Study Links Hitler's Fatal Decisions to Parkinson's Disease

Did Parkinson's disease lose Hitler the war? Study claims the condition made the Fuhrer reckless and violent

• By the end of his life, Hitler had a pronounced tremor in his hands
• 
  
• This has led some scientists to question whether he had Parkinson's
• Latest study says horrific murders were influenced by the disease
• 
  
• The condition may have led him to attack Russia prematurely in 1941
• 
  

By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 30 June 2015 | 

By the end of his life, Adolf Hitler had a pronounced tremor in his hands, particularly his left hand, which has caused a number of scientists to question whether he had the disease (right).  A new study claims the neurological disease influenced some of the dictator's biggest decisions, making lose World War II

The study was led by Raghav Gupta and a team at the University of Pittsburgh and recently published in the journal World Neurosurgery.

'The possibility of Hitler suffering from Parkinson's has long been the subject of debate,' writes Gupta

'Video evidence depicts that Hitler exhibited progressive motor function deterioration from 1933 to 1945.'

By the end of his life, Hitler had a pronounced tremor in his hands, particularly his left hand, which has caused a number of scientists to question whether he had the disease.

Parkinson's can also cause a slow gait, bent posture and a dull stare, along with cognitive disorders such as a lack of imagination and a general apathy.

The researchers suggest that Hitler's condition may have led him to attack Russia prematurely in 1941, according to a report in Discover.

A previous study claimed that Hitler's decision to invade Russia, before defeating Britain on the western front, was a direct result of his failing health.

The study points to other bad decisions of Hitler's such the failure to defend Normandy in 1944, alongside keeping his forces in Stalingrad in 1942.

They say this was the result of the dictator's 'volatile temperament' which may have been aggravated by his Parkinson's.

The study also goes on to suggest that Hitler's lack of remorse and sympathy can be associated with his Parkinson's.

'Hitler's inhumane personality, marked by a true lack of sympathy and remorse, can also be ascribed to his condition, often compelling him to act in ways that we today characterise as brutal, callous, and unethical,' the authors say.

As Discover points out, the problem with this theory is that it can't explain Hitler's behaviour before 1933, as Hitler had shown signs of his destructive temperament long before that.

Dr John Murphy, executive vice president of Danbury Hospital, has previously put forward the same theory.

He argues the root cause of Hitler's Parkinson's disease may have been a condition known as Von Economo's encephalitis, which a swelling of the brain that can occur after an infection.

That infection may have been picked up by Hitler in the 1918 influenza epidemic, which killed 50 million people.

Chilling footage shows Adolf Hitler taking power

Read more:

• Did Parkinson's Disease Influence Hitler? - Neuroskeptic

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3145166/Did-Parkinson-s-disease-change-Hitler-s-behaviour-Study-claims-condition-Fuhrer-reckless-violent.html#ixzz3efHIFBat

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July 1, 2015

Adolf Hitler suffering from Parkinson's disease played a crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, according to a new study by American scientists.

A group of American neurologists from the University of Pittsburgh led by Raghav Gupta claim that some of Adolf Hitler's most disastrous decisions were influenced by his Parkinson's disease; playing a significant role in the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, according to research published by the World Neurosurgery journal.

Even though there is nothing new in the idea that Hitler suffered from Parkinson’s by the end of his life, the new study argues that the disease may have had an impact on large parts of Hitler's career, prompting him to take impulsive and reckless decisions, and finally causing him lose World War II.

"We purport that Germany's defeat in World War II was influenced by Hitler's questionable and risky decision-making and his inhumane and callous personality, both of which were likely affected by his Parkinson's condition," the authors of the study said.

They mentioned a spate of common symptoms of the disease, such as "a reduction in control of voluntary movements, rigidity and tremors [in hands]" that are "marked by a severe deterioration in motor function." There is still a big question mark over what causes Parkinson's disease.

