Lizard saliva derivative helps Parkinson's patients

August 3, 2017

Gila monster found in Southeastern Arizona. (Josh Olander / Creative Commons 4.0)

https://youtu.be/a5UG97nfov8

A diabetes drug developed by a San Diego biotech company from a venomous lizard’s saliva reduces Parkinson’s disease symptoms, according to a study published Thursday.

San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals licensed the discovery in 1996. Further development yielded exenatide, sold under the brand name Byetta.

The drug became a hit, providing a major reason for Amylin’s 2012 purchase for $7 billion by Bristol-Myers Squibb. As for Amylin, the company was disbanded and no longer exists.

Exenatide/Byetta reduces insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, allowing for better control of blood glucose. There’s evidence that Parkinson’s disease is also related to problems with insulin signaling.

The new clinical study improves on the previous study because it is placebo-controlled, according to an accompanying commentary in The Lancet. But the study has limitations that prevent it from being considered definitive, 

“Whether exenatide acts as a novel symptomatic agent or has neuroprotective effects on the underlying Parkinson’s disease pathology remains unclear, but Athauda and colleagues’ study opens up a new therapeutic avenue in treatment of Parkinson’s disease,” the commentary stated.

Christian Weyer, M.D., a former Amylin executive, said one of the most interesting part of the study was exenatide’s potential for modifying the course of Parkinson’s disease. Weyer is now president of Chula Vista’s ProSciento, a clinical services provider.

Patients were measured on motor skills after getting 48 weeks of injections, either with exenatide or placebo. The treated group showed an advantage of 4 points on a 132-scale test, which was statistically significant.

Exenatide mimics the action of a hormone, and such drugs often show disease-modifying properties, said Weyer, who was Amylin’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development.

“It’s not conclusive that exenatide has the potential for disease-modification, but I was impressed by the fact that the endpoint of the test was in the off-medication period, so you actually assess whether there’s an effect even after the treatment had been stopped,” Weyer said.

Amylin had performed early preclinical research on exenatide for Parkinsons’ disease, Weyer said. The research was funded by a small grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

In chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s, finding disease-modifying therapies is the “Holy Grail,” Weyer said.

“These are life-long diseases, and anything you can do to either delay or prevent the onset of the disease, or to slow its progression over a long period of time,” has great benefit, Weyer said.

Insulin has many biological roles in the body, so it’s not surprising that an abnormal response to insulin could play a role in Parkinson’s disease as well as diabetes, Weyer said.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/biotech/sd-me-exenatide-parkinsons-20170803-story.html

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Researchers identify neurons that control brain's body clock

August 3, 2017

Neurons in the brain that produce the pleasure-signaling neurotransmitter dopamine also directly control the brain's circadian center, or "body clock" - the area that regulates eating cycles, metabolism and waking/resting cycles - a key link that possibly affects the body's ability to adapt to jet lag and rotating shift work, a new University of Virginia study has demonstrated.

The finding is reported in today's online edition of the journal Current Biology.

"This discovery, which identifies a direct dopamine neuron connection to the circadian center, is possibly the first step toward the development of unique drugs, targeting specific neurons, to combat the unpleasant symptoms of jet-lag and shiftwork, as well as several dangerous pathologies," said Ali Deniz Güler, a UVA professor of biology and neuroscience who oversaw the study in his lab.

Modern society often places abnormal pressure on the human body—from shifting time schedules due to air travel, to work cycles that don't conform to natural light, to odd eating times—and these external conditions create an imbalance in the body's natural cycles, which are evolutionarily synchronized to day and night. These imbalances may contribute to depression, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and even cancer.

"Scientists have been working for decades to help the body's circadian system readily re-synchronize to variable work and eating schedules and flights across multiple time zones," Güler said. "Finding this connection between dopamine-producing neurons and the circadian center allows us to target these neurons with therapies that could potentially provide relief of symptoms for travelers and shift workers particularly, and possibly people with insomnia."

Sleep disorders and abnormal circadian rhythms affecting the brain and other organs can worsen many pathologies involving aberrant dopamine neurotransmission, Güler said, including Parkinson's disease, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and drug addiction.

"New understanding of dopamine-producing neurons and the connection to the body's biorhythms may go a long way toward treatments to alleviate the harmful effects of these serious pathologies," Güler said.

Güler's laboratory specializes in identifying neural circuits that govern biological rhythms in the brain, providing unique therapeutic targets for a range of diseases. Ph.D. candidate Ryan Grippo, Güler's graduate student, led the Current Biology study.

