Tybee Island man makes cross-country trek for Parkinson's awareness

November 25, 2017   By David Klugh, Anchor

When you commit to an eye-catching stunt to raise money for medical research, it's important that you set your goals as realistically as possible. 

But this is not how Bill Bucklew sees things. 

Recently diagnosed with Parkinson's, the former triathlete has lost the ability to run. Yet he is still planning on putting a cross-country world record into the history books and $1,000,000 dollars in the Parkinson's research account.

He was one of 50-thousand diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease back in 2012. He's one of a million with the disease in the U.S. today.  In fact, there are few people left in the country who don't have some connection to the world's most misunderstood disease. 

To help build more understanding, Bucklew has literally given his living body to Parkinson's research. 5-years so far of poking, prodding, spinal taps, CAT and DAT scans that make the life he has left, much less comfortable.     

Now he is taking the next seven weeks and walking shore to shore from Tybee Island, Georgia to San Diego, California. That's 2,500 miles, coast to coast.

"There's no precedent," Bucklew said. "We don't know what's going to happen. I'm not super talented either so, we'll see."

He's not as coordinated either, not like he was when his was climbing mountains and completing triathlons.  Parkinson's has already taken a little movement from one foot. But he's still thinking about the disease.

"The only thing that's really believed to slow the progression is exercise," Bucklew said. 

And he'll get it. This trek has been done before by athletes not fighting a disease. The record is 61 days. Bucklew will attempt to do it in just 50.

"I've got to be back to work the second week of January," Bucklew said. "So I'm doing two marathons a day distance wise back to back every day. So, it's going to be really tough."

But Bucklew wants a cure; not so much for him, but for the 50,000 who are finding out they have it this year.

"What I'm trying to do is talk to everybody that I can that has Parkinson's across the US and highlight the diversity of impact it has," Bucklew said

Truth is, you don't really get diagnosed with Parkinson's. You're just told your deteriorating central nervous system makes the probability high. 

If Bucklew even gets close to completing this trek, the probability is high that he'll collect millions for the cause. And just as impactful, collect the attention of millions to a disease that is affecting more and more of us every year.

Bill Bucklew left Tybee Island on Friday morning and willpower walk his way toward San Diego for the next 49 days.  

To follow his journey, ask questions or offer a donation to the cause:

http://www.uncorkedadventures.org/events/

http://www.wtoc.com/story/36922665/tybee-island-man-makes-cross-country-trek-for-parkinsons-awareness

DAR recognizes Vietnam War veterans’ spouses

November 24, 2017- David Dore

Hylton Harvey, from the Leominster High School Marching Band, plays “Taps.” 

Gail Cunningham looks at her certificate. DAVID DORE PHOTO

Jane Mobley receives her pin. DAVID DORE PHOT0O

Mary Brooks, escorted by Elisabeth Johnsonerikson, 10, of Leominster. 

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Carol Jacques, escorted by Luz Gonzalez, 11, of Leominster.

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Elaine Legay with her certificate and pin, joined by Avonlea Jane Radue, 8, of Fitchburg.

For Elaine Perreault, organizing a Certificate of Honor Ceremony for the spouses of Vietnam War veterans had personal significance.

“I’ve taken it on personally because my husband served one tour in Vietnam, and I’m fortunate that he came back safely, in spite of the fact that he’s had a massive heart attack from Agent Orange,” Perreault said. “But nonetheless, I have him. And it is with this that I have taken this on, so that our chapter has done what it could to recognize veterans and their spouses throughout this central part of Massachusetts.”

Perreault chairs the Vietnam War 50th committee for the Capt. John Joslin Jr. Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She and other DAR members organized the Nov. 4 program at the Leominster Veterans’ Memorial Center that honored the spouses of about two dozen deceased veterans of the Vietnam War, which ran from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975.

“This commemoration is focused specifically on thanking and honoring the 9 million families of those who served during the Vietnam War period,” Joslin Chapter Regent Catherine Eska explained.

Each spouse got an escort from a Girl Scout from Troop 31250 in Leominster, a pin and a certificate that read, “On behalf of a grateful nation and the Department of Defense, we honor you and your spouse’s service and sacrifice in the name of freedom and democracy during the Vietnam War. Our nation is forever indebted to you and extends its deepest respect and admiration.”

One of the recipients was Betty Paradis, whose husband Bruce passed away in August 2016.

Betty Paradis also witnessed the effects of Agent Orange, a defoliant used during the Vietnam War that has caused cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease, according to NBC News. She said her husband was sick for a long time after he returned home from the war.

“I don’t think there are enough veterans that are aware of what’s happening to them right now, what Agent Orange did to their bodies,” Paradis said. “They’re just accepting it, and they don’t know enough to go to seek the help from the government, through the veteran clinics. I speak to a lot of people, and I tell them they have to enroll. They’ve got to get their appointments made, and then get checked out, because a lot of their symptoms are Agent Orange-related, and they don’t know it.”

http://www.leominsterchamp.com/articles/dar-recognizes-vietnam-war-veterans-spouses/

Parkinson's sufferer Mags Jarvis raises thousands by completing half marathon

24 November 2017     By Sarah Pitt 

Mags with daughter Sarah before setting off on the Great Escape Half Marathon.

