BIOMARKERS FAIL TO DIAGNOSE PARKINSON'S DISEASE
13th August 2013 - New research
A systematic review was undertaken to determine which biomarkers for disease progression in Parkinson's Disease exist. 183 studies were included. The sensitivity of the tests was an average of 71%, which is insufficient for Parkinson's Disease diagnosis. However, the range in sensitivity was between 51% and 86% showing that some of the methods were closer to having a practical use but were still less accurate than other methods of diagnosing Parkinson's Disease that are available. The authors found insufficient evidence to recommend the use of any biomarker for assessing disease progression in Parkinson's Disease clinical trials. They believe that this may simply reflect the poor quality of research in this area. They therefore present a provisional 'roadmap' for conducting future disease progression biomarker studies and recommend new quality criteria by which future studies may be judged.
BMC Neurology [2013] Apr 12 [Epub ahead of print] (D.J.McGhee, P.L.Royle, P.A.Thompson, D.E.Wright, J.P.Zajicek, C.E.Counsell)
It had previously been assumed that biomarkers could be an effective means of diagnosing Parkinson's Disease. However, an evaluation of all the methods assessed suggest that the use of biomarkers is insufficient. A biomarker is a substance used as an indicator of a biological state or illness.
It had previously been assumed that biomarkers could be an effective means of diagnosing Parkinson's Disease. However, an evaluation of all the methods assessed suggest that the use of biomarkers is insufficient. A biomarker is a substance used as an indicator of a biological state or illness.
A systematic review was undertaken to determine which biomarkers for disease progression in Parkinson's Disease exist. 183 studies were included. The sensitivity of the tests was an average of 71%, which is insufficient for Parkinson's Disease diagnosis. However, the range in sensitivity was between 51% and 86% showing that some of the methods were closer to having a practical use but were still less accurate than other methods of diagnosing Parkinson's Disease that are available. The authors found insufficient evidence to recommend the use of any biomarker for assessing disease progression in Parkinson's Disease clinical trials. They believe that this may simply reflect the poor quality of research in this area. They therefore present a provisional 'roadmap' for conducting future disease progression biomarker studies and recommend new quality criteria by which future studies may be judged.BASEBALL STAR DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE
7th August 2013 - News release
Dave Parker, a two time winner of the baseball World Series has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Dave Parker is a retired American baseball player. He began his career in the Major League in 1973 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent ten years. He went on to play with Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, and Toronto Blue Jays. He won the World Series twice, in 1979 and 1989. He retired from baseball in 1991. Now aged 62, he was first diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease early in 2012 but kept it quiet until now except for informing some close friends. For the time being he is not taking any medication and is instead relying on natural remedies.
Dave Parker, a two time winner of the baseball World Series has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Dave Parker is a retired American baseball player. He began his career in the Major League in 1973 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent ten years. He went on to play with Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, and Toronto Blue Jays. He won the World Series twice, in 1979 and 1989. He retired from baseball in 1991. Now aged 62, he was first diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease early in 2012 but kept it quiet until now except for informing some close friends. For the time being he is not taking any medication and is instead relying on natural remedies.CLINICAL TRIAL OF AFQ056 FOR DYSKINESIA
4th August 2013 - New research
Movement Disorders[2013] July 11 [Epub ahead of print] (Stocchi F, Rascol O, Destee A, Hattori N, Hauser RA, Lang AE, Poewe W, Stacy M, Tolosa E, Gao H, Nagel J, Merschhemke M, Graf A, Kenney C, Trenkwalder C.)
AFQ056 is a new glutamate receptor antagonist being developed for the treatment of L-dopa induced dyskinesia. Dyskinesia is a difficulty or distortion in performing voluntary movements, which often occurs as a side effect of long term therapy with L-dopa. For more information go to Dyskinesia. People with Parkinson's Disease were given either 20mg, 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, or 200mg daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome in order to assess the effect on dyskinesia was the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale.
AFQ056 is a new glutamate receptor antagonist being developed for the treatment of L-dopa induced dyskinesia. Dyskinesia is a difficulty or distortion in performing voluntary movements, which often occurs as a side effect of long term therapy with L-dopa. For more information go to Dyskinesia. People with Parkinson's Disease were given either 20mg, 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, or 200mg daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome in order to assess the effect on dyskinesia was the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale.
Patients taking 200mg AFQ056 daily demonstrated significant improvements on the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale. There was a dose-response relationship, with 200 mg daily demonstrating the
greatest effect. However, no significant changes were observed on the 26-item Parkinson's Disease Dyskinesia Scale or the Patient's / Clinician's Global Impression of Change. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores were not significantly changed, indicating no worsening of motor symptoms. The most common adverse events were dizziness, hallucination, fatigue, nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, and insomnia. These results can guide the slection of doses for future clinical trials.
greatest effect. However, no significant changes were observed on the 26-item Parkinson's Disease Dyskinesia Scale or the Patient's / Clinician's Global Impression of Change. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores were not significantly changed, indicating no worsening of motor symptoms. The most common adverse events were dizziness, hallucination, fatigue, nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, and insomnia. These results can guide the slection of doses for future clinical trials.PRAMIPEXOLE : EXTENDED RELEASE v IMMEDIATE RELEASE
29th July 2013 - New research
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an extended-release tablet formulation of pramipexole (PPX-ER) given once daily when switched from an immediate-release tablet formulation (PPX-IR) given 3 times daily. The extended release version evens out the effect of Pramipexole. Parkinson's Disease symptom scores were reduced after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks. There was no change in the nocturnal and early morning symptoms (NEMS) score, or the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS-2). Nearly two thirds of patients and caregivers preferred the extended release version.
