Caregivers likely to experience emotional, physical, financial difficulties

February 15, 2016

Being a caregiver for an older adult isn't easy. A new study suggests that family and unpaid caregivers who provide substantial help with health care were more likely to miss out on valued activities, have a loss of work productivity and experience emotional, physical and financial difficulties, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Almost 8 million older adults with significant disabilities live in the community with help from family and unpaid caregivers. Caregivers not only provide most assistance with everyday activities but they help with a range of health care activities, including physician visits.

Jennifer L. Wolff, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and coauthors used data from two nationally representative samples that provided insight into older adults and the caregivers who help them. The study included 1,739 family and unpaid caregivers of 1,171 older adults. The caregivers provided substantial, some or no help with health care, which was defined as coordinating care and managing medications.

The study sample represented 14.7 million caregivers assisting 7.7 million older adults, of which 6.5 million caregivers (44.1 percent) provided substantial help, 4.4 million (29.8 percent) provided some help and 3.8 million (26.1 percent) provided no help with health care.

Among older adults receiving substantial help with health care activities, 45.5 percent had dementia and 34.3 percent had severe disability, according to the study.

Caregivers who provided substantial help with health care were more likely to:

▪   Live with older adults

▪   Experience emotional, physical and financial difficulty

▪  Participate less in valued activities, such as visiting friends and family, going out for fun, attending religious services, and participating in club or group activities

▪   Report loss of work productivity

▪ Utilize supportive services, although only about one-quarter utilized such services

Due to the nature of the study, the authors cannot draw cause-and-effect conclusions.

"Because the magnitude and scope of assistance provided to disabled older adults by family and unpaid caregivers far exceed those of paid caregivers, and because their involvement persists across both time and settings of care, devising organizational strategies and health care practices to identify and more purposefully engage and support family caregivers merits greater attention by health system stakeholders seeking high-value care," the study concludes.

Commentary: Putting the Spotlight on Invisible Family Caregivers

"The study by Wolff and colleagues confirms and extends the existing knowledge about family caregivers who provide the most demanding levels of care for older adults at high risk of poor outcomes. Shining the spotlight on invisible family caregivers is just the first step, but it may be the most important," writes Carol Levine, M.A., of the United Hospital Fund of New York, in a related commentary.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/306576.php?tw

Stem Cell Transplant To Revolutionize Medical Treatment In Pak: Dr Salman

FEBRUARY 14TH, 2016 HEALTH

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani doctors are hoping that the use of ‘Stem Cell Transplant’ therapy, to repair damaged muscle tissue, will cure the diseases thought to be untreatable in the past throughout the Globe. 

This was stated by Dr. Syed Salman Naeem Gilani, Stem Cell Therapy Consultant, while talking to Capital TV.

“The ‘Stem Cell Transplant’ therapy has the capacity to revolutionize the scope and nature of medical treatment for those who are being suffered from numerous diseases including osteoarthritis, rheumatism, paraplegia and heart muscle tissue post-heart attack,” he said.

He said that the activity of stem cells declined with the age and number starts declining. “But there are areas in our body where their activity and number stays high throughout life. These areas include Bone Marrow, Blood, Adipose Tissue (Fat) etc. As Stem Cell Transplant physicians we collect Stem Cells from these areas and deliver them where they are required to bring that tissue or organ back to normal.”

He described the stem cell transplant was the latest and most cutting edge technique for the treatment of Patients with various illnesses, added: “the therapy is becoming a popular option worldwide for the treatment of those diseases that did not have any adequate management available.”

Stem Cell transplant has provided hope for the treatment of many diseases that were thought to be untreatable in the past throughout the Globe, he noted, added that there were almost 100 individual diseases that could be treated through stem cell transplant today and more and more treatments were being added frequently. “Some of the examples of diseases that can be treated through Stem Cell Transplant include, Neurological diseases like Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, ALS, MS etc, Cardiovascular Diseases like Heart Attach (MI), Congestive heart failure etc, Autoimmune Diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE, Type I Diabetes etc, Musculo-skeletal diseases like Osteoarthritis, Tennis elbow, Frozen Shoulder, Muscular Dystrophy etc and Skin and Hair diseases like Aging skin and Hair fall to name a few.”

