What role do brain lipids play in Parkinson's disease?

DECEMBER 5, 2018        By Maria Cohut

New research looks to brain lipids to identify a new therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease.

Researchers have identified a new therapeutic target to disrupt the formation of toxic plaques in the brain.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects about half a million people in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.

One of the main characteristics of this condition is the buildup of alpha-synuclein, a type of protein that forms into toxic plaques, in the brain.

Earlier this year, a study that featured in the journal Neurobiology of Agingsuggested that there may be a link between the levels of certain brain lipids, or fat molecules, and the development of Parkinson's disease.

Now, a team of specialists from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both of which are in Boston, MA, is further investigating the links between brain lipids and neurodegeneration.

"People have been aware for many years of some connection between Parkinson's disease and the brain's lipids," says the new study's lead author Saranna Fanning, Ph.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital.

In the current study, however, the investigators show that there is a connection between fatty acids present in the brain and the buildup of alpha-synuclein.

"Through this collaborative effort, beginning with yeast models in the Lindquist lab and in the Selkoe and Dettmer labs leveraging rat cortical neurons and human cortical neurons, we've identified a pathway and a therapeutic target that no one has pursued before," says Fanning.

The researchers report their findings in a study paper that appears in the journal Molecular Cell.

Identifying a new therapeutic target

The researchers worked with lipids and fatty acids in various models, from yeast cultures to human cells, to see how they might interact with alpha-synuclein.

Fanning and colleagues first conducted unbiased lipidomic profiling, a process that involves assessing lipids and fatty acid changes, in yeast that they had engineered to produce the alpha-synuclein protein.

At this stage, the researchers found that the alpha-synuclein-expressing yeast showed an increase in a component of the neutral lipids pathway, namely oleic acid, a fatty acid.

The team was able to replicate this observation in both rodent and human neuronal models, including cell lines that they derived from people with Parkinson's disease.

"It was fascinating to see how excess [alpha-synuclein protein] had such consistent effects on the neutral lipid pathway across model organisms, from simple baker's yeast and cultured rodent neurons to cells derived from PD patients that carry extra copies of [alpha-synuclein] in their genome."

Co-senior author Ulf Dettmer

"All our models clearly pointed at oleic acid as a mediator of [alpha-synuclein] toxicity," Dettmer adds.

Following these findings, the researchers also looked for markers of neurotoxicity in the models that they worked with. Their aim was to find a means of targeting toxic elements so as to potentially prevent the development of Parkinson's disease.

An enzyme called stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD) plays a key role in the production of oleic acid, among other fatty acids. Blocking this enzyme, the team believed, might ultimately help protect against mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

The investigators note that researchers know of and use many SCD inhibitors, although these do not yet have clearance for clinical use outside of research laboratories.

They hope that, if future studies provide further evidence to support fatty acids as a therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease, such inhibitors may eventually become the focus of clinical trials.

"The identification of SCD as an enzyme which contributes to [alpha]-synuclein-mediated lipid changes and neurotoxicity presents a unique opportunity for small-molecule therapies to inhibit the enzyme in models of [Parkinson's disease] and, ultimately, in human diseases," notes co-senior author Dennis Selkoe.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323900.php

Broken Crayons Are Not Useless

 DECEMBER 5, 2018  BY "SHERRI WOODBRIDGE"

My son and his family were preparing to move. Was I willing to let them go? Yes. Did I want them to go? No. But that was my selfish desire. I have realized that the harder I try to hold on to what I want, the less I allow God to intervene, not just for my good, but for my best. In the process, I have learned not to hold on. And in some instances, I actually do that. In other instances, though, it can be very hard, especially for a fixer. And I am a big fixer.

I want everyone to be happy. Smiling. Content. But that’s not reality. The reality is that it is not up to me to fix everything; it’s not up to me to make everyone happy. 

I realized yesterday that I tend to coddle people. I also realize the world’s happiness has not been made my burden. I am accountable only for myself in how I react to the circumstances that this world throws at me, such as how I will deal with having Parkinson’s disease, what the financial burden will be, and choices others around me will need to make regarding my health. On and on my list goes.

But how I choose to deal with what life throws at me is what matters. Will I choose to smile, knowing that my God is bigger than all of this? Or will I whimper and whine?

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I want to be strong in every way. I want to support others. Sometimes we need to give “tough” support, the kind that says, “Enough! Get up, live your best, and be thankful that God has given you another day!”

