Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

Jan. 7, 2013 Parkinson's disease itself does not increase the risk of impulse control problems such as compulsive gambling and shopping that have been seen in people taking certain drugs for Parkinson's disease, according to new research published in the January 8, 2013, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "We've known for some time that these behaviors are more common in people taking certain Parkinson's medications, but we haven't known if the disease itself leads to an increased risk of these behaviors," said study author Daniel Weintraub, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The study involved 168 people who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had not yet taken any medications for the disease. They were compared to 143 people of similar ages who did not have the disease. The participants were given a questionnaire asking how often they had impulse control symptoms such as compulsive gambling, shopping, sexual behavior or eating. Participants were also asked about aimless wandering, punding (which is excessive repetition of non-goal directed activity, such as continual handling and sorting of common objects) and hobbyism (the compulsive pursuit of a hobby … Continue reading →

Public release date: 7-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Kim Menard kim.menard@uphs.upenn.edu 215-662-6183 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine PHILADELPHIA - While approximately one in five Parkinson's disease patients experience impulse control disorder symptoms, the disease itself does not increase the risk of gambling, shopping, or other impulsivity symptoms, according to research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. A new study is the first to show in a large sample that people with untreated Parkinson's were no more likely to have an increased impulsivity than people without the disease. Published in the January 8, 2013, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, this study is the strongest research to date reinforcing the reported association between disease medications and impulse control disorders in Parkinson's. "When looking at newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients who had yet to be treated with drugs targeting the dopamine system, we saw no difference in impulsivity than what we found in healthy people without the disease," said lead study author Daniel Weintraub, MD, associate professor of Psychiatry and Neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Now knowing that the disease … Continue reading →

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A public hearing is planned later this month to add Parkinsons disease to the list of illnesses that would qualify for medical marijuana use in Michigan. WWJ legal analyst Charlie Langton said it would be the first addition since medical marijuana was approved by voters in 2008. Remember, the legislature did not vote for this, the people voted for this. So, if we want to add a disease that would allow for medical marijuana, it would take a 3/4 vote of the legislature, said Langton. A panel met in December to consider adding Parkinsons diseaseand post-traumatic stress disorder, but only Parkinsons made the cut. Its a brain disorder that causes tremors and problems with coordination. This last session of legislature, they did tighten up some restrictions on how you can get your marijuana andwhat kind of doctors notes you need for marijuana, but there does seem to be at least some level of interest in the legislature now to expand and really define what people can use medical marijuana for, said Langton. Current laws pertaining to medical marijuana in Michigan allow for the drug to be used as treatment for certain diseases such as glaucoma, cancer, hepatitis … Continue reading →

Jan. 3, 2013 For several years, neurologists at UCLA have been building a case that a link exists between pesticides and Parkinson's disease. To date, paraquat, maneb and ziram -- common chemicals sprayed in California's Central Valley and elsewhere -- have been tied to increases in the disease, not only among farmworkers but in individuals who simply lived or worked near fields and likely inhaled drifting particles. Now, UCLA researchers have discovered a link between Parkinson's and another pesticide, benomyl, whose toxicological effects still linger some 10 years after the chemical was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Even more significantly, the research suggests that the damaging series of events set in motion by benomyl may also occur in people with Parkinson's disease who were never exposed to the pesticide, according to Jeff Bronstein, senior author of the study and a professor of neurology at UCLA, and his colleagues. Benomyl exposure, they say, starts a cascade of cellular events that may lead to Parkinson's. The pesticide prevents an enzyme called ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase) from keeping a lid on DOPAL, a toxin that naturally occurs in the brain. When left unchecked by ALDH, DOPAL accumulates, damages neurons and increases an … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/t9s7xm/how_selegiline) has announced the addition of the "How Selegiline ((-)-Deprenyl) Slows Brain Aging" book to their offering. This e-book is a reference on Selegiline ((-)-Deprenyl) effects on the brain. Selegiline, described in thousands of research papers, is registered in over 60 countries. At present, more than one hundred preparations containing selegiline circulate in the global market under different brand names. They are widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, major depression and as a geroprotective / anti-aging drug. ((-)-Deprenyl) selegiline, the first selective inhibitor of B-type MAO which, in contrast to the known MAO inhibitors, did not potentiate the effect of tyramine but inhibited it. The compound could be combined with levodopa in Parkinson's disease without signs of hypertensive reactions. The DATATOP study in the USA revealed that (-)-deprenyl delayed the onset of disability associated with early, otherwise untreated Parkinson's disease. The age-related decay of the supply of the brain with phenylethylamine (PEA), due to the progressive increase of MAO-B activity in the aging brain, and dopamine, due to the better than average decline of the dopaminergic neuronal activity during the postdevelopmental phase of life, are irresistible biochemical lesions of aging. The … Continue reading →