There is no lab available in Pakistan today that can process and separate Stem Cells and for this reason we have collaborated with ATI-GEN Cell that is an FDA Approved, cGMP Cell Processing and Storage Facility in Trabzon Turkey. We have already started treating patients in Pakistan with the help of the services of ATI-GEN Cell in accordance with International Recommendations and the prevailing law of HOTA, MoH Pakistan.

http://dailycapital.pk/stem-cell-transplant-to-revolutionize-medical-treatment-in-pak-dr-salman/

Marijuana May Boost Brain Performance

Posted on Feb. 15, 2016

Brain and Mental Performance Botanical AgentsEnvironment

Notably, there are moderate advantages to be garnered from medicinal cannabis. Unfortunately, it also possess some disadvantages which should be considered. Marijuana can reverse cognitive decline…as long as it’s not laced with toxic pesticides. One of the most surprising and recent revelations about cannabinoids are their capability to perform as antioxidants in the brain. German experts have found that the brain’s cannabinoid system has the capability of restoring impaired brain cells, while developing new ones. Cannabinoids may curb the effects of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease and possibly more.

The news was revealed in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. The researchers discovered that natural marijuana, that is marijuana devoid of pesticides, can curb brain inflammation behind an onslaught of cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other similar diseases. “I’ve been trying to find a drug that will reduce brain inflammation and restore cognitive function in rats for over 25 years; cannabinoids are the first and only class of drugs that have ever been effective,” notes Gary Wenk, a professor of neuroscience, immunology and medical genetics at Ohio State University (OSU), who contributed to the study. “I think that the perception about this drug is changing and in the future people will be less fearful.” Not all states have permitted marijuana for recreational use. Just as users who purchase marijuana illegally can’t be sure whether their stash has been laced with drugs, users who purchase marijuana legally can’t be sure whether their stash has been laced with pesticides.

The general agreement among those who run the legal marijuana industry, is that there hasn’t been enough research that determines which chemicals are best to grow, smoke or eat marijuana with. “We have an industry that’s been illegal for so many years that there’s no research,” observed Frank Conrad, director of the marijuana testing laboratory Colorado Green Lab. “There’s no guidelines. There’s nothing.” Lack of federal regulation enables growers to disregard pesticide laws. Moreover, even though the state limitation of marijuana has decreased, the federal government continues to analyze cannabis as an illicit drug, meaning, they have no interest in funding research about chemical use for marijuana crops. “There is no federal agency that will recognize this as a legitimate crop,” said pesticide expert Whitney Cranshaw of Colorado State University. “Regulators just bury their heads, and as a result, pest-management information regarding this crop devolves to Internet chats and hearsay.”

Since marijuana is a low priority at the federal level, it can take years for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to state requests about which pesticides are approved for marijuana crops. As a result, it’s easy for marijuana growers to disregard rules that limit or ban certain pesticides. In Denver, for example, a chemical called Eagle 20 EW was found to be in marijuana circulating the market. Although the chemical, technically a fungicide, is approved for grapes and hops, it’s banned for use on tobacco plants, because it can become hazardous when heated. Oregon faced a similar hurdle in June, after an investigation by The Oregonian unearthed residues surpassing legal limits for edible marijuana products. Other pesticides, which are linked to cancer, nerve damage and neural degeneration, were found as well. Since these pesticides are not state-regulated, their use is legal.