The researchers used two types of mice in their investigation: one normal, the other with dopamine signaling disrupted. By shifting the light schedules of the two groups by six hours, a jet-lag effect, they found that the dopamine-disrupted animals took much longer to resynchronize to the six-hour time shift, indicating feedback between the dopamine neurons and the circadian center.

"This shows that when we engage in rewarding activities like eating, we are inadvertently affecting our biological rhythms," Güler said. "We may have found the missing link to how pleasurable things and the circadian system influence one another."

More information: Current Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.084

Journal reference: Current Biology

Provided by: University of Virginia

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-neurons-brain-body-clock.html

Atria Darien offers Parkinson’s support group

 August 3, 2017  By Erin Kayata

Marlane Argianas of the American Parkinson Disease Association, from left, with Ilene Sumberg and Beth Blake at Atria Darien on July 24.

DARIEN — When Elizabeth Harmon was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012, she immediately joined a local support group.

Through the group, the former St. Augustine, Fla., resident had once-a-week exercise sessions with trainers from the University of St. Augustine, as well as support from other community members with the same disease. 

“That’s where I became involved,” she said. “It was a great group of people with a great leader. I was very much into it.”

When Harmon moved to Atria Darien last July, she found the senior living center lacked the same sort of support group. So she went to Ilene Sumberg, the center’s resident relations director, and Beth Blake, the engage life director, to change that.

Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system, often affecting a patient’s movement. Symptoms of Parkinson’s include tremors, muscle stiffness and slow movement. It can also cause sleep problems, constipation, anxiety, depression and fatigue.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are ways to treat it. Effective treatment methods are among the topics shared in the Parkinson’s support group Blake and Sumberg formed at Atria Darien after hearing from Harmon. With the help of Marlane Argianas, program coordinator at the Connecticut chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, the women formed a support group for not only Atria residents with Parkinson’s, but other local patients and caregivers. The group meets the second Friday of every month at 11 a.m. at Atria Darien for an hour-and-a-half and kicked off June 9.

Similar support groups can be found throughout Fairfield County, including in New Canaan, with around 100 members. 

“The thing about Parkinson’s is no two people are alike,” Argianas said. “There are motor and nonmotor symptoms. It helps for people to come together and talk about their lives.”

For Harmon, she is thrilled to once again have a group of people she can turn to like she did in Florida. 

“The people I met were so wonderful, and now I’m finding the same thing happening up here,” she said. “We’re coming together as a support group. It’s tremendous.”

The group, co-facilitated by Sumberg and Blake, shares tips, friendship and information on the disease. They have heard from guest speakers and health experts about how to manage their Parkinson’s. There’s a heavy emphasis exercise, which Argianas said is the only thing that can slow the progression of the disease, and a walking group has been born out of the group’s first two meetings to help residents stay active.

Both Sumberg and Blake received training from the APDA to lead a group and have a manual to help them guide the group, as well as additional tools and literature. 

So far, the Atria group has attracted people from Trumbull, New Canaan and Norwalk. The group has had around 15 people per meeting with a mix of people living at Atria and caregivers from around the community. Friends of patients, people with Parkinson’s symptoms and private caregivers from within Atria have also been attending to learn more about the disease.

“Having this here is a way to say we understand,” Blake said. “And that’s the hallmark of us. We respond to people’s needs.”

Each meeting has a particular theme, set by Sumberg and Blake. 

“The idea is to have a theme and with that, people can respond,” Sumberg said. “I think it’s important to structure the group and stay open to other directions. I think people look to the group for structure.”

The first meeting was introductory and the second focused on the power of dance in helping with Parkinson’s. In August, Dr. David Russell will discuss a new medication meant to help with hallucinations and delusions that some patients experience.

http://www.dariennewsonline.com/news/article/Atria-Darien-offers-Parkinson-s-support-group-11731101.php

9 Tips for Getting Rest and Sleep With Parkinson’s Disease

 AUGUST 3, 2017   BY WENDY HENDERSON IN SOCIAL CLIPS.

The physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can often prevent those who live with the condition from getting a good night’s sleep and adequate rest. The restorative effects of sleep can improve health and help those with Parkinson’s disease better manage the disease on a daily basis, so ensuring they get enough quality sleep is essential.