As for Hitler, his deteriorating health may have prodded him to attack Russia prematurely in 1941, according to the researchers.

They argue that Hitler's "volatile temperament" may have been exacerbated by his Parkinson’s, something that resulted in Hitler taking a raft of bad decisions. These include his refusal to allow his forces to withdraw from Stalingrad in 1942 and the failure to defend Normandy in 1944.

The authors of the study go even further and suggest that his suffering from Parkinson's added to Hitler's "inhumane" nature.

"Hitler’s inhumane personality, marked by a true lack of sympathy and remorse, can also be ascribed to his condition, often compelling him to act in ways that we today characterize as brutal, callous, and unethical," they said.

Separately, the study suggests that that Hitler developed the early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease long before 1933.

According to the research, it occurred "sometime after World War I, including dyspepsia, colon spasms, and pathological sleep habits such as severe insomnia."

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/world/20150701/1024089730.html#ixzz3efC6DVto

http://health.einnews.com/article/273739232/PWonRDBnx2NklFBh

The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation Join Forces to Accelerate Novel Ideas in Parkinson's Research

NEW YORK, June 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) and The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation (MSPRF) announced today the merging of their organizations to advance cutting-edge research focused on the underlying cause, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The partnership creates the Michael Stern Discovery Grants in Parkinson's Science to support high-risk discovery work as the backbone of drug development. 

"For nearly 15 years, The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation has championed a strategic approach to advancing the PD research field. We share a dedication to progress and to ensuring the most promising research gets the right support from critical early stages," said Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. "In forming this partnership, our Foundation will work to continue Michael Stern and MSPRF's legacy in the Parkinson's and scientific community."

Honoring a Legacy of Supporting Scientific Breakthroughs

Today, unprecedented scientific opportunities exist that can dramatically improve scientists' understanding of PD and fill the drug development pipeline with new and promising targets. The merger will continue the vital work of MSPRF through grants funding neurological research with strong potential to develop novel disease-modifying and symptomatic targets.

The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation was founded by Rome- and New York-based journalist, filmmaker and philanthropist Michael Stern with a vision of uncovering the cause and improving treatments for PD, and renewed its commitment after his passing in 2009. Since its inception in 2001, MSPRF has supported more than $46 million in research. 

"Our Foundation has always been driven by the profound need to identify discoveries in understanding and curing Parkinson's," said Margaret Stern, MSPRF Chair and CEO and Mr. Stern's daughter. "Our partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation reinforces our commitment to scientific collaboration and progress. My brother and I know that this merger is one that our father would have heartily approved of and fully endorsed."

Expanding a Commitment to Turn the Best Ideas Into Practical Treatments

The Michael Stern Discovery Grants in Parkinson's Science will provide strategic funding for novel PD discovery science and build on the initial findings around emerging targets, helping speed them forward in the drug development process. In alignment with its grant selection process, MJFF's expert on-staff research team will work in partnership with external experts through a peer-review system to identify, evaluate and award work with the greatest promise to propel development of transformative therapies for PD.  

The MJFF was represented by the law firm Schaner & Lubitz, PLLC in connection with the merger.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers.  In addition to funding more than $450 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. 

For more information, visit us on the Web, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation

From founding in 2001, The Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation has been a leading funder of science on Parkinson's disease, sponsoring research at top academic centers headed by the foremost leaders in Parkinson's research, with not less than 95% of every dollar raised going directly to research.

 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-michael-j-fox-foundation-and-the-michael-stern-parkinsons-research-foundation-join-forces-to-accelerate-novel-ideas-in-parkinsons-research-300106296.html

SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Amarantus Announces Issuance of United States Patent No. 9,066,903 Covering Proprietary Methods of Administration of Eltoprazine for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Press Release | Tue Jun 30, 2015 8:35am EDT

SAN FRANCISCO and GENEVA, June 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 

Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:AMBSD), a biotechnology

company focused on developing therapeutic and diagnostic products for 

neurological disorders and orphan indications, announced that the U.S. 

Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued U.S. Patent No. 9,066,903 

entitled, "Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson's Disease." The patent 

covers methods for the administration of eltoprazine, in combination with the

 anti-Parkinson's drug, levodopa (L-DOPA), for the treatment of Parkinson's 

disease.

"We are very pleased with the issuance by the USPTO of the patent covering the use of eltoprazine in treating patients with Parkinson's disease receiving L-DOPA and who suffer from L-DOPA induced dyskinesia. This new issuance helps the Company continue to build our intellectual property estate for eltoprazine," said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. "The Phase 2b clinical study has commenced with patient screening progressing well and now rapidly heading into the first randomization. We expect the first patient to be randomized in the trial very shortly. Initiation of patient screening is an important step forward in terms of ramping up the trial initiation process. We believe eltoprazine has tremendous potential to address a significant unmet therapeutic need or individuals with Parkinson's disease."

Eltoprazine is a small molecule 5HT1A/1B partial agonist and the Amarantus is currently preparing to commence Phase 2b clinical development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia (PD-LID). PD-LID is an abnormal involuntary, movement disorder resulting from prolonged levodopa-based therapy, the most commonly prescribed treatment for Parkinson's disease. PD-LID occurs in approximately 60-80% of Parkinson's disease patients and is one of the most difficult problems facing people with the disease. This dyskinesia can be severely disabling and impact quality of life by prohibiting the ability to perform routine daily functions.

Amarantus has initiated a multi-center, 60-subject Phase 2b study in individuals with PD-LID. The study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover, dose range finding, clinical trial designed to evaluate dose response effect of repeated eltoprazine dosing on safety, tolerability and dyskinesia severity using state-of-the-art rating scales, diaries and motion sensors (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02439125). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will also be evaluated. The Company expects to report top-line results from this Phase 2b study in the second quarter of 2016.

About Eltoprazine

Eltoprazine is a small molecule 5HT1A/1B partial agonist in clinical development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia (PD-LID), adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer's aggression. Eltoprazine has been evaluated in over 680 human subjects to date, and has a well-established safety profile. Eltoprazine was originally developed by Solvay Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of aggression. Upon Solvay's merger with Abbott Pharmaceuticals, the eltoprazine program was out-licensed to PsychoGenics. PsychoGenics licensed eltoprazine to Amarantus following successful proof-of-concept trials in PD-LID and adult ADHD.

About Parkinson's Disease and Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia (PD-LID)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity and slowed movements as well as non-motor symptoms including cognitive impairment, mood disorders and autonomic dysfunction. The Parkinson's Disease Foundation estimates that there are approximately one million people living with Parkinson's disease in the United States and seven to 10 million PD patients worldwide. The most commonly prescribed treatments for Parkinson's disease are levodopa-based therapies. In the body, levodopa is converted to dopamine to replace the dopamine loss caused by the disease. As dopamine neurons in the brain are lost the therapeutic efficacy of levodopa attenuates, and increased use is associated with a side effect of dyskinesias. These are involuntary, uncontrollable and often exaggerated and jerky movements. They are distinct from the static, rhythmic tremor as a symptom of Parkinson's disease. Levodopa-induced dyskinesia can be severely disabling, rendering patients unable to perform routine daily tasks.

About Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc.

Amarantus BioScience Holdings (AMBS) is a biotechnology company developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases in the areas of neurology, psychiatry, ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. AMBS' Therapeutics division has development rights to eltoprazine, a Phase 2b ready small molecule indicated for Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, adult ADHD and Alzheimer's aggression, and owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and is developing MANF-based products as treatments for brain and ophthalmic disorders. AMBS' Diagnostics division owns the rights to MSPrecise®, a proprietary next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) assay for the identification of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at first clinical presentation, has an exclusive worldwide license to the Lymphocyte Proliferation test (LymPro Test®) for Alzheimer's disease, which was developed by Prof. Thomas Arendt, Ph.D., from the University of Leipzig, and owns intellectual property for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (NuroPro). AMBS also owns the discovery of neurotrophic factors (PhenoGuard™) that led to MANF's discovery.

