Ballard)

Parkinson's Disease psychosis, which includes hallucinations and delusions, is frequent and debilitating in some people with Parkinson's Disease. Pimavanserin, which is a serotonin 5-HT2A inverse agonist that is presently being assessed, aims to treat Parkinson's Disease psychosis. A clinical trial assessed the effect of Pimavanserin. 


They took 40mg pimavanserin per day. The primary measure was the antipsychotic benefit using the Parkinson's disease-adapted scale for assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS-PD). According to the Parkinson's disease-adapted scale for assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS-PD) those people taking pimavanserin reduced their score by 5.79 compared with a reduction of 2.73 by those taking a placebo. Over 10% of the patients discontinued because of an adverse event. However, in previous clinical trials there was either no effect or it was beneficial for some but not all measures of psychosis

THE PREVALENCE OF HEADACHES IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

0th November 2013 - New research

Neurological Sciences [2013] Nov 7 [Epub ahead of print]  
Researchers assessed the prevalence of headache in people with Parkinson's Disease and the association between the side of Parkinon's Disease symptom onset and the side of their headache. Headaches were found to occur significantly less in people with Parkinson's Disease, 40% of whom had headaches, than in people who do not have Parkinson's Disease, 70% of whom had headaches.  The prevalence of headaches being significantly lower in people with Parkinon's Disease is unexplained by the researchers.

Fewer people with Parkinson's Disease (74%) had headaches throughout life in contrast to the 94% of people who had headaches throughout life who did not have Parkinson's Disease.  Considering only people who had headaches during the previous year, people with Parkinson's Disease had a higher association with migraine rather than tension headaches compared to people who did not have Parkinson's Disease. The headache side in people with Parkinson's Disease was also on the same side as the side of Parkinson's Disease onset in 84 % of people.

THE CAUSES OF FALLS IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

6th November 2013 - New research

Neurologia i neurochirurgia polska [2013] 47 (5) : 423-430 (Rudzinska M, Bukowczan S, Stozek J, Zajdel K, Mirek E, Chwala W, Wójcik-Pedziwiatr M, Banaszkiewicz K, Szczudlik A.) 
Neurologia i neurochirurgia polska [2013] 47 (5) : 431-437 (Rudzinska M, Bukowczan S, Stozek J, Zajdel K, Mirek E, Chwala W, Wójcik-Pedziwiatr M, Banaszkiewicz K, Szczudlik A.) 

People with Parkinson's Disease suffer falls more frequently than most other people. Over the year falls occurred in 54% of people with Parkinson's Disease. Around 20% of people with Parkinson's Disease fell frequently. This occurred more commonly with age.

Analysis of causes of falls revealed that sudden falls were the most common (31%), followed by episodes of freezing and festination (19%), neurological and sensory disturbances (mostly vertigo) (12%), environmental factors (12%), postural instability (11%), orthostatic hypotension (4%), and severe dyskinesia (3.6%). In people with Parkinson's Disease, factors due to themselves were dominant, whereas in the control group external factors were responsible for falls with the same frequency. Every third fall intensified the fear of walking. Over a third (34%) of falls caused injuries. Among them bruises of body parts other than the head were most frequent. 

SENSORY PEN FOR DETECTING PARKINSON'S DISEASE

1st October 2013 - News release

A means of diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease is being developed by MANUS Neurodynamica using sensory pen technology. It is called the DiPAR project. The system, combining sensor and computing technology, requires the patient to perform a set of writing tasks, drawing activities or a combination of both. The system records all movements of the pen as well as other parameters such as drawing pressure, plus acceleration and deceleration of movement, to identify patterns that are indicative of specific kinds of neuromotor disorder. The sensory pen can be used by non-specialists with minimal training so that large numbers of people would be able to be screened.

The system’s software records key features regarding the movement of the pen, relating it to the motion of the limb, particularly the role of the hand and fingers in coordinating overall pen motion. The recordings enable the operator to assess akinesia, bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity and other signs of motor deterioration that cannot be easily detected by other means. The software takes inputs from a variety of sensors in the pen and converts them, using proprietary algorithms, into outcome percentages that represent the likelihood of the presence of Parkinson's Disease or other neuromotor disorders.