A strong case can be made for the medicinal benefits of cannabis. There is plenty of marijuana in circulation harboring pesticides unfit for human consumption today. Therefore, in reaping the benefits of medicinal cannabis, it’s important for users to remember that not all cannabis plants are created equal.

http://www.worldhealth.net/news/marijuana-may-boost-brain-performance/

Mitochondrial Disease News Mitochondrial DNA Levels in the Blood Help to Detect Onset of Parkinson's Disease

Feb. 15, 2016

Magdalena Kegel

People with Parkinson’s disease have decreased amounts of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) both in the blood and the brain, researchers from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K., reported in a study  published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.

In the study, titled “Reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number is a biomarker of Parkinson’s disease,“ the research team analyzed blood samples from 363 individuals with Parkinson’s disease and 262 matched controls with no clinical signs of the disease. All participants underwent a cognitive assessment and were screened for known mutations affecting cognitive function.

Researchers also analyzed brain tissue from diseased individuals, both with and without Parkinson’s disease. The team had access to samples of a brain area called substantia nigra from 151 patients and 33 controls, and from the frontal cortex brain region of another 120 patients and 37 controls. Substantia nigra harbors the cell bodies of dopamine-producing nerve cells that degenerate in Parkinson’s disease, and the frontal cortex is crucial to cognitive abilities.

Measurements of mitochondrial DNA amounts revealed substantially lower mtDNA levels in the white blood cells of Parkinson’s patients in comparison to blood samples from controls. This reduction was also found in the disease-affected brain region substantia nigra, but not in the prefrontal cortex.

While no link between smoking and Parkinson’s diagnosis could be detected, the team observed reduced mtDNA amounts in blood samples from Parkinson’s patients with a history of smoking. The team also reported no associations between blood mtDNA levels and cognitive measures.

Considering the study design, it is not possible to exclude that the differences between patients and controls are a result of medication or difficulties in accurately assessing mtDNA copy numbers. Studies following patients over time might help to better clarify the situation.

The authors suggested that low blood mtDNA levels could be used as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease onset. Studies, however, have shown that other neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases show similar features. More research is needed to investigate if blood mtDNA levels differ between these conditions, or if mtDNA reduction is a general hallmark of neurodegeneration.

http://mitochondrialdiseasenews.com/2016/02/15/reduced-mitochondrial-dna-in-parkinsons-disease/

Mrs. Louisiana uses platform to expouse Parkinson's disease awareness

Feb. 15, 2016

Denise McKnight will represent Louisiana in the Mrs. Universal Pageant in Reno, Nevada.

The recently crowned Mrs. Louisiana USA Universal, Denise D. McKnight, is a New Orleans native and a former Mrs. Galaxy and Ms. World 500 International. McKnight will represent Louisiana in the Mrs. USA Universal Pageant Winner July 23-29 in Reno, Nevada.

A veteran pageant competitor, McKnight's platform is Parkinson's Awareness and Research. This is near and dear to her heart because her father, Armond J. Duffourc, suffers from the debilitating disease and dementia. Her mother, Helen Duffourc, is his caregiver. You could hear the respect and sadness in McKnight's voice when speaking of her parents because it is such a difficult and heart wrenching situation.

Approximately 1 million people in the United States suffer from Parkinson's disease – a chronic and progressive movement disorder for which there is no cure. The cause is unknown.

The disease involves the death or malfunction of nerve cells in the brain called neurons some of which produce a chemical called dopamine that sends messages to the section of the brain that controls coordination and movement in a person. As brain cells are destroyed dopamine production is decreased causing the person to lose control over normal movement.

Parkinson's disease varies from person to person and the primary signs affecting motor skills include such things as tremors, slow movement, impaired coordination and balance and rigidity of the body.

McKnight's reign allows her to reach out to the community and educate them about the devastating disease. She will also participate in state and national events to promote public awareness and raise funds for research.

She grew up in Westwego and graduated from L. W. Higgins High School. She started pageants at age 3 and won Jr. Sweetheart at Worley Middle School in the late 70s. Then it was Jr. Miss Jefferson Parish and Deb Miss Louisiana.

"Traveling around the country with my director was such a learning experience," McKnight said.