For further information please visit www.Amarantus.com, or connect with the Company on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believes," "project," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "strategy," "plan," "may," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest rates, competition, and generally accepted accounting principles. These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

CONTACT: Investor and Media Contact:

         Jenene Thomas

          Communications, LLC
         Investor Rela

         Jenene Thomas
         T: (US) 908.938.1475
            E: jenene@jenenethomascommunications.com

http://health.einnews.com/article/273503853/M75TLFpNu0m5fUj0

GENETICS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE IS TOPIC OF NEW RESEARCH

 

Genetics of Parkinson’s Disease is Topic of New Research

The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative  (PPMI) is an ongoing study looking for biomarkers in biological samples and imaging data from an international base of people with Parkinson’s disease who are part of a large national study.  Presently, over 800 individuals are involved with PPMI clinical trials at 32 sites.  In looking for biomarkers, such as a particular blood substances, or other physical processes that might predict the risk of PARKINSON’S DISEASE, researchers are hoping to find ways and means to both predict and treat the disease as early as possible and to target areas where drugs can be developed faster and more effectively.  Symptoms that have a demonstrated risk factor are loss of sense of smell and sleep behavior disorders are the subjects of other areas of research the PPMI. This study has already identified some blood markers such as the LRRK2 gene and the presence of alpha synuclein (SNCA gene) that are clearly connected to the disease, but the mechanism of operation is not yet clear.

Now they are further refining the search and are enrolling 250 subjects who are known to carry these genes and have symptoms of PARKINSON’S DISEASE and another 250 subjects who carry the genes but have no symptoms.  These subjects will be followed for at least 5 years.  At present, only about five or ten percent of all people with PARKINSON’S carry the genetic mutation.  However, knowledge learned from the genetics of these people will ultimately inform better understanding of the disease process. Of special interest are people of Eastern European descent who have relatives affected by PARKINSON’S DISEASE.

“Studying individuals with genetic mutations associated with PARKINSON’S can accelerate our research toward a PD biomarker and more effective treatments: said Stuart Factor, D.O., who is director of the Emory University Comprehensive Parkinson’s Disease Center and the director of the Emory Movement Disorders Center.  The large-scale extent of the PPMI research is already bringing scientific insights that will strengthen the efforts to find therapies that will modify or change the course of this disease.  This is an observational study that is seeking information and samples from participants.  Participants will not be involved in taking any experimental medication or undergoing any experimental procedures. Individuals who would like to be a part of this large undertaking should visit the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative web page for further information.

http://medical express.com/news/2014-03-genetics-parkinson-disease.html

 written by Marcia McCall

The National Parkinson Foundation's Moving Day® Fall 2014 Walks Fund Nearly $1 Million in Parkinson's Programs

MIAMI, June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 

The National Parkinson Foundation(NPF) is proud to announce that Moving Day®, A Walk for Parkinson's, has funded nearly $1 million in mission services to make life better for people living with Parkinson's.  In addition to support for clinical care, NPF awarded local community grants for health, wellness and education programs in six locations for people living with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their caregivers. 

NPF's 2015 spring walks will soon fund hundreds of thousands in additional services in Washington, D.C., Tampa, and the Bay Area in CA. 

"Moving Day® supports local and national services that make life better for people living with Parkinson's and their families," said Joyce Oberdorf, NPF's President and CEO. "We are filling a vital need in Parkinson's communities nationwide."

"We have seen therapeutic arts-based programming achieve tremendous results with regard to improving physical, psychological, and social functioning, as well as quality of life for people with Parkinson's," said Nancy Mazonson, Director of Parkinson's Family Support. "This grant will allow us to expand our programs and work toward our goal of serving a more diverse community, and to form partnerships with the two NPF Centers of Excellence in Boston." 