A WOMAN who does not let suffering from Parkinson’s Disease stop her running has completed a half marathon across Dartmoor to raise more than £3,000 towards research into treating the disease.

Mags Jarvis, 62, a running coach with Okehampton Running Club, raised an impressive £3,032.50 for Parkinson’s UK after taking part in the Great Escape Half Marathon with her daughter Sarah.

Mags and Sarah took part in the off-road race across the moor on August 26.

‘The race was held on a warm and sunny day. Sarah finished fourth overall and was second lady lady in one hour and 46 minutes and I was second in my age group of ladies aged 60-64, finishing in the top half of the field in two hours and 37 minutes,’ said Mags. 

‘Since then sponsorship has reached a total of £3,032.50, which far surpassed my expectations. I am indebited to everybody locally who has been so supportive and so very generous.’

Mags, who lives in Northlew, first developed signs of Parkinson’s Disease six years ago. She takes medication to control the symptoms, which include joint stiffness and tremors, which allows her to train, but is well aware that there is no cure for the disease.

‘Obviously you slow down with age but with the medication I have actually improved my running times over the last two years,’ she said. ‘The medication only masks the symptoms, though. It is a degenerative illness and it goes in one direction only but there is a lot of research going on to find a cure. I wanted my fundraising to go towards research so that’s why I chose to run for Parkinson’s UK.

‘I chose this half marathon because I like running off road and trail running and it seemed a good challenge,’ she said. ‘I really enjoyed it. It was not overly hilly but the terrain was rough. The first bit wasn’t too bad, but the central bit of the race you had to find your route because it was only marked by little markers so it was easy to go wrong.

‘I loved the challenge, personally. Every single step has to go in the right place. On a road run you can just switch off but I don’t find that very fulfilling, and I think it is better to have a variety of movements for your legs rather than just one.’

Mags, who has been running for 36 years, said she was determined not to let her illness stop her lacing up her trainers. She coaches and trains each week with the Okehampton Running Club and also leads walkers in the Okehampton Walk and Talk group. She runs three or four times a week, which she says keeps her spirits up.

‘The other thing about Parkinson’s is that the chemical we are missing in our brains is dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical, and without that it is easy to feel a bit low, she said. ‘Running releases those chemicals.’

She said the scenery running on Dartmoor also gave her a boost. She did training runs on the moor with friends from Okehampton Running Club over the summer to prepare for the Great Escape Half Marathon. ‘The views up there are just exhilarating,’ she said. 

‘I know from talking to my neurologist that I’m probably pretty rare as a runner with Parkinson’s but I would love to encourage people to at least give some kind of exercise a go,’ she added. ‘A lot of people, when they are diagnosed, go into a negative mindset, but as we all know, the effects of exercise on the brain are very good.’

http://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=422270&headline=Parkinson%27s%20sufferer%20Mags%20Jarvis%20raises%20thousands%20by%20completing%20half%20marathon&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017

Imaging Technique Shows Progress of Alzheimer’s at Cell Level and Below

NEUROSCIENCE NEWS  NOVEMBER 24, 2017
Source: University of Twente.

Summary: Using Raman imaging technology, University of Twente researchers have been able to obtain clear images of brain tissue affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

The high-lighted squares (left) are the 30 by 30 micron areas in the middle and right images (upper: plaque, lower: tangle) NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to the researchers.

Using ‘Raman’ optical technology, scientists of the University of Twente, can now produce images of brain tissue that is affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The images also include the surrounding areas, already showing changes.

Alzheimer’s disease is associated with areas of high protein concentration in brain tissue: plaques and tangles. Raman imaging is now used to get sharp images of these affected areas. It is an attractive technique, because it shows more than the specific proteins involved. The presence of water and lipids, influenced by protein presence, can also be detected. Using this technique, the researchers have studied brain tissue of four brain donors, three of them with Alzheimer’s disease.

TRANSITION

The affected area can, in this way, be shown in a sharp and clear way. After image processing, even an area appears that is in transition between healthy and affected tissue: this may give an indication how the disease is spreading in the brain. Even in the brain tissue of the healthy person, a small area is detected with protein activity. This can be a first sign of a neurodegenerative disease.

Raman microscopy uses a laser beam for the detection of chemical substances. The energy of the reflected and scattered light gives an indication of the substances present in a sample. In each of the four brain samples, 4096 spectra were examined in this way. A major advantage of Raman is that the chemicals don’t need a pretreatment, it is ‘label free’. In chemical analysis, Raman has proven to be a powerful technique.

SMALLER THAN A CELL 

In this case, Raman was used to examine brain tissue outside the body, but it could even be used ‘in vivo’ for detecting specific areas during surgery. Compared to MRI, PET and CT imaging, Raman is able to detect areas, smaller than cells, with very high precision. In this way, it can be a very valuable extra technique. The Raman images now show protein activity at neural cell level, but the sensitivity is high enough for detecting areas that are even smaller – as is the case with the brain sample of the healthy person.