She won many pageants during her teen years. She got married and was approached about competing in the Mrs. Gretna Pageant which she won. This was preliminary to Mrs. Louisiana America.

"I won the Mrs. Louisiana America and on to the Mrs. America Pageant. It was a wonderful experience and I still keep in touch with friends made during the pageant events," McKnight said. Although she didn't win Mrs. America she did win Mrs. Congeniality America.

"I won my first international pageant in 1994 which was Ms. World 500 International. My husband encouraged me to start competing again," McKnight said. "My friend was crowned Mrs. Galaxy International. She raved about her experience so a week after her win, I entered for the next year's competition," McKnight said.

"After a week long competition I was crowned Mrs. Galaxy International which was held at the Cuyahoga Falls Sheraton in Ohio. I was so honored," McKnight said.

Sometimes pageants such as these receive a negative reception.

"However you can do so many good things after winning a crown. I know there are stereotypes about pageant queens. So many teens and women across America do hundreds of hours of volunteer work and community service and raise awareness for specific causes," McKnight said.

"Pageants teach confidence, poise, presentation skills, public speaking and interview skills and more," McKnight said. "Also, in many pageants there are many scholarships available and/or monetary awards."

"I have experienced the gamut of pageants from contestant to director to pageant mom, judge, entertainment and emcee," McKnight said.

Her father's illness gave her work more purpose.

"My daddy was diagnosed with Parkinson's right before Hurricane Katrina. He was a hero and took care of people all of his life and is my hero who is fighting this horrible degenerative disease," McKnight said.

"I am working with the Parkinson's group "Big Easy Fleur De Lis" which meets once a month at East Jefferson Hospital on the last Tuesday of every month. Bonnie Huddleston is the group leader and it is the largest most active group in Louisiana.

"My mom takes care of him and does such a wonderful job. I don't know how she does it except for her strong will and God by her side," McKnight said.

"There is no cure for Parkinson's yet but the Parkinson's Foundation feels that there may be in the next ten years," McKnight said. "It's known as a snowflake disease because it has different symptoms and no two people are the same – just like snowflakes."

"The patient suffers from the debilitating disease but the caregivers also suffer when they have to watch a loved one deteriorate and even with all of the medications, therapy and treatments there is no cure," McKnight said. "Care givers need a break and must take care of themselves. It is important for families to assist, help with meals, call, visit or take the caregiver out for a social activity – just for a mental health day."

With Parkinson's on her mind, McKnight decided to toss her hat into the ring one more time.

"I decided to do this one last time to enter the Mrs. U.S. Universal System which takes place in Reno, Nevada July 23-29. The winner will move on to the international pageant," McKnight said.

She is married to Brian McKnight, Sr. for 17 years. They have three children, Ashleigh, Brian and Cameron and a grandson, Nicholas.

Family has always been central but she also became a notable figure around town.

McKnight was the first spokesperson and ICON for Treasure Chest Casino and Boyd Gaming of Las Vegas.

"I was the original (1997-2000) "Treasure the Mermaid." I appeared on billboards, television, cab tops, wrapped buses and at numerous events such as the Treasure Fest," McKnight said. "I was also on ESPN while appearing at the New Orleans Zephyrs Stadium."

"I also sang at events, had a cooking show –"Cooking with Treasure," McKnight said. "I was the lead singer in a 50-60s show band and in the 1980s Gold Fever Band. We opened for Vince Vance and the Valliants, which was so much fun."

McKnight wears many hats and is very active in the community and church. She is a Eucharistic Minister of Communion at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Kenner and a home school mom.

As a hair stylist and makeup artist she has showcased her talent and work at carnival balls and television on Four Weddings on TLC. Her latest journey is getting her real estate license this spring.

It's time for one last round on the pageant circuit.

"The pageant is 40 percent based on interview, aerobic wear and evening gown and you must have a platform – in my case it is Parkinson's research and awareness and support for the caregivers." McKnight said.