The National Parkinsons Foundation has published some tips on how to get a good night’s sleep including:

• Have a bedtime routine. Establishing a bedtime routine is one of the keys to a successful night’s sleep. Try to do the same relaxing things each night prior to going to bed, whether this is having a warm bath, reading a book, or watching a TV show is up to you. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day to establish a regular sleep schedule.
• Avoid things that may disturb sleep. Stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine are best avoided for an hour or so before bedtime. Likewise, limit the number of liquids you drink so that you’re not waking up in the middle of the night to visit the bathroom.
• Exercise. Exercising during the day will help you sleep better at night. However, it’s best to avoid exercising just prior to retiring for the night.
• Get plenty of light during the day. Exposure to bright light during the day helps our bodies to recognize nighttime and the need to sleep when it gets dark. Natural light works much better than artificial light so try to spend a bit of time outdoors if possible or sit near a well-lit window.
• Create a comfortable sleeping environment.  A comfortable mattress and pillow are essential. If you can’t afford a new mattress, look into purchasing a mattress topper that can help you feel more comfortable during the night. Keep your bedroom at a cool ambient temperature and if you need to open a window, make sure you’re not in the draught. Ideally, your bedroom should only be used for sleeping and romantic encounters. Banish work or study books, piles of laundry, the television, electronic devices and other non-sleep-related items and create a tranquil haven where you can relax.
• No pets allowed. Cats and dogs love to sleep close to their owners. They also like to take up more than their fair share of the bed, make noise and disturb you. Give them their own beds in a different room.
• Try over-the-counter sleep aids. Limit prescription sedatives to a two-week period and try natural alternatives such as Valerian root capsules.
• If you can’t sleep, get out of bed. Give yourself 15 minutes to fall asleep. If you’re still awake after this time, get out of bed and go sit down and read a book or listen to some relaxing music until you feel sleepy.
• Limit naps. A nap can be very restorative but can also interfere with nighttime sleep. Try to limit naps to no more than 40 minutes a day.

Parkinsons’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.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2017/08/03/nine-tips-getting-rest-sleep-parkinsons-disease/

11 Facts About Parkinson’s Disease You May Not Know

AUGUST 3, 2017   BY MARTA RIBEIRO

Most people know of Parkinson’s disease and have a good idea of its symptoms, but very few know much more than that about this progressive illness. We’ve put together some simple stats and facts that you can share near and far.

With help from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, everydayhealth.com, and ecaring.com, here are 11 facts about the disease most people don’t know. (Some of them may even surprise you!)

It’s a movement disorder. 

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease whereby cells responsible for producing dopamine die off in the substantia nigra area of the brain. Dopamine is essential for movement as it acts as a transmitter for signals from the brain to other parts of the body.

Who found it?

Parkinson’s disease was discovered by British surgeon Dr. James Parkinson in 1817.

How prevalent is it?

Approximately one million people have Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. and there are around 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Most patients are middle-aged. 

The average age of someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is 56. Around 4 percent of Parkinson’s patients are diagnosed before the age of 50 and it’s considered young-onset if diagnosed before the age of 40.

When is it considered young-onset Parkinson’s disease?

It’s considered young-onset if diagnosed before the age of 40. The youngest recorded case of Parkinson’s was a 12-year-old patient.

How is it diagnosed?

There is no blood test or scan that can diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Doctors look for four classic symptoms of the disease before reaching a diagnosis: tremors, rigidity in the wrist and elbow joints, lack or slowness of movement, and an unstable posture.

It affects mostly men. 

Parkinson’s disease is twice as likely to affect men than women.

There’s no known cause. 

There is no known cause of Parkinson’s disease although a family history of the disease will increase your risk. Researchers think environmental factors such as smoking, pollution, heavy metals, medications and illegal drugs may be responsible for the onset of the disease. Head trauma, brain inflammation, and stroke have also been associated with the disease.

Parkinson’s is expensive. 

Treating patients with Parkinson’s disease costs the U.S. around $25 billion a year. The average patient will need $2,500 worth of medication each year and therapeutic surgery could cost up to $100,000.

How do you treat it? 

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease but there are medications that can help patients with the symptoms. Patients can also undergo deep brain stimulation where electrical current is used to help block tremors and other movement symptoms of the disease.

There’s a correlation between Parkinson’s and depression. 

Dopamine is also associated with mood as well as movement. It’s estimated that more than half of Parkinson’s disease patients suffer from depression and around 40 percent suffer from anxiety.

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.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2017/08/03/11-facts-parkinsons-may-not-know/

Offering Encouragement and Hope Because of Parkinson’s Disease

AUGUST 2, 2017    BY SHERRI WOODBRIDGE

This evening I sat with my neighbor for a while. She is almost 87. I asked her how her son and daughter were doing. She is caring for her daughter who just had a hip replaced. She is praying for her son who just found out he has throat cancer.