ABOUT THIS NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH ARTICLE

Cees Otto, of the Medical Cell Biophysics group of UT, published his work in Scientific Reports, together with colleagues from Leiden University and from Spain and Austria.

Source: Wiebe Van Der Veen – University of Twente

Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.

Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to the researchers.

Original Research: Full open access research for “Hyperspectral Raman imaging of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in brain tissue from Alzheimer’s disease patients” by Ralph Michael, Aufried Lenferink, Gijs F. J. M. Vrensen, Ellen Gelpi, Rafael I. Barraquer & Cees Otto in Scientific Reports. Published online November 15 2017 doi:10.1038/s41598-017-16002-3

Abstract

Hyperspectral Raman imaging of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in brain tissue from Alzheimer’s disease patients

Neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are crucial morphological criteria for the definite diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. We evaluated 12 unstained frontal cortex and hippocampus samples from 3 brain donors with Alzheimer’s disease and 1 control with hyperspectral Raman microscopy on samples of 30 × 30 µm. Data matrices of 64 × 64 pixels were used to quantify different tissue components including proteins, lipids, water and beta-sheets for imaging at 0.47 µm spatial resolution. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to visualize regions with high Raman spectral similarities. The Raman images of proteins, lipids, water and beta-sheets matched with classical brain morphology. Protein content was 2.0 times, the beta-sheet content 5.6 times and Raman broad-band autofluorescence was 2.4 times higher inside the plaques and tangles than in the surrounding tissue. The lipid content was practically equal inside and outside. Broad-band autofluorescence showed some correlation with protein content and a better correlation with beta-sheet content. Hyperspectral Raman imaging combined with hierarchical cluster analysis allows for the identification of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in unstained, label-free slices of human Alzheimer’s disease brain tissue. It permits simultaneous quantification and distinction of several tissue components such as proteins, lipids, water and beta-sheets.

“Hyperspectral Raman imaging of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in brain tissue from Alzheimer’s disease patients” by Ralph Michael, Aufried Lenferink, Gijs F. J. M. Vrensen, Ellen Gelpi, Rafael I. Barraquer & Cees Otto in Scientific Reports. Published online November 15 2017 doi:10.1038/s41598-017-16002-3

http://neurosciencenews.com/cellular-imaging-alzheimers-8027/

Silver Linings: Sharon Desatnik

November 24, 2017 / BECKY RASPE | SPECIAL SECTIONS STAFF REPORTER 

Sharon volunteers at many organizations, like the Kids in Need Resource Center in Cleveland, where she helps send school supplies to school districts in need. 

When Sharon Desatnik was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012, she suddenly found herself in need of care and didn’t have any choice but to retire from her job as a physical therapist at Menorah Park in Beachwood.

“This was after 30 years of being a caregiver, which I loved to do,” Desatnik said. “After the forced retirement, I was lost. Nothing I looked for suited me. And then one day, someone asked me to volunteer for a day at a Ronald McDonald House, and it was like a lightbulb went off. I used to volunteer a lot when I was younger, and that experience made me remember that I really loved volunteering.”

CJN: Where do you volunteer?

Desatnik: Because I am on disability, I am limited where I can volunteer. I started with the Ronald McDonald House, but now I volunteer at the Kids in Need Resource Center downtown, and it’s a program that supplies school supplies to districts that have over 65 percent of children on a subsidized lunch program.

Through my temple, I have done quite a bit. I work with my sisterhood. I also cook meals for the synagogue for people who are sitting Shiva, have had a baby or cannot cook. I also host at the temple. 

I also go to InMotion, which is a Parkinson’s wellness center. I go there as a client, but I also volunteer in the spin class, where I set up people on the bikes and teach them how to use them. I also make calls to people who have hit hard times and try to keep in touch with them there, too. I started helping people on the bikes because I know how to do it. I also do some coaching in the older classes. I deliver books to the Shaker (Heights) library, too. 

The point for me was that I was really lost when I retired, as I worked 55 hours a week. Volunteering has really become a ‘silver lining’ for me, it saved me. I went from a caregiver to needing care, and it inspired me to give back.

CJN: Why do you volunteer at the Kids in Need Resource Center?

Desatnik: I went to the Federation’s (Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s) volunteer morning and they had a volunteer open house with lots of different organizations. I wanted to find something to do because my walking is impaired. I wanted to find something I could do on a daily basis that is really enjoyable. There was really a wealth of things to do and (the Kids in Need Resource Center) just fell into my lap.

CJN: How did your diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease inspire you to volunteer within that community?

Desatnik: So many people help me and give me support – it has been a life-changing diagnosis. It ended my career and changed my relationship with my grandchild. But it has also given me the opportunity to give back. I was always caring for people and without helping others, I felt very diminished. I was lost and the first year of my diagnosis was just very hard. Volunteering in that community has really filled that need to help people. And in doing so, I help myself.

CJN: How has volunteering changed you and when did you start?

Desatnik: It’s the right thing to do and I have always done it. As I started working more and more, I was doing most of my giving back through work. Volunteering now just gives me an opportunity to start again.