Whether it’s another day walking slow and stiff or another day with the ability to weed my flowers without pain, I want to give it my best.

Sometimes we feel like a broken crayon. No longer valuable. No longer pretty. But broken crayons are still usable and make beautiful colors. We just need to let go of what is keeping us down and give it to God. Let us be usable, like a broken crayon that God is using to complete a beautiful work of art in our broken lives.

***

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/12/05/parkinsons-broken-crayon-isnt-bad/

Taste, Smell Impairments May Help Identify People at Risk for Parkinson’s, Study Suggests

DECEMBER 5, 2018 BY ALICE MELÃO

Impaired sense of smell or taste can raise a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease 2.5 times, a study suggests.

The study, “Incidence of Parkinson’s disease in a large patient cohort with idiopathic smell and taste loss,” was published in the Journal of Neurology.

Currently, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed mainly on the assessment of patients’ motor symptoms and their severity. However, evaluation scales can be subjective and might fail to detect small changes.

Non-motor symptoms have gained increased attention because of their potential to anticipate Parkinson’s-related motor manifestations. Approximately 90% of Parkinson’s patients have altered smell sensitivity during the disease’s initial and moderate stages, thought to be partly because of brain connectivity changes.

To explore the incidence and diagnostic potential of smell and taste disorders in Parkinson’s disease, researchers reviewed the clinical records of 474 people who had been diagnosed with smell and taste loss of unknown cause.

Patients diagnosed and followed over a period of 15 years at the Smell and Taste Clinic in Dresden, Germany, were interviewed by phone using a standardized questionnaire to record their condition and clinical history.

At the time of the first assessment at the clinic, patients had already experienced reduced or lost  odor and taste sensitivity for a mean period of 4.6 years. Onset of olfactory (smell) disturbances was in general noticed at a mean age of 57.9 years; gustatory (taste) disorders, 59.3 years.

Of the 474 participants, 14.3% had a normal sense of smell, 40.5% had reduced, and 45.1% had complete loss of smell. Regarding taste, 90.1% of the participants had normal sensation, 9.5% had reduced, and 0.4% had complete loss of taste.

Collectively, 242 people were diagnosed with a qualitative olfactory or gustatory disorder, of whom 21.1% had parosmia (distortions of the sense of smell), 32.9% had phantosmia(olfactory hallucinations), and 7.6% had parageusia (distortions of the sense of taste).

Participants’ clinical reports revealed that 45 (9.5%) had developed Parkinson’s disease after the initial idiopathic smell and/or taste loss diagnosis.

Six of the Parkinson’s patients had combined olfactory and gustatory disorders at the time of diagnosis, whereas 38 had pure olfactory disorders and one patient had a pure gustatory disorder.

The frequency of taste disorders was similar between those with and without Parkinson’s. In contrast, Parkinson’s patients had a higher prevalence of initial complete loss of smell compared to those without the disease.

The team did not find a significant association between taste or smell loss and the development of the disease. Still, patients who developed Parkinson’s reported a decrease in olfactory and gustatory function more frequently than non-Parkinson’s patients.

Researchers found that “patients with a decrease in olfactory or gustatory function developed Parkinson’s with a significantly higher rate compared to patients with a stable smell or taste function.” Overall, impaired smell or taste sense increased the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease 2.47 times.

“Risk stratification might be considerably improved by correct diagnostic allocation of smell and taste loss, the use of both olfactory and gustatory testing, and subsequent long-term monitoring of these functions,” researchers said.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/12/05/taste-smell-impairments-linked-to-higher-risk-parkinsons-study-suggests/

Focused-ultrasound Lesion Surgery Can Treat Tremors and Improve Life Quality, Study Says

DECEMBER 5, 2018 BY JOSE MARQUES LOPES, PHD IN NEWS.

Treating tremor in Parkinson’s patients using non-invasive and focused-ultrasound lesion surgery is associated with better quality of life when compared to deep brain stimulation, although both approaches are equally effective in easing this disease symptom, a review study reports.

The study, “Outcomes in Lesion Surgery versus Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients with Tremor: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” was published in the journal World Neurosurgery.

At least 50 percent of people with Parkinson’s, essential tremor (ET) or multiple sclerosis(MS) given oral medications as a first-line treatment for tremor — defined as an involuntary, uncontrollable muscle contraction; most commonly in the hands — do not tolerate these medications over the long term.