How do you deal with stuff like that when you’re 87? Shouldn’t life’s battles take some bit of a reprieve as you get older, especially when you’ve already lost a child, your husband has gone before you, and you are left alone to do life’s battles?

So, I sat there and listened as she lamented and asked why.

Only God knows why, and sometimes, that answer doesn’t work. Believers who say they trust in a sovereign God even ask why, and sometimes there just isn’t a viable explanation. Sometimes there is only silence. Sometimes, a long silence.

Another neighbor stopped by the other day, her face bruised from having three teeth pulled. During our conversation, my arm began shaking. While she watched my arm, knowing I have PD, and with me knowing she is diabetic, she added, “We all have something, don’t we? But aren’t we blessed?” she added.

Most people would think she’s a lunatic. A crazy lady. Someone who is trying to be brave amid a frightened world. But I would have to agree. Not because I am trying to be brave or appear in control, but because in many ways, having Parkinson’s has been a blessing. When God allowed my brain to malfunction through the channels of a loss of dopamine (for some reason I may never understand), He allowed it for my best. Does it feel like it is for my best? Absolutely not. But maybe in my non-understanding, I can find a silver lining.

Maybe it’s to take me deeper into Him. To make me rely and depend on Him alone so that He truly is my all, in all. Or, maybe it’s to make me more compassionate and understanding.

To be told you have a terminal illness or a chronic disease, to be battling a wayward child, to be going through a divorce, to have lost a child — these situations often cause you to look at others in a more compassionate way, as our understanding of pain and suffering increases within ourselves. 

Maybe it’s to make us learn to laugh. They say a great sense of humor is often born through a great deal of pain. Some of the funniest people I know are the ones who have been through the toughest times. They have found that God is their joy and strength, and hope and laughter truly are their best medicine.

Do I always feel so blessed to have Parkinson’s? Of course not. And I have even been known to act “un-blessed.” I’m not crazy. It is hard work to stay above the dark clouds of depression when you know you have a chronic illness and you can feel it progressing. Yes, it’s hard. And that is why I talk about it. Because, what if we never shared our stories of illness, defeat, grief and loss, sorrow and pain? We’d be lost and alone. Grieving alone. Feeling defeated alone. Sick alone. Suffering alone.

As I sat with my neighbor last night, I told her I’m not sure why I have Parkinson’s or why she has to endure so much pain, but I am sure of one thing. If it was only to give another person encouragement and hope because of the journey I’ve been on, that would be enough. If it was to understand more deeply what some will never understand at all, that would be reason enough. For I have learned that to understand more deeply and to have the ability to encourage and offer someone a greater hope because of that is to have loved (and lived, even) at a deeper level. We are not given trials to feel sorry for ourselves, but to turn us around and give back just a little of what was given to us in order to travel our best journey.

If no one had traveled a journey similar to ours — someone to encourage us, offer hope, listen through the tears and fears, someone who is hurting — it would be a very dark place we would live in. But thankfully people share their stories in hopes of helping another. Will you?

***

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/2017/08/02/parkinsons-disease-prompts-me-to-offer-encouargement-and-hope-to-others/

Friends Pedaling for Parkinson’s Reach New Milestone, Raise $1M for Research

AUGUST 2, 2017   BY CAROLINA HENRIQUES IN NEWS.

Peter Istvan and David Newall founded “Pedaling for Parkinson’s” in 2011 as an annual cycling fundraising event to support Parkinson’s Canada and the Parkinson’s disease (PD)community.

This year, “Pedaling for Parkinson’s” reached a new cumulative milestone, raising more than $1 million, which was made possible with the help of riders, volunteers, and sponsors.

According to a press release, the two friends began pedaling after being inspired by David’s father and a close friend of Peter’s, both of whom have Parkinson’s.

The cycling event spans three days, during which cyclists pedal over 100,000 strokes, one for each person living with Parkinson’s in Canada.

More than 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson’s in Canada, and about 6,600 new cases are diagnosed each year, most of them over the age of 60.

Although the disease affects both genders, men are more likely to develop the disease, with the risk increasing with age.

Parkinson Canada offers a wide range of materials to help individuals, families and health professionals learn about Parkinson’s disease. Operating since 1965, Parkinson Canada provides support services and education to the Parkinson’s community, and advocates on issues that concern Parkinson’s patients in Canada.

The funds raised from Pedaling for Parkinson’s benefit innovative research projects sponsored by Parkinson Canada through its Parkinson Canada Research Program.