"All of the pageant training and interviews have helped me in the world with jobs, interviews and public speaking. There is nothing that I don't feel that I can't accomplish at this point in my life," McKnight said. "And it all started because of being tiny and having to prove myself over and over in a lot of things. It has made me a strong woman, mother and wife and I am so grateful. I just want other girls to know that sometimes you have to push and strive harder, but it makes you more successful. There is no 'can't' only 'I can do'."

We wish you the best of luck!

1966 Behrman High School class reunion

The 50^th class reunion of the 1966 class of Behrman High School will be held the weekend of April 8-10. The following activities are scheduled: April 8 - Courtyard pool and pizza party at the Best Western Plus West Bank. April 9– 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tour of Martin Behrman High School, 715 Opelousas Ave, Algiers Point. Group photos will be taken and it's "bring your own lunch/drink" day.

April 9– 7 p.m. – midnight main reunion event at the Empress Room, second floor of the Royal Palm, 1901 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey. There will be hors d'oeuvres, buffet, open bar, music, photos and free giveaways. The cost is $77 per person. All attendees must prepay with a check or money order made payable to "Donald Costello" and the check is non-refundable.

Behrman teachers will be invited at no charge. If you wish to sponsor a teacher contact Joy at behrman1966news@gmail.com. Dressy casual.

April 10 from 8 to 11 a.m. will be a prayer and goodbye breakfast at the Vieux Carre Room, Copeland's Restaurant in Harvey. Cost is $10 in advance.

For details and more information about the reunion weekend call Loreto DiGregorio at 504.341.3985 or email behrman1966news@gmail.com.

West Bank fundraiser at Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts opens Feb. 19

The all female cast of 40 will tickle your funny bone and entertain you with the classic female comedy about friendship, love, jealousy, marriage, gossip and more gossip about men, "The Women" by Claire Boothe Luce. The opening is Feb. 19-Mar. 6 at the Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts (old post office in Gretna) on the corner of Huey P. Long and 4^th St. – 125 Commerce St., Gretna.

The cost of the buffet and show is $52 and for the show only is $37. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., buffet 7 p.m. and show 8:30 p.m. Matinee on March 6 with buffet at 12:30 p.m. and show at 2:00 p.m.

The fundraiser will benefit Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts. Mayor Belinda Constant wants to bring more cultural events such as ballet, symphony and theatre shows to the West Bank. For reservations call 504.362.4451.

Tonia Dandry Aiken is the Algiers Accent columnist who writes stories and news about people, events and resources that are of community interest. She can be contacted at 504.392.2927 or tdaiken81@cox.net.

http://health.einnews.com/article/311809691/fb-iALGvzKW3WNWx

Memory replay prioritizes high-reward memories

February 15, 2016

Why do we remember some events, places and things, but not others? Our brains prioritize rewarding memories over others, and reinforce them by replaying them when we are at rest, according to new research from the University of California, Davis, Center for Neuroscience, published Feb. 11 in the journal Neuron.

"Rewards help you remember things, because you want future rewards," said Professor Charan Ranganath, a UC Davis neuroscientist and senior author on the paper. "The brain prioritizes memories that are going to be useful for future decisions."

It's estimated that we only retain detailed memories for a small proportion of the events of each day, Ranganath said. People with very detailed memories become overwhelmed with information. So if the brain is going to filter information and decide what to remember, it makes sense to save those memories that might be most important for obtaining rewards in the future.

Ranganath and postdoctoral researcher Matthias Gruber put this to the test by scanning the brains of volunteers by functional magnetic resonance imaging as they answered simple yes-no questions on short series of objects -- for example, "do these objects weigh more than a basketball?" Each series of objects was shown on a background image for context, and depending on the context, the volunteers were told they would either get a large (dollars) or small (cents) reward for giving correct answers. At the end of a series, participants were told how much money they just won.

Once participants completed this part of the experiment, the volunteers were scanned during a resting period. Afterward, outside of the scanner, there was a surprise memory test for all objects that were shown during scanning.