My parents had us get involved in BBG (B’nai B’rith Girls) and our temple’s groups. When I came back to Cleveland from school, I didn’t know anyone. Volunteering has also helped me meet a number of friends, even now. It’s always been a push from my parents, and my mom was always involved in Jewish organizations and my dad would give blood. They wanted to give back in any way they could, and that just inspired me from a young age. 

Desatnik said as the years go on, she’d love to do as much as she can within her physical limitations. 

“I might start going to the resource  center more and I will continue to volunteer through my synagogue,” she said. “I need to give back, especially if I continue to accept more help. I am only a whole person when I give back.”

https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/features/silver_linings/silver-linings-sharon-desatnik/article_3a56cda2-ce1a-11e7-a8c6-1f81f3cf11ab.html

New WVU Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute director brings plans for new research, clinical trials

By Brittany Murray in News | November 24, 2017

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU’s newest director of the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute is bringing with him new tools and clinical trials to target the state’s opioid epidemic.

Dr. Ali Rezai outlined the newest advances in fighting neurological diseases, including opioid addiction, in a presentation during WVU’s third annual Academic Media Day on Nov. 13 — only 10 days after taking his position.

“There’s been tremendous advances in brain imaging and how we can visualize brain disorders,” Rezai said. “We’re able to understand the science of addiction even better than before.”

Prior to coming to WVU, Rezai served as director of Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center’s Neurological Institute, where he was involved in pioneering the use of brain pacemakers for treating Parkinson’s disease, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Now at WVU’s Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, he hopes to continue that research to use the technology to treat addiction. Some of the developments could be rolling out as early as next year, unlike anything West Virginians have had access to before.

“There have been brain implants for alcohol in Europe, but we’re going to be starting a new study looking at brain implants for addiction,” Rezai said. “There’s a lot of work being done with external modulation with magnets and external electrical stimulations for addictions.”

Rezai said the goal would be to use ultrasound-based neuromodulation for addictions and develop a protocol for brain implant for severe addictions.

“Implants aren’t for the initial phase of addiction,” he said. “These are for patients who have had all the therapies done and have failed and are very disabled.”

In order to meet these goals, WVU will be partnering with many other institutions and companies to explore other technology, such as virtual reality technology, micropellet technology, magnetic stimulation and electrical stimulation technology.

“So we’ll become a rapid research and development kind of effort, so we can help patients very quickly,” Rezai said. “That’s our goal — having a very quick way of helping those afflicted with neurological conditions from chronic pain, to addictions, to Alzheimer’s, to autism, to stroke and many others.”

Micropellets, which are non-steroid, non-opioid medications, would be inserted into the body post-surgery as a pain relief to block addiction at the root before it even begins.

“First dose (of an opioid) you take, your brain changes, the chemistry of your brain changes, so this can lead to addictive behavior over time. Not everybody becomes addicted, but a certain example of the population can get addicted,” Rezai said. “So the goal is to not give the Oxycodone and narcotics or these addictive medications and instead give them local treatment, such as this micropellett that delivers the medication locally without the need to take a pill that gets systemically, that gets absorbed and goes to your brain and can make you more addicted.”

For addictions milder than those needing implants, research is also looking at external, wearable technology to track the sensors in the brain that cause addiction.

“When you’re craving or you’re seeking medications or drugs, the body’s physiology is off and is making you seek the drugs,” Rezai said. “The part of the brain that controls addictions, sends signals to the rest of the body in terms of anxiety, in terms of changes in blood vessels, in terms of changes of your heart rate varibility. There’s a number of elements or signals that go from the brain to the rest of the body.”

The goal, Rezai said, would be to detect those signals before a patient even takes the drug occurs and correlate those signals to the behavior.

“The more we can do the correlation of the signals to behavior, the more our predictive machine learning will allow us to predict the signal that will result in that behavior,” he said. “This way we are detecting it before the behavior occurs.”

While more research on that is needed, Rezai believes it’s a very important area of treating addictive behavior.

“It’s simple sensors that you wear, so they’re not obstructive with your daily life, and they’re passively monitoring your body’s physiology,” he said. “Wearable sensor technology can be used to quantify and measure the physiology of the body linked to addiction.”

Patients for these studies at WVU’s Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute will largely be West Virginians afflicted and impacted by addiction conditions.

“We’ve got to help the population of West Virginia, but also Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and across the country. It’s a major effort, but our primary goal is to help the patients and the population of West Virginia with this new effort,” Rezai said. “Our goal is regional, not just local but regional and national as well because a lot of the technology that we’re going to develop here will have impacts on patients across the country, so it’s more of a global vision for the Neuroscience Institute here.”

http://wvmetronews.com/2017/11/24/new-wvu-rockefeller-neurosciences-institute-director-brings-plans-for-new-research-clinical-trials/

Addressing the problem of Parkinson's diseases

November 24, 2017

It is a global fact that Parkinson's diseases often starts with a tremor in one hand; in fact, some patients show other symptoms like slow movement, stiffness as well as loss of balance. This shows that it is unlike any other disease and can erect difficulty for patients. This type of disorder is characterised by the some sort of disturbance in the nervous system that affects movement of patients. According to medical terms, it develops slowly and in fact, hidden and cannot be noticed. However, it must be noted that patients always feel a tremor, which is widespread sign of Parkinson's disease. 