Since 1981, the Parkinson Canada Research Program has invested over $26 million in funding for research by established and young investigators; discovery stage research to test new theories and pursue promising leads; young scholars starting their careers to foster the next generation of Parkinson’s researchers; and over 503 awards, fellowships, and grants in the field.

As of September 2016, Parkinson Canada and its partners were able to support 19 new grants, fellowships, and student awards, totaling $1,124,018 for new research projects in Canada through June 30, 2018.

The latest grants awarded by the organization include seven pilot projects, three new investigator awards, three basic research fellowships, one clinical research fellowship, one clinical movement disorders fellowship, and four graduate student awards.

To follow the developments and advances funded by “Pedaling for Parkinson’s” subscribe to Parkinson’s News Today and receive the latest updates directly in your email inbox.

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2017/08/02/friends-pedaling-for-parkinsons-reach-1-million-dollar-milestone-for-research/

Art helps Gainesville native with Parkinson's disease discover passion

August 2, 2017

GAINESVILLE, Fla -- They have some difficulty moving, but not expressing themselvesrt in Motion, a visual arts workshop for individuals with moving disorders held an art exhibit at the Criser Cancer Resource Center at UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital Wednesday afternoon. 

The program featured an art exhibit by Marcia West, a Gainesville native and a weekly participant of the program. 

West was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease a few years ago, but that didn't stop her from painting the 30 pieces on display and discovering her passion. 

"It's not a choice even. It's a passion. I think it's a passion. Obviously I can't make it [Parkinson's Disease] go away, but I can keep a positive attitude about it, and I think that love is important," said Marcia West, an artist. 

"It helps with self-esteem and it's really nice to claim yourself as an artist rather than a person with Parkinson's Disease or MS. You can say, I'm an artist. That's who I am today, because you're so much more than any ailment or disease," said Madeline Austin, the artist of Art in Motion.

West is still deciding whether or not she'll sell her work. The program will hopefully continue featuring individual artists and their work in exhibits in the near future.

Video:

http://www.wcjb.com/content/news/Art-in-Motion--438190353.html

http://www.wcjb.com/content/news/Art-in-Motion--438190353.html

Local distillery hosts golf tournament to support Parkinson’s awareness

By WSAV StaffPublished: August 2, 2017

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Ghost Coast Distillery is hosting a golf tournament this Friday to raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease in Savannah and Chatham County.

The 1st Savannah PD Awareness $4,000,000 Golf Shoot-Out will honor and remember the loved ones who have have been touched by the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease.

Golfers can register $100/person or $400/team. The four players who land “closest to the pin” have a chance to win $1,000,000, all while supporting a great cause.

Registration includes lunch, greens fees, golf carts, drinks and lots of giveaways and prizes.

To register or donate on behalf of someone you love with Parkinson’s Disease, you can visit nationalmovementalliance.org.

The tournament will be held at Bacon Park Golf Course, with lunch beginning at 11:00 a.m.

http://wsav.com/2017/08/02/local-distillery-hosts-golf-tournament-to-support-parkinsons-awareness/

Does coffee help you live longer?

August 2, 2017   by Mayo Clinic News Network, Mayo Clinic News Network

Can drinking coffee help you live longer? Two studies report that it may be true.

Credit: George Hodan/public domain

Both studies, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, show drinking coffee likely benefits your health. One study found coffee drinking is associated with a reduced risk of death from various diseases, and the other study showed drinking a lot of coffee is associated with a lower death risk in African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Latinos and Caucasians.

Dr. Donald Hensrud, a Mayo Clinic nutrition expert, says the two studies confirm that coffee can benefit many people who drink it, as long as they don't suffer negative side effects of caffeine.

"There is a common belief that coffee is not healthy," says Hensrud. "There are side effects from coffee that may limit consumption in some people, including insomnia; gastroesophageal reflux disease; urinary symptoms, such as frequency and urgency; nervousness and anxiety if consuming too much and others. However, from a health standpoint, these two studies are consistent with many other studies that show overall health benefits. There is fairly good evidence that coffee is associated with decreased risk of liver disease and liver cancer, Parkinson's disease, Type 2 diabetes, and even improved mood and decreased risk of depression."

Hensrud says that while these new studies are not conclusive, they provide reassurance that if people drink coffee and are not having any side effects, there is little reason to decrease consumption, and they should continue to enjoy it.

Journal reference: Annals of Internal Medicine

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-coffee-longer.html