Current alternatives include deep brain stimulation (DBS) and lesion surgery (LS), which induces lesions on targeted areas using a heated electrode or focused ultrasound. Prior comparisons have shown that while the two techniques are equally effective in suppressing tremor, DBS led to a greater improvement in function.

But LS with focused ultrasound is gaining in popularity, and one study suggested that it may significantly improve tremor and quality of life.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School conduced a systematic review and a meta-analysis — a type of statistical study that combines the results of various studies — to determine which strategy is most effective in diminishing tremor severity and improving life quality and function in people with Parkinson’s, ET, or MS.

Three online databases were searched for results of randomized clinical trials published up to Jan. 1, 2018, and that included adults treated with either LS or DBS, or serving as controls. Both DBS and LS studies targeted unilateral or bilateral thalamus, pallidum or subthalamic nucleus, all of which are implicated in motor function.

Thirteen Parkinson’s trials were among the 15 included in this study, and the primary outcome for all but one was change in upper limb tremor severity, as assessed with the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) part III. Changes in quality of life, cognitive function and neuropsychiatric function were also assessed with variable measures.

A total of 1, 508 patients (mean age range, 48.4 to 70.8) were included, and in addition to the 13 studies involving only Parkinson’s patients, one study looked at people with Parkinson’s, ET and MS, while the remaining study was in people with severe ET.

Four of the 15 trials — involving 125 patients — directly compared DBS to LS. The others compared either LS or DBS with controls.

Results showed that DBS and LS were not significantly different across all analyzed outcomes, which is in line with current guidelines, the researchers noted. All but one trial showed both these types of surgery eased tremor severity. Quality of life findings showed variability in outcomes, which was driven by disease duration. Specifically, longer disease duration correlated with a greater likelihood of surgery and better quality of life.

A subgroup analysis that looked specifically at LS using focused ultrasound revealed that this approach was associated with a significant improvement in quality of life compared to DNS, although changes in tremor severity were similar.

“Policy makers, healthcare providers, and patients could therefore consider focused-ultrasound [LS] as a potential choice for tremor control, based on currently available evidence,” the researchers wrote.

However, results from more studies directly comparing DBS with focused-ultrasound LS are needed, they advised.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/12/05/lesion-surgery-with-focused-ultrasound-treat-tremors-and-improve-quality-of-life-study-finds/

Study links vitamin D-deficient older adults with greater risk of developing depressioni

 December 5, 2018, Trinity College Dublin

A new study by researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin has shown for the first time in Ireland that a deficiency in vitamin D was associated with a substantial increased risk of depression (+75%) over a four-year follow up period. 

The findings form part of the largest representative study of its kind and have just been published in the prestigious journal, The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA).

Later life depression can significantly reduce quality of life and is a potent risk factor for functional decline, admission to residential care and early death. Given the complex nature of depression, including the fact that the majority of older adults are undiagnosed, prevention is a priority and the identification of important risk factors is crucial.

Vitamin D or the 'sunshine vitamin' is essential for bone health and deficiency, and has recently been linked with other non-bone health outcomes such as inflammation and diabetes. Small studies have found links between vitamin D and depression but few have followed up with the same affected people over time, while others have not taken into account other factors that can also affect depression. These findings are important as the TILDA team has previously reported that 1 in 8 older Irish adults are deficient in vitamin D.

The current study investigated the links between vitamin D and depression in older Irish adults and then re-examined the participants four years later to see if vitamin D status affected the risk of developing depression.

The authors found that:

• Vitamin D deficiency was associated with a 75% increase in the risk of developing depression by 4 years
• This finding remained robust after controlling for a wide range of relevant factors including depressive symptoms, chronic disease burden, physical activity and cardiovascular disease 
• Furthermore, excluding participants taking anti-depressant medication and vitamin D supplementation from the analyses did not alter the findings

The authors suggest that the findings could be due to the potential direct effect of vitamin D on the brain. Given the structural and functional brain changes seen in late life depression, vitamin D may have a protective effect in attenuating these changes. Similarly, other studies have shown that vitamin D status has also been linked with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

These finding are important as vitamin D status is relatively easy and inexpensive to modify through supplementation or fortification. However, In Ireland, fortification of food products with vitamin D is voluntary and few manufacturers do this. This is compounded by the lack of any vitamin D guidelines from Government.