People in their earlier stages of Parkinson's disease

According to some medical reports, people in their earlier stages of Parkinson's disease only face consistent stiffness as well as tremors and often exhibit little or you say no expressions at all. Doctors often recognise such disease by recognising soft speech, which is quite difficult to spot. However, Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as the condition progresses. 

According to some experts, the frequency of tremors or shaking

According to some experts, the frequency of tremors or shaking is highly variable, which makes it quite difficult to detect in patients. And the symptoms vary from patient to patient. But fortunately, due to the advent of medical technology doctors are able to use a wide range of tremor evaluation techniques. Many experts use their own approaches and tricks to identify the issue. 

Parkinson's disease can minimise the overall ability

Here, it must be noted that Parkinson's disease can minimise the overall ability of a person to move and slow the movement. It makes the task quite difficult as well as time-consuming. People also find it difficult to walk because of continuous shaking of legs and hands. Also, people often drag their feet during walking. 

Since Parkinson's disease can't be cured

Since Parkinson's disease can't be cured, only certain types of medications may reportedly improve the signs and symptoms. In some cases, medical experts suggest surgery to manage certain areas of brain. 

Symptoms of the disease

Seeing the overall symptoms of the disease, many doctors suggest certain lifestyle changes, such as aerobic exercise. In fact, some types of physical therapy are also recommended to manage the problem. Such therapies are quite significant. Today, doctors also suggest taking help of a speech-language pathologist in order to enhance speech related problems. Believe it or not, it helps patients to improve their lifestyle. 

Parkinson's disease may disturb

As it is a well-established fact that Parkinson's disease may disturb the sense of balance, doctors recommend regular exercising because it can efficiently improve the overall muscle strength, as well as flexibility. In fact, it is significant to minimise anxiety in patients. So, don’t wait, just talk to your doctors regarding your problem...

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/addressing-the-problem-of-parkinsons-diseases

MR. BIG's BILLY SHEEHAN Says PAT TORPEY Has 'Demonstrated Incredible Courage' During Battle With Parkinson's Disease

November 23, 2017

Italy's Rock Rebel magazine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan of MR. BIG. You can watch the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). 

On the difference between touring with MR. BIG versus their solo projects and side bands such as THE WINERY DOGS:

Paul: "MR. BIG, there's more people in the audience, which is nice. It's MR. BIG music; we all sing together, which is great. There's a lot of harmony vocals in addition to the bass and guitar wildness. And, for me, it pushes me to be more intense. There's sort of an energy level requirement that MR. BIG has that if I was just on my own getting out of bed in the morning at my house, I might not ever get to that energy during the day on my own. But with MR. BIG, it brings me up to a higher energy level than I ever would on my own. That's nice to be pushed and push myself that much." 

Billy: "Similarly, it's a pretty intense show. It seems sometimes it's just a regular rock or pop song, but we're doing a lot and singing a lot and all kinds of things are going on. MR. BIG has been, for all of us, our most successful band for all of us, all of us in the band. We've played all over the world as I already mentioned and it's incredible to play. We play in South America and they sing the guitar solos. They sing along with the guitar solos, so the fact that the fans are so familiar with what we do and they sing along, we're really locked together with the audience in a really incredible way, which means a lot to us. We have dear friends and wonderful people all over the world, no matter where we play, somebody's there and they got a record or a MR. BIG shirt, even if they got to make it themselves, they got a MR. BIG shirt. It's quite a wonderful thing. We both do a lot of things outside of MR. BIG, but I would dare to say that not necessarily to speak for Paul, Pat [Torpey, drums], Eric [Martin, vocals] or [fill-in drummer] Matt [Starr], but MR. BIG is a very special thing for all of us." 

On Torpey, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, joining MR. BIG on their current European tour and whether the band considers themselves "one big family": 

Billy: "You could say that, yeah, absolutely. Pat, unfortunately, ran into a bad situation and as a band, we wanted to make sure that he knew that we were with him 100 percent. It's a tough thing for everybody, but Pat has demonstrated incredible courage and strength. He's inspiring to so many people all over the world. I get e-mails from people every day who maybe don't have the same affliction, but have something similar and Pat inspires them to get out of bed and get going and push back a little bit more. I think that's a wonderful thing in itself. The American military, the Navy Seals and their motto is 'No Man Left Behind.' So for the beginning of this, we adopted their motto to a rock band and [it was] 'No Man Left Behind'. A lot of bands are out there now and they don't have all the original members. Sad, sometimes you can't. People pass on and situations, but we really want it to be Paul, Eric, myself and Pat. Matt is incredible at helping out. I have to mention how awesome he is and how wonderful a job he's done to do Pat's parts the way they should be done. Really wonderful." 