DEPRESSION TREBLES THE RISK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE


3rd October 2013 - New research

Neurology [2013] Oct 2 [Epub ahead of print] (Cheng-Che Shen, Shih-Jen Tsai, Chin-Lin Perng, Benjamin Ing-Tiau Kuo, Albert C.Yang)

In the largest study of its kind, involving more than 23,000 subjects, people who had depression were found to have more than three times the chance of developing Parkinson's Disease. This suggests that depression is a strong indication of future Parkinson's Disease, even beyond that of other early indicators.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily due to the insufficient formation of dopamine in the brain, in the dopaminergic neurons. Besides affecting muscle function and therefore the characteristic muscular symptoms of Parkinson's Disease such as as rigidity and tremor, dopamine insuffiency also affects the emotions.

This is why dopamine insufficiency can also lead to depression. However, even biochemically, dopamine is not the only factor involved in depression, which is why depresssion and Parkinson's Disease do not always coincide. Therefore, depression, even when severe, does not inevitably lead to Parkinson's Disease and why it is possible to have Parkinson's Disease without also having depression.

UNDERSTANDING PARKINSON'S DISEASE : AN INTRODUCTION FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS


3rd October 2013- New book

Naheed Ali

Publisher's description :  Understanding Parkinson’s Disease offers patients and their caregivers the kind of cutting-edge information that will allow them to successfully confront this debilitating disease on a number of fronts. Patients will also be uniquely exposed to alternative approaches to managing the symptoms of the disease, including allopathic, osteopathic, and naturopathic approaches. The reader will be introduced to essential information on the risk factors associated with Parkinson’s, the signs and symptoms, the different stages of the disease, the various treatments, as well as how the disease develops. 

Friday, November 8, 2013

IMPLANT TO HELP SLOW PARKINSON’S DISEASE

 

ImplantSlider
Dr. Steven Gill has been researching the benefits of Glial-cell line Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF)  in PARKINSON’S DISEASE for many years.
Together with his team of researchers from Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, United Kingdom, he had developed a new implant device to deliver GDNF directly to the affected area of the brain.
GDNF has been shown to be an especially potent factor for dopaminergic cell survival and for improving motor deficits such as those seen in PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
Finding ways to deliver GDNF to the affected areas in appropriate ways has been the challenge
The new device developed by this team consists of a small port surgically implanted behind the patient’s ear.
From this port, a system of tubes connects to the basal ganglia and regulated dose of GDNF can be pumped directly to the brain once a month.
To date, six patients have undergone this treatment and the team is now recruiting 36 more patients for a new trial.
If this treatment technology proves successful and safe, many other neurological diseases will be able to benefit from this technique.
Review by Marcia McCall

NEW DRUGS FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE UNDER DEVELOPMENT


Lundbeck Pharma
Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals is working on developing two new drugs to treat PARKINSON’S DISEASE from two different perspectives and they have received a large grant to help fund this promising research.
The first approach is directed at eliminating or at least preventing alpha synuclein from entering the nervous system.  Presently, Lundbeck has developed a line of anti-bodies that bind with alpha-synuclein and one those anti-bodies has shown a direct effect in animal models of PARKINSON’S DISEASE.  Their hope is to develop the best antibody with the potential to slow the progression of PARKINSON’S DISEASE in people or to perhaps, eliminate it altogether.  A human medical model is still a ways off, and lots of work remains to be done, but this company is definitely up to the task.
Their next project involves creating a symptomatic treatment that does not involve the dopamine receptors in the brain.  They are focused on a so-called “orphan G-protein” in a part of the brain that controls the motor system.  Already they have several drugs that can control the activity of this protein.  Their hope for this project is to create a new type of drug for treatment of the motor symptoms of PARKINSON’S DISEASE that does not have the side effects of current medications.  We all hope that success comes SOON!
Review by Marcia McCall