The Jewish Family & Children's Service in Boston was awarded a grant to offer Dance for PD classes (originated by the Mark Morris Dance Group) and Parkinson's drumming classes, staffed by experienced dance and drumming instructors as well as an occupational therapist with extensive knowledge of PD. 

Funds raised through Moving Day® also support NPF's national mission by supporting the NPF Center of Excellence network that delivers care to more than 50,000 Parkinson's patients worldwide; by funding cutting-edge research like the Parkinson's Outcomes Project, aimed at better treatment and care; by providing free patient resources for patients and their families, such as a toll-free Helpline (1-800-4PD-INFO) and free hospital kit. 

The 2015 community grant offerings focus on: 

• Addressing unmet needs in the Parkinson's community: services for underserved populations, support for clinical trial recruitment for under-represented populations and other unmet needs such as financial barriers to care; 
• Expanding a successful program into a new geography; 
• Developing a new program for people with Parkinson's. 

Community grants are funding local services in each of the following locations:

Atlanta:

• Emory University's PCORI-funded DREAMS program 
• PD Gladiators Boxing Training Program for PD at Livramento Delgado Boxing Foundation 
• Boxing classes throughout Atlanta at PD Gladiators, Inc. 
• Grief recovery for patients, families and caregivers at Change Navigators 
• PD Movement classes and PD Gladiators at YMCA of Metro Atlanta

Boston:

• Support for clinical care and outreach services at NPF Center of Excellence, Beth IsraelDeaconess Medical Center 
• Support for clinical care and outreach services at NPF Center of Excellence, MassachusettsGeneral Hospital 
• Web-based exercise and education program at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Profession 
• Rock Steady Boxing at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 
• Dance for PD at Jewish Family & Children's Service

Chicago:

• Support for clinical care and outreach services at the NPF Center of Excellence, Northwestern University
• Delayed-start designed study of scenic improvisation theater for patients with PD at Northwestern University
• Music therapy at Rush-Copley Foundation 
• North Shore Dance Therapy, Inc. 
• Rock Steady Boxing Windy City 
• Parkinson's on the Move exercise program at Council for Jewish Elderly Senior Life 

Los Angeles:

• Education and support for patients and caregivers at Huntington Movement Disorders Program 
• Parkinson's exercise classes for body and voice at Physical Therapy and Wellness 
• 5K Training Team at the Department of Neurology at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) 
• Rock Steady Boxing classed in the West Los Angeles area 
• Support Group of North County for physical and mental activities

Miami (South Florida):

• Assessment of barriers for research participation in Hispanics at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine 
• Therapeutic Program & Resource Development to Hispanic underserved, Neuroscience Centers of Florida Foundation, Inc. 
• Cognitive Priming for Movement Initiation at Florida International University
• Cycle for Parkinson's at University of Miami UHealth Fitness and Wellness Center 
• Dancing for Parkinson's at Memorial Foundation, Inc. 
• Art Therapy in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties at Art Therapy Consulting and Services 
• Clinical Yoga Therapy Program at AUM Home Shala 
• Music therapy classes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties at The Palm Beach Music Therapy Institute 
• Ageless Grace Brain and Body Workout Classes at Good Vibes Consultants 
• Exercise classes at Galbut Family Miami Beach Jewish Community Center 
• Respite care services at Caregiver Services, Inc. 
• Young Onset Parkinson's Exercise program 
• Matter of Balance at Florida Health Networks 

North Carolina:

• Support for clinical care and outreach services at NPF Center of Excellence, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Support for clinical care and outreach services at NPF Center of Excellence, Duke University
• Parkinson's Training on Interdisciplinary Care at the Movement Disorders Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Speech Language Services at Rex Healthcare Foundation 
• PWR! Moves PD exercise class at Cone Health Neurorehabilitation Center 
• Dance for PD classes in Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsboro and Raleigh