Although participants were not expecting the memory test outside the scanner, they were better at remembering objects that were associated with a high reward, said Gruber, first author of the paper.

"Also, when an object was associated with high reward, people remembered better the particular background scene that was on the screen during scanning," Gruber said.

Memory could be biased toward high points of experience

Even more interesting, participants' memory performance was predicted by brain activity measured during rest. When the researchers looked at brain scans of subjects at rest after giving yes-no answers -- neither learning nor actively recalling the memory -- they found the same pattern of activity as when subjects were doing the high-reward task. The subjects were apparently replaying the rewarding memories, strengthening connections and helping to fix the memory in place.

People who showed more replay of high-reward memories showed better retention of these events during the post-scan test, as well as increased interactions between the hippocampus, a structure deep in the brain heavily involved in memory, and an area called the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area complex, which is involved in reward processing, suggesting that reward played a role in stimulating the hippocampus after learning.

Although this study did not measure it directly, these interactions were likely related to release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is released in the brain when we expect rewards. Conditions such as Parkinson's disease or aging are linked to reduced dopamine and often involve memory defects.

The results show how memory could be biased toward the high points of experience, Ranganath said. "It speaks to a memory process that is normally hidden from us," Ranganath said. "Are you remembering what you really need to know? It could depend on what your brain does while you are at rest."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/306536.php?tw

Progress Toward Predicting Parkinson’s Disease, ‘drug rehab center’

 admin  February 14, 2016 

Posted by  Maggie McGuire Kuhl

Who will develop Parkinson’s disease?

Our inability to answer this question slows research and vexes people with family history of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

With new findings from the MJFF-sponsored Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, though, we may be a step closer to an answer.

Researchers from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, recently published a paper in The Lancet Neurology that outlines five criteria they used to differentiate people with Parkinson’s disease from control volunteers: olfactory function (smell loss), genetic risk score, family history of PD, age and gender.

“The idea is that we could start to get at things that might be able to predict disease. These are things that we thought might be early markers of Parkinson’s disease,” said Andrew Singleton, PhD, chief of the NIA Laboratory of Neurogenetics and lead author of the paper

Identifying the Five Criteria

Last year this same research team identified 28 genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. Looking at PPMI, they gave each individual a genetic risk composite score based on the presence of those mutations.

Identifying the Five Criteria

Last year this same research team identified 28 genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. Looking at PPMI, they gave each individual a genetic risk composite score based on the presence of those mutations.

They then turned to “easy-to-access” data points that could be easily assembled for any individual as opposed to, for example, a time-consuming and costly imaging scan. They ran every qualified factor from PPMI data through a model with the genetic risk score. Only those four other criteria were informative (smell loss, family history of PD, age and gender).

“Those in combination in this model allow us to predict who has disease and who doesn’t,” Dr. Singleton said.

After refining their model with PPMI data, NIA researchers used data from five other studies to validate their findings.

The NIA team also applied its formula to PPMI subjects without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (SWEDD). This participant population showed clinical symptoms of PD but not the trademark dopamine activity loss in brain scans upon enrollment in the study. Five PPMI SWEDD subjects showed dopamine loss in follow-up scans one to two years later. The NIA criteria classified four of the five as PD (versus control) with the final one on the cusp of PD classification. These findings give evidence for the predictive use of their five-point formula.

Accelerating Intervention for Greatest Impact

Researchers are interested in predicting who will develop Parkinson’s disease because earlier detection can mean earlier intervention. Many researchers believe that PD clinical trials have failed because they were not intervening in the disease process early enough to show substantial benefit.

“We know that when people begin showing Parkinson’s cardinal symptoms, there is already significant dopamine loss,” said Mark Frasier, PhD, MJFF senior vice president of research programs. “If we could predict who may develop Parkinson’s and start them on safe preventive therapies, we may be able to save those dopamine cells and stop PD.”