On whether MR. BIG ever writes material they know they wouldn't be able to replicate live:

Billy: "I think everything we do is designed to be performed live. I think that's where some bands get into trouble. They get into the studio to do all of this fancy stuff, but they can't do it live. So they get live and it's not that good. I've seen that happen with several very famous bands, too. When we designed this band way back when we first began rehearsing at Alleyway Studios and when we were in there rehearsing and we were just playing live and when we put this band together, we kept 'live' in mind completely. When I heard Eric sing, I thought, 'That guy's got a great voice.' I heard some live things of him, he's amazing. Paul, of course, I had seen him for several years before we started MR. BIG and he just killed live. Pat Torpey, I saw him perform live, just great. I really wanted to build the band as a live band so it would be 'real.' A lot of bands, they faked a lot of stuff. They can do it in the studio, they can't really do it quite live. We really wanted to make that connection true and honest. I think it makes a big difference to the fans. Sometimes when we sing, we break in the middle of 'Green-Tinted [Sixties Mind]', we just sing the middle harmony part with no music. 'Is that recorded?' Sometimes we go live, 'There aren't any tracks playing!' It's not fake. We keep that in mind. Then, it's a challenge when we do something that's difficult, we got to perform it live. We have to figure out a way to do it. It's a good challenge." 

MR. BIG's ninth studio album, "Defying Gravity", was released on July 7 via Frontiers Music Srl. The effort is available at traditional retail and all digital service providers, as is a deluxe-edition version with CD and bonus DVD that features music videos and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album.

https://youtu.be/eGW3pdJ_ra0

https://youtu.be/elkYpuUeB3w

https://youtu.be/2C0hRtNTsfk

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mr-bigs-billy-sheehan-says-pat-torpey-has-demonstrated-incredible-courage-and-strength-during-battle-with-parkinsons-disease/

Changes in diet may improve life expectancy in Parkinson's patients

November 24, 2017

New research from the University of Aberdeen shows that weight loss in people with Parkinson's disease leads to decreased life expectancy, increased risk of dementia and more dependency on care.

The team, led by Dr Angus Macleod propose that closer monitoring for weight loss in Parkinson's patients and interventions in those who lose weight, such as a high calorie diet, may improve life expectancy, reduce dementia and reduce dependence on carers.

The study, published in Neurology, followed 275 people with Parkinson's disease and parkinsonian disorders for up to ten years, monitored patients' weight and investigated associations between weight loss and outcomes of the disease.   The main findings showed that weight loss is common in Parkinson's disease and in the parkinsonian disorders and can occur in the early stages of the disease.  Further analysis showed that this early weight loss is associated with higher risk of becoming dependent (i.e. needing help with activities of daily living), of developing dementia, and of dying.

Although other studies have identified weight loss as a common problem in Parkinson's disease, this is the first to identify the link between weight loss and death, dementia and dependence on carers.

Dr Angus MacLeod who led the study explained: "Weight loss is a common problem in Parkinson's but it wasn't clear before we did this how common it was, mainly because of biases in previous studies, or what the consequences were of weight loss. Our hypothesis was that people who are losing weight were going to have adverse outcomes. 

"Our finding that those who lose weight have poorer outcomes is important because reversing weight loss may therefore improve outcomes. Therefore, it is vital that further research investigate whether e.g. high calorie diets will improve outcomes in people with Parkinson's who lose weight.

The study was partially funded by Parkinson's UK. Professor David Dexter, Deputy Director of Research at Parkinson's UK added: "While other studies have demonstrated that weight loss is common in Parkinson's, this is the first to consider the impact this symptom may have.

"It has yet to be determined whether this quicker progression can be corrected by supplementation with a high calorie diet, however this could be a key potential development."

Journal reference: Neurology

Provided by: University of Aberdeen

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-11-diet-life-parkinson-patients.html

LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2018 Tickets On Sale Saturday

By BWW News Desk - Nov. 22, 2017 

With a goal of topping last year's record-breaking $550,000 raised in its ongoing battle against Parkinson's disease, LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2018, presented by the Asbury Park Press, the 18th anniversary edition of the anchor event for the world-renowned Light of Day Foundation, will bring over 150 music acts to 30 venues over 10 days in two New Jersey cities, New York City, and Philadelphia, in January, following a holiday season European tour.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Nov. 25 at NOON EST for the Asbury Park portion of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2018, where the bulk of the action will occur, being held Jan. 5-15, 2018 at such fabled rock venues as the Paramount Theater, the Stone Pony, the Saint, the Wonder Bar, House of Independents and the Asbury Hotel, among others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets. A wide variety of combination ticket packages - as well as single tickets to each show - will be available.

Albert Lee and Band, Greg Kihn, Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers, Willie Nile and Band, Garland Jeffreys, James Maddock and Band, Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan, Billy Hector Band, Kashmir: The Live Led Zeppelin Show, Bobby Bandiera and his popular Tom Petty tribute, Jeffrey Gaines, Christine Martucci, Bruce Tunkel, the Slyders, Sandy Mack Allstars, Kyle Ward, Billy Hector Band, Colossal Street Jam, Tara Tote, and the Billy Walton Band are among the first wave of acts to be announced for LIGHT OF DAY 2018. More acts will be announced as the festival approaches.