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Amarantus BioScience, Inc. (AMBS), a biotechnology company discovering and developing treatments for diseases associated with protein misfolding and apoptosis, today announced that Dr. John W. Commissiong, CSO will present results of its Parkinson's disease neurorestoration animal studies at the OneMedForum SF 2013 conference on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 1:40pm PT. The conference will take place at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, CA.The presentation will be webcast live at the link: http://onemedplace.com/forum/webcast/ Dr. Commissiong, Amarantus' Chief Scientific Officer, will be presenting results of the Parkinson's experiments including detailed review of behaviour, histology, densitometry and stereology data for MANF and how they compare with results obtained for GDNF. Thereafter, current Amarantus advisor Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld will provide his views on areas of significant commercial potential for MANF beyond Parkinson's disease. OneMedForum SF 2013 is an international healthcare conference where emerging private and small cap public companies present to, and meet with investors of all types including high net worth individuals, alternative investors, asset managers, hedge funds, institutional investors, and venture capitalists. SPEAKER BIOS Dr. John Commissiong, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Commissiong has served as the Chief Scientific Officer and a Director of … Continue reading →

Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT; OTCQX: LVCLY) today announced the signing of an agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc. (Otsuka) to co-develop NTCELL for the treatment of Parkinsons disease and other neurological disorders. LCT will receive an upfront payment of A$3m within 30 days of signing. In addition, Otsuka will fund all development costs, estimated at $2m, to complete the previously announced Phase I trial of NTCELL in Parkinsons disease. LCT will receive a further milestone payment of $2m when the first patient in the Phase I Parkinsons trial has been safely implanted with NTCELL. This is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2013. In return, LCT has granted Otsuka an exclusive option to jointly develop and commercialise NTCELL in Parkinsons and other neurological diseases, including hearing loss, through Diatranz Otsuka Limited (DOL), the 50:50 joint venture formed between LCT and Otsuka. If Otsuka exercises this option it will subscribe for $20 million of additional equity into DOL to fund the ongoing development of NTCELL in Parkinsons disease through to market approval and to further develop NTCELL in other neurological diseases. At the same time LCT will transfer the intellectual property for therapeutic use of NTCELL in … Continue reading →

LONDON (ShareCast) - AIM-listed pharmaceutical company Vernalis (Berlin: BBP2.BE - news) has published positive results for a Receptor Occupancy study of an antagonist with potential applications for Parkinson's disease and other Central Nervous System indications. The study examined the relationship between dose, plasma concentration and blockade of the so-called "A2A (MDD: A2A.MDD - news) " receptor using positron emission tomography scanning and included a preliminary evaluation, using functional magnetic resonance imaging of the effects of V81444, the particular antangonist, on cognitive function. The study demonstrated that full A2A blockade could be achieved with single doses that were within the range of doses previously shown to be well tolerated with no safety concerns. As such, the study has provided confirmation of the appropriate dose to be used in the forthcoming clinical proof-of-concept trial. Vernalis now plans to initiate, in the first half of next year, a Phase IIa proof-of-concept study to further evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of V81444 in patients, together with an evaluation of efficacy in a target patient population. Ian Garland, Chief Executive Officer of Vernalis, commented: "We are very pleased with these results and are already actively preparing for the continued development of this exciting programme … Continue reading →

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus Bioscience, Inc. (AMBS), a biotechnology company developing new treatments and diagnostics for Parkinson's disease and Traumatic Brain Injury centered on its proprietary anti-apoptosis therapeutic protein MANF, today announced the launch of a suite of online digital corporate communication channels to maintain on-going direct communication with shareholders. The Company has launched official portals on various social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and The Chairman's Blog. The Chairman's Blog is an online communication portal where Amarantus executives will be able to address important topics as they relate to the treatment of apoptosis-related disorders such as Parkinson's and Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as specific points of discussion as they relate to key events at Amarantus. President & CEO Gerald E. Commissiong penned the Company's inaugural blog post "MANF: Arresting cell death in Parkinson's disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cardiac Ischemia and more." The blog post can be found online at the official Amarantus Chairman's Blog profile provided below. "In this environment where there is an increasing need for open dialog and transparency with shareholders, the channels implemented today will allow for streamlined and efficient communication with our shareholders, while maintaining compliance with all … Continue reading →

TURKU, FINLAND--(Marketwire - Dec 11, 2012) - Biotie today reported top-line data from a Phase 2b study evaluating its adenosine A2a antagonist tozadenant (SYN115) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients experiencing levodopa related end of dose wearing off. The study met its primary endpoint of a statistically highly significant decrease in 'off' time vs. placebo, as well as demonstrating efficacy across multiple secondary endpoints. Full data from the study will be disclosed at upcoming medical conferences and in scientific publications. In the 420 patient study, tozadenant displayed clinically relevant and statistically highly significant effects on PD across multiple pre-specified evaluation metrics including: a decrease vs. placebo in 'off' time, an increase in 'on' time, an improved score on UPDRS part III and UPDRS parts I-III combined, as well as improvements on clinician- and patient-assessed global impression scores. Additionally, the study identified the minimally efficacious and maximum feasible dose levels, as well as clinically useful target doses for Phase 3. Tozadenant was generally well tolerated in the study. "This trial met all the objectives to be expected of a Phase 2 study", said Dr. Stephen Bandak, CMO of Biotie Therapies Corp. Dr. C Warren Olanow, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at the … Continue reading →