Commenting on the significance of the research, first author of the study and Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine, St James' Hospital Dublin, Dr. Robert Briggs, said: "This is the largest representative and most comprehensive study of depression risk and vitamin D status in older adults ever conducted in Ireland. Our findings will provide useful information to help inform public health policy—particularly regarding the proposition of the usefulness of vitamin D treatment/supplementation for depression."

Senior author of the study, and Research Fellow with TILDA, Dr. Eamon Laird, added: "This study shows that vitamin D is associated with a health condition other than bone health. What is surprising is the large effect on depression even after accounting for other control variables. This is highly relevant for Ireland as our previous research has shown that one in eight older adults are deficient in the summer and one in four during the winter. Moreover, only around 8% of older Irish adults report taking a vitamin D supplement."

"Given that vitamin D is safe in the recommended intakes and is relatively cheap, this study adds to the growing evidence on the benefits of vitamin D for health. It also helps to continue to impress the need on our public health bodies to develop Irish vitamin D recommendations for the general public. Up to this point, these are severely lacking."

Principal Investigator of TILDA, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, said: "The new finding that the development of depression could potentially be attenuated by having a higher vitamin D status could have significant policy and practice implications for Government and health services. TILDA has consistently assisted policy makers by providing strong evidence-based data on which to make recommendations but also by assisting with information of most vulnerable people and therefore those who should be targeted."

"It is our responsibility to now ascertain whether supplementation will influence depression. There are many reasons for vitamin D supplementation in Ireland. Benefits to something as disabling and often 'silent' as depression are therefore important for wellbeing as we age."

More information: Robert Briggs et al, Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With an Increased Likelihood of Incident Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (2018).  DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.10.006

Provided by: Trinity College Dublin

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-links-vitamin-d-deficient-older-adults.html

Niosomes: efficient DNA delivery vehicles for gene therapy of the central nervous system

December 5, 2018, University of the Basque Country

Gustavo Puras. Credit: Nuria González. UPV/EHU.

In a new study, the NanoBioCel group of the UPV/EHU's Faculty of Pharmacy and the University of Elche have designed niosomes, lipid vesicles for use in gene therapies, to treat diseases of the central nervous system. These vesicles use lycopene as an element, which has enabled transfection into brain cells to be improved.

Gene therapy has huge potential for therapeutic purposes. It basically consists of inserting genetic material into target cells to incorporate a new function, re-establish a defective function or interfere in an existing function. Gustavo Puras, a member of the NanoBioCel group of the UPV/EHU's Faculty of Pharmacy and one of the authors of the study, says that one of the main difficulties it poses is "to successfully deliver this new genetic material to the cell. In the case of the nervous system, this transfection is particularly complicated, due among other factors to the physical barriers that the brain has and which have to be overcome." 

This research group opted to study niosomes, a type of non-viral vector. "They are lipid particles, vesicles, made up of three components: a cationic lipid, which is responsible for bonding with the DNA that one is intending to transfect; another helper lipid that facilitates entry into the nucleus through the membrane and prevents degradation of the niosome by the cellular lysosomes, and a non-ionic tensioactive agent that stabilises the emulsion used in dealing with these particles," added Dr. Puras.

The study consisted of various phases: in the first one what they did was to select the three components with which to design the niosome particle itself. The innovative part of this study, as Puras explained, was that "we used lycopene as the helper lipid, the pigment which gives tomatoes their colour and which is known to have properties in treating cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but whose possible role in gene therapy had not been studied before." 

Afterward, a plasmid containing a fluorescent green protein was joined to the niosome. "It is not a therapeutic plasmid, but it enabled us to know whether the cells had been transfected or not, because if they had, they would emit green fluorescence."

Once the niosome-plasmid complex had been achieved and the physical and chemical characterisation made, they conducted in vitro tests using models of neuronal cells, to see the transfection rate, in other words, the percentage of fluorescent green cells achieved, and the viability of these transfected cells. "What we saw was that incorporating the lycopene into the formulation improved the transfection of these neurons."

Transfection of glial cells rather than neurons

In the final phase, they conducted in vivo tests by injecting the preparation into the brains of rats. They saw that neurons were not transfected, but glial cells and cells from the walls of the blood vessels were. "These divide more; that is why we managed to transfect them in a greater proportion."

The researcher was "very satisfied" with the results obtained: "What we were aiming to do was to successfully transfect cells of the central nervous system, and we achieved that. In a subsequent step, the gene that we transfected will be a protein that produces bioactive agents, or agents that encourage revascularization. The cells that turned out to be transfected to the greatest extent, the glial cells, are highly abundant in the central nervous system, and play a crucial role in the proper development and functioning of nerve tissue. What is more, their alteration is associated with a whole range of neurological disorders, such as brain haemorrhages, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's."