Research [2013] Jul 24
[Epub ahead of print] (M.Takanashi, Y.Shimo, T.Hatano, G.Oyama, N.Hattori)
Changing from Immediate release Pramipexole to Extended release Pramipexole was found to cause a reduction in Parkinson's Disease symptoms. Pramipexole, which is marketed as Mirapex, Mirapexin, and Sifrol, is a dopamine agonist used in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. For more information go to Mirapex and Mirapex ER.
Changing from Immediate release Pramipexole to Extended release Pramipexole was found to cause a reduction in Parkinson's Disease symptoms. Pramipexole, which is marketed as Mirapex, Mirapexin, and Sifrol, is a dopamine agonist used in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. For more information go to Mirapex and Mirapex ER.
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an extended-release tablet formulation of pramipexole (PPX-ER) given once daily when switched from an immediate-release tablet formulation (PPX-IR) given 3 times daily. The extended release version evens out the effect of Pramipexole. Parkinson's Disease symptom scores were reduced after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks. There was no change in the nocturnal and early morning symptoms (NEMS) score, or the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS-2). Nearly two thirds of patients and caregivers preferred the extended release version.LINDA RONSTADT DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE
24th August 2013 - News report
The American singer Linda Ronstadt has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and consequently can no longer sing. She won 11 Grammy Awards and has gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums. sing. For more information go to Linda Ronstadt. Linda Ronstadt, who is now 67, told AARP today that she was daignosed with Parkinson's Disease 8 months ago and that she began to show symptoms 8 years ago. Linda Ronstadt now walks with the aid of poles when on uneven ground and uses a wheelchair when she travels. However, her soon to be published autobiography makes no mention of her having Parkinson's Disease.
The American singer Linda Ronstadt has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and consequently can no longer sing. She won 11 Grammy Awards and has gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums. sing. For more information go to Linda Ronstadt. Linda Ronstadt, who is now 67, told AARP today that she was daignosed with Parkinson's Disease 8 months ago and that she began to show symptoms 8 years ago. Linda Ronstadt now walks with the aid of poles when on uneven ground and uses a wheelchair when she travels. However, her soon to be published autobiography makes no mention of her having Parkinson's Disease. NAVAJO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PREVALENCES OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Journal of Parkinson's Disease [2013] 3 (2) : 193-198 (P.H.Gordon, H.Zhao, D.Bartley, L.J.Sims, M.G.Begay, S. Pirio Richardson, J.Lewis, A.S.Rowland)
The Navajo Indians have been found to have one of the world's highest prevalences of Prakinson's Disease. The prevalence of Parkinson's Disease amongst the Navajo Indians is 336 per 100,000.
The Navajo Indians have been found to have one of the world's highest prevalences of Prakinson's Disease. The prevalence of Parkinson's Disease amongst the Navajo Indians is 336 per 100,000.
These figures are higher than for any U.S. state with Nebraska having the highest prevalence at 329 per 100,000. Amongst Navajo men it is even higher at 438 per 100,000. The Navajo are concentrated in Arizona and New Mexico in the USA. For more information go to Navajo. Native Americans, including American Indian and Alaska Native peoples as a whole have an even higher prevalence rate of 355 per 100,000. It is not known why the prevalence is so high amongst Native Americans.Researchers take step toward predicting Parkinson's
A study published today takes the first major steps toward predicting who will get Parkinson's disease and what the course of their progression will be.
A study published today takes the first major steps toward predicting who will get Parkinson's disease and what the course of their progression will be.
Now, there's no way of telling someone's vulnerability or path until after they've lived with the disease, which can include tremors, unsteady gait, depression and digestive problems.
"If we can't measure the disease's progression, we can't measure how to block it either," said Ole Isacson, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study.
The new study, published in the journal JAMA Neurology, examined the spinal fluid of 63 people newly diagnosed with Parkinson's and 39 healthy people without the disease. It found subtle differences between their levels of certain proteins known to be involved in the disease.
The study also found a different pattern of proteins in people with the most physically debilitating form of the disease, suggesting for the first time that there may be different types of the disease with different potential treatments.
"If there really is different biology that predicts different symptoms, you might actually start to be able to segment the population by treatment, which we haven't been able to do in Parkinson's besides using trial and error," said Todd Sherer, chief executive officer of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, a leading funder of Parkinson's research, which supported the study.
The study is the first significant finding from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, a major multiyear trial tracking the biology of Parkinson's over time. The study will eventually examine 400 patients and 200 healthy people as a control group.
"By following people systematically you hope to gain the greatest insight into the many nooks and crannies of what is a complex disease process," said Leslie Shaw, a study leader and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
"The hope that everyone has is that we'd be able to intervene earlier," Shaw said, which would be "better for helping those people have a better lifestyle."
As many as 1 million Americans and roughly 5 million others around the world are living with Parkinson's, the Fox Foundation estimates.
As with many age-related diseases, by the time Parkinson's becomes evident, it has been brewing in the body for years if not decades, said Sherer, a neuroscientist.
The study measured four proteins in the spinal fluid that are believed to gum up the brains of Parkinson's patients: alpha-synuclein and two types of tau, which can all clog the inside of the neurons, and beta-amyloid, which collects on the outside of cells.
"It's the management of the proteins that goes wrong" in Parkinson's, Isacson said. Those with the lowest levels of amyloid beta and tau were most likely to have a particularly challenging form of the disease — the first time different courses of the disease have been identifiable in the patients' biology.
By better understanding Parkinson's, Isacson said, we may also gain insights into normal aging. Parkinson's, he said, is a disease of the aging brain. "Eventually it affects everyone."
Later phases of the study will examine hundreds more patients to make sure these findings hold up, will look at people with risk factors to see if these protein indicators are present earlier, and will follow volunteers over time to see how the protein levels change.