I HAVE PARKINSON'S DISEASES AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THE CONTENTS OF UPDATED NEWS IS FOUND IN ONE PLACE. THAT IS WHY I BEGAN THIS BLOG.

I COPY NEWS ARTICLES PERTAINING TO RESEARCH, NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE, DEMENTIA, THE BRAIN, DEPRESSION AND PARKINSON'S WITH DYSTONIA. I ALSO POST ABOUT FUNDRAISING FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND EVENTS. I TRY TO BE UP-TO-DATE AS POSSIBLE.

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S CONTENTS. I AM JUST A COPIER OF INFORMATION SEARCHED ON THE COMPUTER. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE COPIES ARE JUST THAT, COPIES AND AT TIMES, I AM UNABLE TO ENLARGE THE WORDING OR KEEP IT UNIFORMED AS I WISH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND I AM A PERSON WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. I HAVE NO MEDICAL EDUCATION,

I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET. IT IS UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER TO READ IT AND TALK IT OVER WITH YOUR DOCTOR. I AM JUST THE COPIER OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE COMPUTER. I DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF FACT OR FICTION OF THE ARTICLE. I ALSO TRY TO PLACE A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH ARTICLE TO SHOW WHERE I RECEIVED THE INFORMATION SO THAT YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT THEIR SITE.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

New Study Looks at Gait Dysfunction and Falls in Parkinson’s

FoxFeed Blog

Posted by Rachel Dolhun, MD, October 13, 2014

New Study Looks at Gait Dysfunction and Falls in Parkinson’s

Gait instability and falls are among the most debilitating and frustrating symptoms for those with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Unfortunately, they are also often resistant to or only partially responsive to current therapies that work to increase the dopamine lacking in Parkinson’s. Researchers have therefore been considering the role other brain chemicals, including acetylcholine, play in ambulation issues.

Changes in the acetylcholine system have been implicated in Parkinson’s-associated cognitive dysfunction but might also be blamed for imbalance and falls. In a prior study funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, brain imaging showed loss of acetylcholine communication between a cluster of cells in the brainstem and other brain regions involved in coordinating movement and maintaining attention. In people with PD, this deficiency was correlated with increased falls and gait slowing. Another study also suggested that a drug that elevates acetylcholine levels may reduce falls.

To further explore the relationship between acetylcholine and movement problems, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded researchers at the University of Michigan an $11.5 million grant to launch a five-year study.

Scientists will focus their efforts on understanding the acetylcholine system in more detail, parsing out its effect on falls and assessing its responsiveness to a drug — Varenicline (Chantix) — that targets acetylcholine receptors. This medication is currently available by prescription to aid smoking cessation.

Investigators are hopeful that by delving into an area of Parkinson’s disease research not yet fully explored they will find more effective therapies specifically targeting gait dysfunction and falls.

Though the study is not recruiting yet, interested volunteers can register to be contacted via the University of Michigan Clinical Studies.