Moving Day®, a grassroots fundraising and awareness walk, has cumulatively raised $8 million since it began in 2011 and is now taking place in 22 cities across the United States. For more information on 2015 Moving Day® walks, visit www.npfmovingday.org.

http://health.einnews.com/article/273310013/Mre5gXE9mZysVWCs

Research Recap from Movement Disorders Society Congress

Posted by  Maggie McGuire, June 26, 2015

Now that we’ve shaken off the red-eye fog and caught up on emails, we’re ready to share some of the news and insights we learned at last week’s 19th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders in San Diego.

Physicians, researchers and allied health care professionals from around the globe gathered to discuss the latest trends in understanding and treating people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other movement disorders. MJFF staff shared Foundation resources, attended educational sessions and presented a poster on our clinical studies matching tool Fox Trial Finder.

Here’s some of what we learned:

Clinician-Researchers Are Noting Non-motor Patient Needs

Speakers presented on the need for more therapeutic development for anxiety and apathy. Antidepressants are used for anxiety, but outcomes are inconsistent and they can bring side effects. Telemedicine may allow for behavioral therapy to treat anxiety and apathy to reach more people with Parkinson’s. The Foundation is funding a study of this technique for treating depression with PD; success may lead to expansion to other conditions.

Another session covered gastrointestinal issues. James Parkinson noted drooling, swallowing problems and bowel dysfunction as part of his newly profiled disease in the early 1800s, but these symptoms persist. Surveys report 30 to 80 percent of people with PD experience gastrointestinal issues (the wide range may come from how questions are asked). Swallowing issues can occur early in the disease course but are more evident later, while constipation can be traced to up to 20 years before diagnosis. We hosted a webinar on speech and swallowing problems earlier this month and on July 16 we’ll discuss constipation. Watch the archive and register for our upcoming event at michaeljfox.org/webinars.

Pain also is more common in people with Parkinson’s, primarily due to the symptom of dystonia (painful, sustained cramping). Rigidity, slowness of movement and dyskinesia are also associated with pain in Parkinson’s. It may be that Parkinson’s affects the way one feels pain. Speakers at the Congress reported how the part of the brain affected by PD (basal ganglia) plays a role in how the body senses potential harm, and, therefore, people with Parkinson’s may have reduced threshold for pain. There are studies ongoing to treat pain and to understand its impact. 

Trials of Levodopa Reformulations Move Closer to Patients’ Hands

Pharmaceutical company Acorda presented a poster on the results of its Phase IIb study: “Inhaled Levodopa (CVT-301) Provides Rapid Improvement of OFF States in Parkinson’s Disease.” MJFF supported early development of CVT-301 by biotech Civitas before it was acquired by Acorda.

CVT-301 is a dry-powder formulation of levodopa taken through an inhaler, like those used for asthma, when traditional oral medication wears off. With longer disease duration, levodopa can lose efficacy and wear off before its time for another dose. Oral medication takes time to have an effect, which is where fast-acting CVT-301 comes in.

Acorda’s poster showed that study participants receiving CVT-301 showed a significant reduction in motor symptoms compared to placebo beginning at 10 and up to 60 minutes after using the inhaler. Both doses of CVT-301 were well tolerated, with no increase in dyskinesia relative to placebo.

Also presenting data on its MJFF-funded reformulation of levodopa was biotech Neuroderm. Its product ND0612 is a liquid formulation of levodopa/carbidopa administered through the skin either by a belt-worn pump or a patch pump. The company presented that both its low-dose and high-dose versions (for moderate to severe PD and severe PD, respectively) showed consistent levels of levodopa in blood plasma. This administration technique should maintain drug levels to avoid the motor fluctuations (“on/off” episodes) often seen with oral medication.