LASER THERAPY A NEW HOPE FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

 

laserbrain
Aggregates of alpha-synuclein in brain cells of people with PARKINSON’S DISEASE have long been the target of research hoping to cure or at least alleviate the symptoms of dementias often associated with PARKINSON’S DISEASE.  Newly publicized research from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden together with Wroclaw University of Technology in Warsaw, Poland found that it is possible to use a laser driven technology to distinguish the formations of alpha-synuclein proteins from the formations of other functionally beneficial and necessary proteins in the brain.  The same technique, called “multi-photon laser technique” could also be used to eliminate those aggregated proteins..
These researchers believe that the ability to target these misfolded proteins that are believed to be part of the disease process for many dementia type diseases, including Alzheimer’s, PARKINSON’S,  and Lewy Body diseases may enable them to be destroyed by laser instead of by taking multiple drugs to counter their activity.  Photo acoustic therapies, such as these researchers discuss, has already been used to destroy cancer tumors in certain specific settings.  During this therapy, the specific light wave energy of the laser is converted to heat on targeted specific light wave sensitive receptors on the cells.  The heat generated then destroys that targeted cell.
This treatment for destroying alpha-synuclein misfolded proteins is a very new, “on the cutting edge of research” technology.  As with all new procedures and technologies, a lot of studies will need to be done before it can be made widely available to treat people with PARKINSON’S DISEASE.  It would be a non-surgically invasive procedure and would potentially reduce the use of medications while wiping out the dementia caused by accumulations of alpha-synuclein.
With Thanks to
Piotr Hanczyc, Marek Samoc, Bengt Norden. Multiphoton absorption in amyloid protein fibresNature Photonics, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2013.282
 
Reviewed by Marcia McCall
 
Picture Credit’s

Monday, October 14, 2013

THE LONG TERM EFFECT OF DBS ON PARKINSON'S DISEASE

13th October 2013 - New research

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association [2013] Oct 5 [Epub ahead of print] (J.L.Jiang, S.Y.Chen, T.C.Hsieh, C.W.Lee, S.H.Lin, S.T.Tsai) Complete abstract

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
involves the use of electrodes that are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device called a pulse generator that can be externally programmed. For more information go to Deep brain stimulation Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) has been shown to produce long-term improvements in Parkinson's Disease.
The aim of this study was to assess the improvements that can be expected after 1 year and after 5 years. Patients with Parkinson's Disease were assessed after 1 year and 5 years according to the Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) parts I, II, III, and IV scores, the Hoehn and Yahr stage, and Schwab and England activities of daily living (SEADL) scores in the conditions of off-medication/on-stimulation and off-medication/off-stimulation. Further analysis included the changes in the L-dopa equivalent daily dose.
After 1 year  significant improvements were seen in the UPDRS parts I, II, III, and IV and the Schwab and England scale. Five years after STN-DBS had been initiated improvements in UPDRS scores were observed only for parts II, III, and IV. In the off-medication/off-stimulation condition no significant improvement was observed. However, after 5 years there were significant deteriorations when compared to the improvements seen after 1 year in the scores for the UPDRS parts I, II, III and the Schwab and England scale.

DUAL LAYER L-DOPA CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS

7th October 2013 - New research

Parkinsonism Related Disorders [2013] Sep 5 [Epub ahead of print] (R.Pahwa, K.E.Lyons, R.A.Hauser, S.Fahn, J.Jankovic, E.Pourcher, A.Hsu, M.O'Connell, S.Kell, S.Gupta)

L-dopa usually comes in two different formats : either the immediate release version, which satisfies the immediate need for L-dopa, or the controlled release version, which avoids the excessive effects of L-dopa by spreading out the effect over time. Dual layer L-dopa (IPX066), which is being developed for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, has the advantages of both by combining the two types of L-dopa.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of IPX066 assessed three dosages of L-dopa : 145mg, 245mg or 390mg taken three times daily. The main efficacy measure was the Parkinson's Disease symptom score, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and also the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39).
All three dosages improved Parkinson's Disease, with the 145mg dosage, then the 245mg dosage giving better results. The most commonly reported adverse events with IPX066 included nausea, dizziness, and headache. No unexpected drug-related serious adverse events were reported.
3rd October 2013 - New research
DEPRESSION TREBLES THE RISK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Neurology [2013] Oct 2 [Epub ahead of print] (Cheng-Che Shen, Shih-Jen Tsai, Chin-Lin Perng, Benjamin Ing-Tiau Kuo, Albert C.Yang)