Concert goers can purchase tickets for individual shows, on an a la carte basis, including BOB'S BIRTHDAY BASH, at the Paramount Theater, scheduled for Jan. 13, 2018. Tickets for Bob's Birthday Bash range from $43 to $209.50, and tickets for the other club shows range from Free to $35. Concert goers can purchase a LIGHT OF DAY COMBO TICKET PACKAGE to gain admission to all Asbury Park events (Approximately 50 EVENTS) at five different levels, starting at $159.50. The packages GUARANTEE a reserved seat for BOB'S BIRTHDAY BASH at the Paramount Theatre, along with admission to all shows, capacity permitting, first-come, first-served basis. Ticket prices DO NOT include any fees and/or service/convenience charges.

The complete festival schedule and array of ticket packages are below:

Ticket packages include (all seat descriptions are approximate):

Platinum "All Access" Combo package: $325 - "very best" orchestra seats, including pit seats and first 10 rows at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes a commemorative Light of Day New Jersey 2018 VIP laminate; a Light of Day New Jersey 2018 T-shirt, and a L'Oreal gift bag worth more than $200, plus admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events.

Platinum "Bob's Birthday Bash" Paramount Only Ticket: $209.50 - same as Platinum "All Access" Combo package except it DOES NOT INCLUDE admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events.

Gold combo package: $249.50 - includes great front and mid-orchestra in rows 11 to 16 and the loge, and closer seats on the left and right sides at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes a commemorative Light of Day 2018 laminate, plus admission to all Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events.

Gold "Bob's Birthday Bash" Paramount Only Ticket: $159.50 - same as Gold "All Access" Combo package except it DOES NOT INCLUDE admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events.

Silver combo package: $199.50 - includes great mid- and rear orchestra and lower side orchestra seats at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes admission to all Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events. 

Silver "Bob's Birthday Bash" Paramount Only Ticket: $119.50 - same as Silver "All Access" Combo package except it DOES NOT INCLUDE admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events.

Bronze combo package: $159.50 - includes rear orchestra and balcony seats at the Paramount, plus admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events. The best seats for the dollar!

Bronze "Bob's Birthday Bash" Paramount Only Ticket: $89.50 - same as Silver "All Access" Combo package except it DOES NOT INCLUDE admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park 2018 events.

Super Savers - $53 and $43 - Rear upper balcony seating for "Bob's Birthday Bash" only. 

***Ticket prices do not reflect Ticketmaster and venue service/facility/convenience charges.

****Please note: All combo tickets guarantee your seat at the Main Event. However, admission to all other Light of Day Asbury Park events is subject to capacity restrictions at their respective venue.

Individual event ticket prices:

Friday, JAN 5

LOD "NORTH JERSEY" Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, 7pm, $TBA

Saturday, JAN 6

LOD "Philadelphia," The World Cafe, Upstairs, Philadelphia, Pa., 7pm, $TBA

Sunday, JAN 7

LOD "COVER ME: BEST OF THE JERSEY BAR BANDS", Stone Pony, All Ages, 1pm, $TBA

Monday, JAN 8

LOD "HAPPY MONDAYS", Wonder Bar, Mon., 21+, $TBA

Wednesday, JAN 10

LOD "NYC", The Cutting Room, 18+, 7pm, $75 VIP Reserved Seating, $45 GA Reserved Seating, $25 GA Standing

Thursday, JAN 11

LOD "FIRST NOTE", The Saint, Thurs.,18+, 6:30pm, $8adv/$12dos

LOD "SANDY MACK's WONDER JAM", Wonder Bar, Thurs.,21+, 7pm, $12

LOD "WINTERFEST 2018 KICK-OFF", House Of Independents, Thurs.,18+, 7pm, $20adv/$25dos

LOD "MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY'S BLUE HAWK RECORDS PRESENTS", Langosta Lounge, Thurs., All-Ages, 7pm, FREE ADMISSION

Friday, JAN 12

LOD "ASBURY ANGELS INDUCTION", Stone Pony, Fri., All Ages, 6:30pm, $25adv/$30dos

LOD TBA, House Of Independents, Fri.,18+, 7pm, $TBA

LOD "ROCK HEAVY", The Saint, Fri.,18+, 8pm, $8adv/$12dos

LOD "OPEN MIC", Wonder Bar, Fri., 21+, 6pm, $12

LOD TBA, McLoone's Supper Club, Fri., All Ages, Doors/Dinner 6pm/ Show 8pm, $TBA

LOD "LATE NIGHT FRIDAY" Langosta Lounge, l, Friday, 21+, 9pm, FREE ADMISSION

LOD "TBA" Paramount Theater, Fri., All Ages, 8pm, $TBA

Saturday, JAN 13

LOD "BOB'S BIRTHDAY BASH", Paramount Theater, Sat, All Ages, 6pm, $43-$205

LOD "ROCK", The Saint, Sat., 18+, 7:30pm, $8adv/ $12dos

LOD TBA, McLoone's Supper Club, Sat., All Ages, Noon, $TBA

LOD TBA, McLoone's Supper Club, Sat., 18+, 7pm, $TBA

LOD "LATE NIGHT SATURDAY", Langosta Lounge, Sat., Jan. 17, 21+, 10pm, FREE ADMISSION