These results will allow them to take the research further. Apart from assessing the effect that therapeutic plasmids could have, the researcher says that there is room for improvement both in the transfection and in the viability of the cells; the duration of the expression of the transfected gene, etc. can also be studied. "Many possibilities are being opened up," he concluded.

More information: Mohamed Mashal et al, Non-viral vectors based on cationic niosomes as efficient gene delivery vehicles to central nervous system cells into the brain, International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2018).  DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.09.038

Provided by: University of the Basque Country

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-niosomes-efficient-dna-delivery-vehicles.html

World War II weapon used in new battle: combatting Parkinson's disease

DECEMBER 4, 2018

Purdue University research shows the antidote can effectively remove acrolein, a neurotoxin produced in the body that is directly correlated with Parkinson’s disease.

Riyi Shi, a Purdue professor of neuroscience and biomedical engineering, has discovered a new treatment using a World War II chemical agent antidote. The drug shows success in eliminating toxins in the brain that are linked to Parkinson’s disease. (Lyna Landis/Purdue Research Foundation) 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A World War II chemical weapon antidote is shown to be effective combating a new enemy: Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s is characterized by the steady and progressive loss of brain cells. Those afflicted show early symptoms of trembling in their hands, arms, legs, jaw and face. It can progress to the point where walking, talking or completing the most basic tasks becomes a daily challenge.

Half a million people in the U.S. are currently living with Parkinson’s disease, and another 50,000 people are diagnosed with this neurodegenerative disorder every year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Recent studies in the Purdue laboratory of Riyi Shi (pronounced Ree Shee) reveal a new possible treatment for Parkinson’s disease from the chemical warfare antidote. The antidote drug (dimercaprol) is proving to be effective at removing acrolein, a neurotoxin that is produced in the body after nerve cells are damaged and that is directly correlated with Parkinson’s disease. In addition, acrolein has been shown to increase pain and trigger a cascade of biochemical events postulated to intensify the severity of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

“Our studies show that by removing the toxin (acrolein) from the brain, we are not just reducing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but also significantly reversing the damage of Parkinson’s disease,” said Shi, a professor of neuroscience and biomedical engineering in Purdue University's Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. “This could actually provide a new treatment for Parkinson’s patients.”

When administered systematically in the body, dimercaprol nullifies certain chemical features of acrolein, neutralizing and effectively eliminating it from the brain. With fewer side effects than other acrolein scavengers and a safe, total removal via urinary excretion, Shi is moving the potential treatment forward. A video about the technology:

https://youtu.be/OzgtvxWcGoc

Shi’s laboratory is already using dimercaprol to remove acrolein in subject models of Parkinson’s disease with promising results. So far, these studies have revealed an increased survival rate of brain cells and a significant delay of the disease’s progress. More specifically, the subjects have improved mobility and experience less pain.

“We believe that the drug’s classification and method of administration are what make it an attractive therapy option. By systematically injecting the antidote drug directly into the abdominal cavity, it can be absorbed by the bloodstream and then travel to the brain, where the disease is most harmful and where the drug can most benefit the patient,” Shi says.

A paper was published earlier this year in the Journal of Neurochemistry demonstrating how the chemical warfare antidote drug was shown to remove the neurotoxin in cell cultures, laboratory animals, and other experiments. The paper, authored by doctoral student Ran Tian and Shi, was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Indiana State Department of Health, and the Indiana CTSI Collaboration in Biomedical Translational Research Pilot Program.

The research has since progressed as a potential treatment to Parkinson’s disease.

Shi’s work aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, celebrating the university’s global advancements in health as part of Purdue’s 150th anniversary. This is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebration’s Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.

The technology is patented through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, and the innovation is available for licensing.

The research dovetails with the goals of a recently formed Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, at Purdue’s Discovery Park. The institute spans 25 departments and includes around 100 faculty engaged in neuroscience-related research.

Another Purdue-affiliated company helping those with Parkinson’s is SpeechVive Inc., which helps those patients speak more loudly and communicate more effectively by playing background sounds in a person’s ear while they are talking and turns off as soon as the person stops talking. This helps a person to speak louder, slower and more clearly. 

Future research by Shi may include work to test the drug and in clinical human studies, which is feasible because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration already approved the drug.  

