Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

Current ratings for: New drug 'safe and effective' for Parkinson's psychosis Ratings require JavaScript to be enabled. Researchers say that a new non-dopaminergic drug called pimavanserin may be the first to offer safe and effective treatment for patients who experience psychotic symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. This is according to a new study published in The Lancet. According to the research team from the US and UK, of the 10 million people worldwide who have Parkinson's disease, more than 50% of them can experience psychosis, mainly in the form of hallucinations and delusions. "Psychotic symptoms are common and distressing for people with Parkinson's and those caring for them," says Prof. Clive Ballard of King's College London and study leader. "Psychosis is a major driving factor for people with Parkinson's disease being admitted to nursing homes and substantially increases the risk of dying. But no safe and effective drug therapies exist." At present, Parkinson's patients who suffer with psychosis only have the choice of antipsychotic drugs - such as clozapine and quetiapine - as a form of treatment for psychosis. But Prof. Ballard says that these drugs may worsen motor symptoms of Parkinson's, speed up cognitive decline and can be life-threatening … Continue reading →

Newswise LOS ANGELES (Oct. 31, 2013) Ten million people in the U.S. are affected by a medical condition called essential tremor rhythmic trembling of the hands, head, voice, legs or trunk. The disorder is eight times more common than Parkinsons disease, but many people fail to seek treatment, either because they have not been diagnosed or they erroneously believe no help is available. Michele Tagliati, MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Movement Disorders Program in the Department of Neurology, and Adam Mamelak, MD, director of the Functional Neurosurgery Program in the Department of Neurosurgery, will present a free community seminar to describe the condition and discuss diagnostic procedures, the latest research and treatments that can restore calm to patients lives. Learning about Essential Tremor, from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, will be co-sponsored by the International Essential Tremor Foundation and facilitated by Catherine Rice, the organizations executive director. Tagliati, a neurologist whose movement disorders expertise spans 15 years, said several treatment options exist. Medications usually the first choice can be effective, although benefits may decrease over time and some side effects may be bothersome. If treatments fail or cannot be tolerated, patients may consider deep brain stimulation therapy, which … Continue reading →

Current ratings for: Study uncovers link between Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Ratings require JavaScript to be enabled. Scientists have discovered biological mechanisms that may link Parkinson's disease to Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica. Researchers from the University of Florida say their findings could lead to targets for new treatment that combats both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as many other neurological disorders. For their study, the researchers investigated a protein called tau. They explain that tau is a soluble protein in the brain that binds to microtubules - components that play an important part in cell processes - helping to support neuronal function. The normal function of tau is supported by phosphorylation - a process that switches protein enzymes on and off and regulates their function and activity. However, the researchers say that in some diseased brains, the tau protein can become abnormally phosphorylated and cause "clumps" or "tangles." These tangles, called tauopathies, are linked to cognitive impairment found in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, and are also linked to around 20% of Parkinson's cases. Parkinson's patients can develop tangles of the tau protein as a result of a mutated enzyme called … Continue reading →

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Researchers at the University of Alabama have made a breakthrough in the treatmentParkinson's disease. The group has discovered a new molecule that could prevent Parkinson's from spreading in patients who already have the disease. Having his article published in Science magazine in the crme de la crme according to UA professor and research scientist Dr. Guy Caldwell. He said, "For a scientist this is kind of the equivalent of the national championship in football." The article details the discovery of a molecule Caldwell is calling NAB. "What NAB does is it accelerates the process of trafficking." The professor added, "Kind of alleviating a road block in the cells of the Parkinson's patients." After testing NAB in worms, the brain cells of a rat, and the skin cells of a Parkinson's patient, Caldwell and his team believes the molecule could protect cells from deteriorating and, could stop the disease from progressing. The research is being done by a team of three, Dr. Caldwell, and his wife, who is a professor at UA, and a former UA Ph D student. The research scientist said Parkinson's patients who have tremors as a result of the disease likely are surviving on … Continue reading →

Oct. 24, 2013 Using a discovery platform whose components range from yeast cells to human stem cells, Whitehead Institute scientists have identified a novel Parkinson's disease drug target and a compound capable of repairing neurons derived from Parkinson's patients. The platform -- whose effectiveness is described in dual papers published online this week in the journal Science -- could accelerate the discovery of drug candidates that address the underlying pathology of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Today, no such drugs exist. Parkinson's disease (PD) and such neurodegenerative diseases as Huntington's and Alzheimer's are characterized by protein misfolding, resulting in toxic accumulations of proteins in the cells of the central nervous system. Cellular buildup of the protein alpha-synuclein, for example, has long been associated with PD, making this protein a seemingly appropriate target for therapeutic intervention. In the search for compounds that might alter a protein's behavior or function -- such as that of alpha-synuclein -- drug companies often rely on so-called target-based screens that test the effect large numbers of compounds have on the protein in question in rapid, automated fashion. Though efficient, such an approach is limited by the fact that it essentially occurs in a test tube. Seemingly … Continue reading →

Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AVNR: Quote) has enrolled the first patient in a phase II study of AVP-923 in the treatment of Levodopa induced dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease. Top line data for this study is expected in the second half of calendar 2014. AVNR closed Tuesday's trading at $4.50, up 0.67. Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CBST: Quote) has submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA for approval of its investigational antibiotic Tedizolid phosphate in the indication of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. Tedizolid phosphate is a once daily oxazolidinone being developed for both intravenous (I.V.) and oral administration for the treatment of serious Gram-positive infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). CBST closed Tuesday's trading at $66.19, up 3.84%. Epizyme Inc. (EPZM: Quote) expects top-line data from its phase I study of EPZ-5676 in the fourth quarter of 2013. EPZ-5676 is being evaluated in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. Medivation Inc. (MDVN: Quote) and Astellas Pharma Inc announced that the global phase III trial, dubbed PREVAIL, evaluating the prostate cancer drug XTANDI (enzalutamide) in men with metastatic prostate cancer that has progressed despite androgen deprivation therapy and who have not yet received chemotherapy, will be … Continue reading →

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Medicine controlled Clarita Beslack's tremors from Parkinson's Disease for five years. Then something changed and by January 2013, she knew she needed a different kind of treatment. Beslack says, "I couldn't travel any longer. I started stumbling and I needed something to help me walk. They couldn't give me anymore medication. So I probably would've ended up in a wheel chair." She turned to Dr. Nizam Razack at Florida Hospital Celebration and he proposed a traditional approach with a new, unusual twist. Razack wanted to use Deep Brain Stimulation, or DBS, to treat Beslack's Parkinson's symptoms. DBS is done by placing an electrode deep inside a patient's brain. Stimulation sent to it controls the tremors. But the surgery is tricky, and precise place of the electrode is critical. Dr. Razack suggested using something called the Mazor Robotics Renaissance Guidance System. FOX 35's Tom Johnson has more on what happened when they tried it and how the robot works. Read the rest here: Florida woman first to have robotic brain surgery for Parkinson's … Continue reading →

Drs. Oz and Roizen By Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen King Features Syndicate Dr. Mehmet Oz, left, and Dr. Michael Roizen (Provided by King Features Syndicate) Q: A friend of mine recently retired from teaching. She used to be on her feet all day, but now she's slowed down and gained weight. The other day I noticed that her hands and shoulders were shaking as she was working in the kitchen. Could she be developing Parkinson's? Katie M., Muncie, Ind. A. If someone shows signs of Parkinson's disease trouble with balance, tremors or shaking in lips, hand, arms and/or legs it's important that he or she see a specialist and get a diagnosis ASAP. Here's why: Reason No. 1 It could be something else. Sometimes medications, either by themselves or in combination, can produce symptoms similar to Parkinson's, which develops when your brain stops producing enough dopamine. If that's the problem, adjustments to medications may be necessary or even urgent. And there's a condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus that can mimic Parkinson's, a stroke or Alzheimer's. It's reversible with surgical intervention. Reason No. 2 Early diagnosis of Parkinson's gives you the best chance of finding effective treatment (using … Continue reading →

The study by scientists at the UK's Medical Research Council raised the prospect that a pill could be used in the future to prevent the destruction of brain cells, part of the cause of degenerative brain disease. We were extremely excited when we saw the treatment stop the disease in its tracks and protect brain cells Professor Giovanni Mallucci One of the root causes of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is abnormally shaped proteins that stick together. Enough of these proteins can trigger a reaction whereby the brain's neurons shuts down production of protein in the brain. This ultimately leads to the death of these brain cells. The drug tested by the Medical Research Council, which was injected into sick mice, turns the production of protein back on. The mice had prion diseases, such a Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which are also caused by the abnormally shaped proteins. Five weeks after treatment one group of mice remained free of symptoms such as memory loss, impaired reflexes and limb dragging. They also lived longer than untreated animals with the same brain disease. Lead scientist Professor Giovanna Mallucci, from the MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Leicester, said: "We were … Continue reading →

9 October 2013 Last updated at 11:57 ET Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. The study aims to test a new technique for treating Parkinson's disease A pilot into the treatment of Parkinson's disease which researchers hope could help to slow down the condition is taking place in Bristol. Frenchay Hospital wants to discover the effect of infusing the protein Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) directly into the brain. The pilot follows an "initial safety trial" involving six patients. The project is funded by Parkinson's UK, with support from Cure Parkinson's Trust and North Bristol NHS Trust. The study will research if GDNF infusion, using a "specially-designed delivery port", could help to improve symptoms such as a stiffness, slowness of movement and tremor. Neurosurgeon Professor Steven Gill said: "One of the biggest problems facing many researchers in the past has been finding a way to get past the blood/brain barrier, which prevents materials from blood entering the brain. "We have developed a new way to bypass this barrier, and deliver the protein directly, by infusion, to the areas of the brain where cells die in Parkinson's." View post: Hospital to host Parkinson's trial … Continue reading →