Both Acorda and Neuroderm’s posters were chosen for the meeting’s Blue Ribbon Highlights Session, which highlights relevance, novelty and quality of clinical data and basic research. Listen to a podcast about what causes “off” episodes and how these drugs are hoping to overcome this challenge.

Many Questions Surround GBA’s Role in Parkinson’s

In the disease modification realm, researchers are paying increased attention to the glucosidase, beta, acid (GBA) gene as mutations there are associated with Parkinson’s. At the Congress, scientists discussed that three to four percent of all people with PD may carry a GBA mutation. These variations are more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent (perhaps up to six percent).

The meeting presenters outlined how they are studying the relationship between GBA and alpha-synuclein (the protein that clumps in cells of people with PD) and the types of drugs they’re investigating against this target to stop or slow Parkinson’s progression. They’re also looking at why the majority of GBA mutation carriers do not develop PD — are there additional risk factors or protective factors that they could study toward new therapies? Learn more about how MJFF is supporting research into GBA.

MJFF staff Rachel Dolhun, MD, and Maurizio Facheris, MD, MSc, contributed to this post.

https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/news-detail.php?research-recap-from-movement-disorders-society-congress

Parkinson’s Disease Causes

 

What Causes Parkinson's?

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over age 60. While the average age at onset is 60, people have been diagnosed as young as 18. There is no objective test, or biomarker, for Parkinson's disease, so the rate of misdiagnosis can be relatively high, especially when the diagnosis is made by a non-specialist. Estimates of the number of people living with the disease therefore vary, but recent research indicates that at least one million people in the United States, and more than five million worldwide, have Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's Disease Discovered

Parkinson's disease was first characterized extensively by an English doctor, James Parkinson, in 1817. Today, we understand Parkinson's disease to be a disorder of the central nervous system that results from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, including a region called the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain that allow for coordination of movement. Loss of dopamine causes neurons to fire without normal control, leaving patients less able to direct or control their movement. Parkinson's disease is one of several diseases categorized by clinicians as movement disorders.

The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, although research points to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. If a continuum existed, with exclusively genetic causes at one end and exclusively environmental causes at the other, different Parkinson’s patients would likely fall at many different places along that continuum.

Genetic Causes

In the past 10 years, researchers have identified a number of rare instances where Parkinson's disease appears to be caused by a single genetic mutation. In these cases, the mutated gene is passed from generation to generation, resulting in a great number of Parkinson's disease cases within an extended family. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are the greatest genetic contributor to Parkinson's disease disovered to date.  

Environmental Causes

On the opposite end of the continuum, in the early 1980s, a group of heroin users in California took drugs from a batch contaminated with a substance called MPTP. After ingesting this chemical, the drug users were stricken with a form of Parkinson's disease that was primarily, if not exclusively, "environmental" in origin.

A Combination of Both

For most Parkinson's patients, the cause lies somewhere in the middle. While many Parkinson’s patients report one or more family members with the disease, it is not always clear that one or several genes are the cause. Similarly, while some patients suspect that exposure to one or another chemical or environmental toxin caused their Parkinson’s disease, this also cannot be conclusively proved. Scientists currently believe that in the majority of cases, genetic and environmental factors interact to cause Parkinson's disease. Research into this subject continues aggressively every day. Unfortunately, however, it is generally impossible to determine what specifically caused an individual's Parkinson’s disease.

Other Risk Factors

Because the causes of Parkinson’s disease are unknown, there is no scientifically validated preventive course to reduce the risk of its onset. The single biggest risk factor for Parkinson’s disease is advancing age. Men have a somewhat higher risk than women.

That being said, a number of studies have highlighted factors that are associated with either greater or lesser risk of Parkinson's disease. For example, smoking and caffeine consumption have been associated with lower rates of Parkinson's disease, while head injury and pesticide exposure have been associated with higher risk. While such studies do not definitively link these factors with Parkinson's disease one way or another, they highlight areas where further research may guide us to risk-prevention or treatment strategies.

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