Writer: Cynthia Sequin, 765-588-3340, casequin@prf.org  

Source: Riyi Shi, 765-496-3018, riyi@purdue.edu

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q4/world-war-ii-weapon-used-in-new-battle-combatting-parkinsons-disease.html

Shawnee Mission West student named on 2019 Forbes 30 under 30 list

 Ariel Rothfield   Dec 4, 2018

https://youtu.be/vbbx8XRNFc8

SHAWNEE, Kan. — A recent Shawnee Mission West graduate is the youngest person to be named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Healthcare list.

The list recognizes young entrepreneurs around the country. 

Erin Smith was recognized for her app 'FacePrint,' which helps detect early signs of Parkinson's Disease. The app is a series of tests, including nerve and cognitive assessments. 

Patients "are shown a series of video clips or asked to replicate a series of facial expressions while their face is recorded by a computer webcam," said Smith. "What I've been able to do is develop a process that takes that facial footage and breaks it down with facial recognition software. I've been able to identify a series of facial muscle movements or different interactions between muscle movements that are distinctive patterns and can predict Parkinson's Disease." 

Smith started working on the app in high school, in her biotechnology class. 

She has since received a fellowship and is working on her app in California, which will include starting clinical trials. She plans on attending Stanford University when she is done with the fellowship. 

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/shawnee-mission-west-student-named-on-2019-forbes-30-under-30-list

Parkinson's Foundation Hosts Its First-Ever Medical Marijuana and Parkinson's Disease Conference

DECEMBER  4, 2018   Parkinson's Foundation

The Parkinson's Foundation will host its first-ever conference focused on medical marijuana and Parkinson's disease (PD) in Denver, CO, March 6-7, 2019.

"The Parkinson's Foundation is bringing together experts from across the globe to discuss the implications and recommendations of medical marijuana use for people with Parkinson's," said James Beck, PhD, chief scientific officer of the Parkinson's Foundation. "Now that medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and in many other countries, people are equating access to efficacy. It is imperative that we address the clinical implications of medical marijuana use among people with PD."

The goal of the conference is to bring together a diverse group of experts from academia, clinics, industry, government and the Parkinson's community to establish a consensus on medical marijuana use in PD. The conference will address the potential benefits and risks of medical marijuana for people with PD, potential delivery methods, safety considerations, approval as a therapeutic for PD patients, and areas for more rigorous clinical research.

"Having worked as a clinician for the past decade in Colorado, a state at the forefront of medical marijuana use, it is clear that people with PD and their families are intensely interested in the potential of marijuana and cannabinoids in helping manage symptoms and other aspects of their disease," said Benzi Kluger, MD, MS, associate professor of University of Colorado Hospital and co-chair of the conference. "To date, there is more hype than actual data to provide meaningful clinical information to patients with PD. There is a critical need to analyze existing data on medical marijuana and to set priorities for future research."

Recent results from a survey conducted by the Parkinson's Foundation and Northwestern University, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence, found that:

• 80% of patients with PD have used cannabis 
• 23% of doctors received formal education on medical marijuana 
• 95% of neurologists have been asked to prescribe medical marijuana 

People with PD and their physicians are looking to answer whether medical marijuana can help manage PD symptoms. Few clinical studies have enrolled people with PD to investigate the effects of medical marijuana on PD symptoms. There is currently no conclusive scientific research supporting the benefits of medical marijuana for PD, however, anecdotal evidence suggests that it may help manage Parkinson's symptoms such as pain, sleep, appetite, nausea and anxiety. 

"In order to move the field forward, we need to determine which cannabinoids are likely to be beneficial or harmful, whether people with PD are at risk from side effects, what we are hoping to treat, and how to conduct informative clinical trials," said A. Jon Stoessl, MD, co-director of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia, and co-chair of the conference. 

The conference is invitation-only. In addition to Parkinson's specialists, select Parkinson's advocates living with PD will be invited to provide their perspective. The Foundation will publish suggested practices and areas for further research following the conference.

For more information on medical marijuana and PD, call our Helpline, 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) or visit Parkinson.org/Marijuana.

About the Parkinson's Foundation 

The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).

About Parkinson's Disease 

Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson's and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

SOURCE Parkinson's Foundation

Related Links

http://www.parkinson.org

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parkinsons-foundation-hosts-its-first-ever-medical-marijuana-and-parkinsons-disease-conference-300757678.html