As for how they’ll find those people, Dr. Singleton thinks technology will help.

“We’re collecting all this data in electronic medical records (EMR), and we’ll start to use that data to predict disease. Your smell status — if you’ve had it evaluated — genetics, age, gender will all be in your EMR. I think we’ll use this to highlight individuals who we should be keeping an eye on,” he said.

Opening Data Access for Discovery and Validation

“This study would not have been possible without PPMI and more importantly would not have been possible without open-source data. The value of PPMI is two-fold: it’s the fact that the data is there and that it’s been an example for others,” said Dr. Singleton.

His group is now working with a health care system to identify individuals without PD who may develop Parkinson’s in the future. While, today, there is no preventive intervention, this population could enroll in clinical trials and help develop those next-generation therapies to stop the disease.

http://www.healthfeeds.co/2016/02/14/progress-toward-predicting-parkinsons-disease-drug-rehab-center/

Ask the Lawyer: Vet says Parkinson's disease caused by Lejeune water

By Mathew B. Tully, Special to Military TimesFebruary 14, 2016

Q. I have Parkinson’s disease that I believe is linked to my service as a Marine at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the 1970s. How can I claim disability through the Department of Veterans Affairs?

A. Veterans Affairs officials recently determined that eight diseases were service-connected, due to consuming contaminated drinking water at the base: kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, scleroderma, Parkinson’s disease and aplastic anemia, as well as other myelodysplastic syndromes, which are disorders caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells. Veterans who were not previously eligible for disability compensation may be eligible to receive it under the proposed changes.

VA Secretary Bob McDonald stated Dec. 17 that there will be a presumption of service connection for these conditions. This decision was the result of discussions between the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Under the proposed expanded benefits eligibility, reserve and National Guard members may also qualify for eligibility based on the VA’s definition of a veteran, for benefit purposes.

MILITARYTIMES

VA to change disability claims rules for Camp Lejeune veterans

Given the connection to military service history at Camp Lejeune, this may affect a veteran’s ability to collect VA disability benefits. As the VA reports, “from the 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents […] and other chemicals.” These chemicals included perchloroethylene (a dry cleaning agent), trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser), vinyl chloride, benzene, and other petroleum contaminants. During these years, these industrial solvents contaminated drinking water from leaking storage tanks on the base. As of February 1985, those wells were shut down.

The VA further reports that it has not determined the “duration […], intensity, [… and] geographic extent” of this contamination. However, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry determined that prolonged exposure to these chemicals “increases the risk of certain health conditions,” including the conditions that are presumptively connected.

However, disability benefits are not necessarily covered under the Camp Lejeune Healthcare Program. You will need to be a veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, who served at Camp Lejeune for any length of time during the period of contamination (Aug. 1, 1953, through Dec. 31, 1987). You must also have “a current disease and a medical opinion that states the disease is a result of exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.” Finally, you will normally have to undergo a VA medical examination that determines whether your disability is related to service at Camp Lejeune.

Due to these requirements, it is critical for a veteran to consult with an experienced military law attorney prior to seeking benefits. This is also important because the VA cannot grant any benefit claims based on the expanded definitions until the final regulations are issued.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/veterans/2016/02/14/ask-lawyer-vet-says-parkinsons-disease-caused-lejeune-water/80065748/

Research could inform new therapy for Parkinson’s disease

Date:

February 13, 2016

Source:

Boise State University

Summary:

New research suggests the possibility of the regrowth of dopaminergic neurons in adult mammals, which could have significant impact in treating Parkinson's disease.

Dopamine

Stem Cells

While scientists are unsure of the molecular causes of Parkinson's Disease, they do know the disorder's tremors and other motor dysfunctions are linked to a loss of dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra, a structure in the midbrain.

Dopaminergic neurons are our main source of dopamine, which is responsible for emotional response and plays an important role in movement. For many years, their loss has been viewed as irreversible.