In the largest study of its kind, involving more than 23,000 subjects, people who had depression were found to have more than three times the chance of developing Parkinson's Disease. This suggests that depression is a strong indication of future Parkinson's Disease, even beyond that of other early indicators. 
Parkinson's Disease is primarily due to the insufficient formation of dopamine in the brain, in the dopaminergic neurons. Besides affecting muscle function and therefore the characteristic muscular symptoms of Parkinson's Disease such as as rigidity and tremor, dopamine insuffiency also affects the emotions.
This is why dopamine insufficiency can also lead to depression. However, even biochemically, dopamine is not the only factor involved in depression, which is why depresssion and Parkinson's Disease do not always coincide. Therefore, depression, even when severe, does not inevitably lead to Parkinson's Disease and why it is possible to have Parkinson's Disease without also having depression.  

UNDERSTANDING PARKINSON'S DISEASE : AN INTRODUCTION FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS

3rd October 2013- New book

Naheed Ali
Publisher's description :  Understanding Parkinson’s Disease offers patients and their caregivers the kind of cutting-edge information that will allow them to successfully confront this debilitating disease on a number of fronts. Patients will also be uniquely exposed to alternative approaches to managing the symptoms of the disease, including allopathic, osteopathic, and naturopathic approaches. The reader will be introduced to essential information on the risk factors associated with Parkinson’s, the signs and symptoms, the different stages of the disease, the various treatments, as well as how the disease develops. Anyone looking for an introduction will find the information they need in this accessible resource.  

HOUSEHOLD PESTICIDES INCREASE THE RISK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

29th September 2013 - New research

International Journal of Epidemiology [2013] Sep 20 [Epub ahead of print] (S.Narayan, Z.Liew, K.Paul, P.C.Lee, J.S.Sinsheimer, J.M.Bronstein, B.Ritz)

Household pesticide use is widespread, and for over 40 years organophosphorus chemicals have been common active ingredients in these products. Parkinson's Disease has been linked to pesticide exposures but little is known about the contributions of chronic exposures to household pesticides.

Consequently, researchers investigated whether long term use of household pesticides, especially those containing organophosphorus chemicals, increases the risk of developing or worsening Parkinson's Disease. Frequent use of any household pesticide increased the risk of developing Parkinson's Disease by 47%. Frequent  use of products containing organophosphorus chemicals increased the risk of Parkinson's Disease by 71%. Frequent organothiophosphate use almost doubled the risk of Parkinson's  Disease. The evidence shows that household use of organophosphorus pesticides is clearly associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's Disease. 

THE WORLD'S LOWEST INCIDENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

26th September 2013 - New research

Journal of  Neural Transmission [2013] Sep 22 [Epub ahead of print] (C.L.Ma, L.Su, J.J.Xie, J.X.Long, P.Wu, L.Gu)   
The world's lowest incidence of Parkinson's Disease has been found to be in China. Incidence is the rate at which Parkinson's Disease is being newly diagnosed. The incidence of Parkinson's Disease in China, at only 2 people per 100,000 is remarkably low. In constrast, the incidence rate in the U.S.A. is about ten times that number. The prevalence of Parkinson's Disease in China is remarkably high, with 797 per 100,000 being one of the highest rates in the world. The ratio of men to women with Parkinson's Disease is, at 1.29 men for every woman, more typical.
With very high prevalence (those people that have Parkinson's Disease now) and very low incidence (those people that are being diagnosed) means that the number of people in China with Parkinson's Disease must be dropping rapidly, and at a greater rate than anywhere else in the world. The researchers provide no reasons for this.  In China, instead of standard Parkinson's Disease drugs, people tend to use more Chinese herbal remedies, a number of which are known to have effect in Parkinson's Disease.
The former Chinese leader Chairman Mao is known to have had Parkinson's Disease. However, it is never disclosed in China that Chairman Mao, who is given almost God like status in China, ever actually had Parkinson's Disease.