LOD "TBA", House Of Independents, Sat., 18+, 8pm, $TBA

LOD "ASBURY BLUES", Wonder Bar, Sat., All Ages, Noon, $12/$15

LOD "FULL TILT BOOGIE BASH", Wonder Bar, Sat., 21+, 7pm, $12/$15

LOD "DOWNTOWN - ASBURY UNDERGROUND," curated by Pat Schiavino and Asbury Underground. Noon - 7PM Over 20 venues! FREE ADMISSION

Sunday, JAN 14

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL", Watermark, Sun., All Ages, Noon, $15

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL", Langosta Lounge, Sun., All Ages, 3pm, $15

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL", McLoone's Supper Club, Sun., All Ages, 6pm, $20

LOD "KID'S ROCK", Stone Pony, Sun., All Ages, Noon, $15

LOD "MUSICIANS ON A MISSION", The Saint, Sun., 18+, Noon, $10

LOD "LAST NOTE", The Saint, Sun., 18+, 7:30pm, $8adv/$12dos

Monday, JAN 15

LOD "GOODBYE BRUNCH," Toast, Mon., All Ages, 10:30a-1:30p.

Light of Day WinterFest has gained international notoriety for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 11 of the previous 17 years. In his recent autobiography, Born to Run, which topped the New York Times Best Sellers List as well as in several countries worldwide, Springsteen revealed that his father suffered from Parkinson's Disease.

Last year's event raised $555,000 - a record amount - to combat Parkinson's disease, topping the previous year's record of $525,000, with the 17-year total approaching $4.5 million.

Aside from Springsteen, previous LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST performers have included Michael J. Fox, John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls), Darlene Love, Ed Kowalczyk (Live), Jakob Dylan, Suzanne Vega, Max Weinberg (E Street Band), Jake Clemons (E Street Band), Lucinda Williams, Mike Peters (The Alarm, Big Country), David Bryan of Bon Jovi, David Bromberg, Alejandro Escovedo, Pete Yorn, The Smithereens, Peter Asher, Chuck Prophet, Joey Molland (Badfinger), Peter Himmelman, Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny, LaBamba's Big Band, John Eddie. Michael J. Fox starred with Joan Jett in the 1987 film titled after the Springsteen song (and live concert favorite) of the same name, which Fox and Jett sang in the movie.

LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2018 also will include shows in New York City (Jan. 10 @ The Cutting Room), North Jersey (Jan. 5 in Montclair), and Philadelphia (Jan. 6, @ World Café Live). They are the culmination of a worldwide series of shows that began as a one-day event in Asbury Park and grew in the U.S. to a 10-day festival in the New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia metropolitan area.

On the radio side, longtime LOD concert host Tom Cunningham will host his Sunday morning "Bruce Brunch" program on 105.7 "The Hawk," live from the Anchor's Bend restaurant, in the Convention Hall/Paramount Theatre complex, with very special guests, on Jan. 15, starting at 9 a.m.

These are heady times indeed for the Light of Day Foundation. In October, Gold's Gym in Howell, NJ, became the second location for BOXING FOR BOB Classes, FREE to Parkinson's disease patients, with participation fully funded by the Light of Day Foundation. The full-body, non-contact boxing therapy workout ? which also utilizes strength training, flexibility and balance drills - continues at its original location, Gladiator's Gym in Forked River, NJ, as well. Combined, the two locations are serving over 100 Parkinson's patients with thrice weekly instruction.

In 2016, the Foundation was able to proudly establish a $150,000 grant to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, as well as host an incredibly successful matching grant drive with Cure PSP which raised an additional $200,000. CurePSP is the foremost organization working toward curing and preventing Parkinson's related diseases such as CBD and PSP.

More significantly, Light of Day has expanded into an internationally recognized tour, through a true grassroots effort of musicians, music fans and benefactors. Light of Day shows now take place around the world on three continents, this year including the 11th annual European tour - a 16-day holiday run in 9 countries (Nov. 24-Dec. 11). And for the fourth consecutive year, a Light of Day event was held over the summer in Australia. The two-day festival always takes place in the Australian city of Ocean Grove, Victoria, a sister city to Asbury Park neighbor Ocean Grove, NJ. Portions of proceeds from all shows are donated to local Parkinson's organizations.

Light of Day also fields a team in the annual Parkinson's Unity Walk in New York's Central Park. Over the years the Light of Day team has raised over $275,000.

ABOUT THE LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION

The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson's disease and related neuro-degenerative diseases, specifically Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), within our lifetime. The Foundation's mission is to fund research into possible cures, improved treatments and support for patients who suffer from those diseases, their families and their caregivers to help improve their quality of life. Gifts to the Light of Day Foundation, Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent of the Internal Revenue Code. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc. is designated by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc.'s Federal ID # is 20-1560386. Light of Day - the concerts and the organization - grew from a birthday party and fund-raiser held in 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/LIGHT-OF-DAY-WINTERFEST-2018-Tickets-On-Sale-Saturday-20171122

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