But a new paper by Brad Morrison's research group in the Department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University suggests the possibility of regrowth of dopaminergic neurons in adult mammals. Co-authors are Joshua Albright, Iva Stojkovska, Abir Rahman and Connor Brown.

Their results, published in the journal Neuroscience Letters, also show that the rate of replenishment for these neurons is similar to the rate of loss observed in an inflammatory response mouse model of Parkinson's Disease. This may indicate that inflammatory insult inhibits the natural generation of neurons leading to Parkinson's Disease.

This is significant because Parkinson's disease is the most common motor disorder and the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Current medications treat only symptoms and after time lose effectiveness. Learning how to regenerate these neurons could offer potential avenues for preventing neuronal loss and better inform stem cell transplantation efforts.

Morrison hypothesized that cells could regenerate in adults but were somehow being blocked in Parkinson's Disease, explaining progression of the disease. This goes against current dogma, which posits that only a handful of neuronal populations are able to regenerate in adult mammalian brains.

Taking a novel approach, he devised a system to genetically trace the lineage of dopaminergic neurons from stem cells. After removing the gene from stem cells using recombinant DNA technology, he then waited six months. At the end of that time, he saw that removal of the gene affected mature dopaminergic neurons, implying that they must be replenished by stem cells.

He now is characterizing the stem cells responsible for this process as well as looking at the potential correlation of inflammation and a reduction in dopaminergic neurons.

---

Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Boise State University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Joshua E. Albright, Iva Stojkovska, Abir A. Rahman, Connor J. Brown, Brad E. Morrison. Nestin-positive/SOX2−negative cells mediate adult neurogenesis of nigral dopaminergic neurons in mice. Neuroscience Letters, 2016; 615: 50 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.01.019

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160213075217.htm?

Association between cerebral small vessel diseases and mild parkinsonian signs in the elderly with vascular risk factors

Feb. 13, 2016

Highlights

• •Our findings support the contribution of hypertensive microangiopathy to MPS.
• •A high degree of cerebral small vessel disease burden was associated with MPS.
• •MPS may be a reflection of an increased vascular burden or more widespread disease.
• •Reducing the vascular risk factors that cause SVD could be prevented MPS.

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to examine the association between mild parkinsonian signs (MPS), cerebral small-vessel disease (SVD), and total SVD burden in patients with vascular risk factors.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study among 268 patients with vascular risk factors but without parkinsonism or dementia (71.0±7.8 years, 63% male). MPS was evaluated via Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III. Brain MRI was used to determine SVD (cerebral microbleeds [CMBs], lacunar infarctions [LIs], and white matter hyperintensities [WMH]). The presence of each SVD feature was indicated by the total SVD score. Logistic regression analyses were performed adjusting for age, sex, history of stroke, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia.

Results

In a multivariate analysis, we found that the presence of CMBs, deep CMBs, mixed (in the basal ganglia and thalamus) LIs, periventricular hyperintensities (PVH), and deep WMH (DWMH), and total SVD score were significantly associated with MPS, whereas strictly lobar CMBs and other LIs (in strictly basal ganglia or strictly thalamus) were not. We also found a significant association between mixed LIs, PVH, DWMH and total SVD score and gait/balance function, between PVH and rigidity, and between mixed LIs and bradykinesia. Among elderly participants (≥73years), the association of total SVD score, deep CMBs, mixed LIs, and PVH, with MPS remained significant.

Conclusion

Our results provide additional evidence that SVD including CMBs, and especially total SVD burden, might be a surrogate marker for MPS and support the contribution of hypertensive microangiopathy as the underlying etiology.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.02.011

 Hatate

,

 Kaori Miwa

,

 Mari Matsumoto

,

 Tsutomu Sasaki

,

 Yoshiki Yagita

,

 Manabu Sakaguchi

,

Kazuo Kitagawa

,

 Hideki Mochizuki

http://www.prd-journal.com/action/showFullTextImages?pii=S1353-8020%2816%2930039-6