THE EFFECT OF TEN YEARS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE


22nd September 2013 - New research

Parkinsonism Related Disorders [2012] 18 supplement, 3 : S10-S14 28 (3) : 380-383 (A.Hassan, S.S.Wu, P.Schmidt, I.A.Malaty, Y.F.Dai, J.M.Miyasaki, M.S.Okun)

A large number of people who had Parkinson's Disease for more than ten years were assessed to see what effect it had on them. The clinical status and health-related quality of life of patients reaching this milestone had not been well documented before. Their average age was 68 years old. Their average age of onset was 53 years old. Their average disease duration was 14 years. Many of them were minimally disabled (44%) or experiencing postural instability (40%). Most (88%) were able to stand unaided but falls were common (55%). Almost all (93%) were living at home, with a family member as a regular caregiver (84%).
They had an average of two additional medical disorders with arthritis (49%) and heart problems (32%) being the most common. Most of them  (87%) took at least 2 medications, with L-dopa (96%), dopamine agonists (45%) and antidepressants (37%) being the most common. Most of them were not currently utilizing physical, occupational or speech therapy, but two-thirds of them reported engaging in physical activity. Deep brain stimulation was documented in 22%. Overall the mean health-related quality of life and caregiver burden was impaired in all domains. 

COFFEE INTAKE AND THE RISK OF DYSKINESIA

21st September 2013 - New research

Movement Disorders [2013] 28 (3) : 380-383 (A.M.Wills, S.Eberly, M.Tennis, A.E.Lang, S.Messing, D.Togasaki, C.M.Tanner, C.Kamp, J.F.Chen, D.Oakes, M.P.McDermott, M.A.Schwarzschild)

Caffeine is a naturally occurring adenosine antagonist that is commonly found in coffee, and to a lesser extent in tea, cola drinks, cocoa, and chocolate. Adenosine antagonists reduce or prevent the development of dyskinesia in animal models of L-dopa induced dyskinesia.
Researchers examined the association between the intake of caffeine and  the time taken to develop dyskinesia. Those people who consumed 12 ounces of coffee per day, which is about two cups, reduced their likelihood of developing dyskinesia to 61%. Those people who consumed 4 to 12 ounces of coffee per day, which is less than two cups per day, reduced their likelihood of developing dyskinesia to 73%. The authors suggest tha these results support the possibility that caffeine may reduce the likelihood of developing dyskinesia.

BILLY CONNOLLY DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE

16th September 2013 - News report


The 70 year old Scottish comedian Billy Connolly has been diagnosed with
 Parkinson's Disease but has vowed to continue with his stage and screen 
career despite also having prostate cancer. Besides being known for stand up 
comedy on television and in large arenas he has appeared as a comedian 
and as a serious actor in films such as The Last Samurai, The Hobbit, Indecent Gulliver's Travels. Connolly’s spokesman revealed that "Billy has been 
assured by experts that the findings will in no way inhibit or affect his
 ability to work, and he will start filming a TV series as well as 
undertaking an extensive theatrical tour." 

SAFINAMIDE CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS



6th September 2013 - New research


European Journal of Neurology [2013] September 11 [Epub ahead of print] 
 (A.H.Schapira, F.Stocchi, R.Borgohain,
 M.Onofrj, M.Bhatt, P.Lorenzana, V.Lucini, R.Giuliani, R.Anand) 



Safinamide is believed to have both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic 
actions, including the inhibition of MAO-B and inhibition of glutamate release. 
It is undergoing  Phase III clinical development as a once-daily add-on to
 dopamine agonists for the treatment of early Parkinson's Disease.


In a one year clinical trial people with Parkinson's 
Disease received 100mg or 200mg Safinamide daily. 
They were assessed according to how long it was 
 before they had to increase their dopamine
agonist dose 
or add another Parkinson's Disease treatment. 
People receiving 100 mg/day safinamide experienced 
a significantly lower rate of intervention compared with placebo, of 25% 
instead of 51% and a small delay before the need to increase other
 Parkinson's Disease treatments of 9 days.
In a previous study of once daily dosages of 50mg to 100mg Safinamide
 improved Parkinson's Disease symptoms after six months and reduced
 "off" time when added on to the use of existing Parkinson's Disease 
treatments. However, the reduction in "off" time in comparison to
 the use of a placebo was minimal. The increase in "on" time beyond 
that of a placebo was only 40 minutes for 50mg safinamide, and 50 minutes 
for 100mg safinamide.