Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

CTVNews.ca Staff Published Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 2:01PM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 5:02PM EDT Drinking caffeine each day might help Parkinsons patients move a little easier, making their walking more fluid and improving their quality of life, new Canadian research has found. The researchers say the improvements are small, but their research suggests theres something about caffeine that blocks malfunctioning brain signals in Parkinsons patients. The finding was a surprising one and came during a study to test caffeine as a treatment for daytime sleepiness among Parkinsons patients. Though it didnt do much for keeping fatigue at bay, it did seem to help with movement. The study looked at 61 people with Parkinsons disease with symptoms of daytime sleepiness as well as the tremors, rigidity and slow movement that marks the brain disease. The volunteers were given either a placebo pill or a pill with 100 milligrams of caffeine, twice a day for three weeks. The dose was then bumped up to 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks -- the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee per day. The researchers report in the journal Neurology that the caffeine didnt really help improve … Continue reading →

Parkinson's breakthrough is found with caffeine pills a new study shows. Researchers at McGill University in Montreal found that just a few cups of coffee per day helped relieve shaking and trembling experienced by those with the disease. HealthDay reported that the small study of 61 individuals showed that having about three cups of coffee per day improved patients motor skills and reduced stiffness. The so-called "cups" were actually caffeine pills taken three times per day and meant to mimic the real thing, said Reuters. More from GlobalPost:Michael J. Fox talks about Parkinson's cure and stem cell research (VIDEO) "Caffeine treats Parkinson's disease," said study author, Ronald Postuma, of McGill University, reported the Daily Mail. "There was a modest effect on sleepiness that didn't reach statistical significance, but I think it was clear that it helps patients. Researchers were cautiously optimistic given the improvement was only mild. "Where we saw the most potential benefit from caffeine was on motor aspects and symptoms," said Postuma, according to HealthDay. "People felt better and were more energetic. You could see on the exam that they were better." Originally posted here: Caffeine may help in Parkinson's treatment: study … Continue reading →

Earlier this year, a large-scale study found that coffee drinkers live longer than those who don't imbibe in daily lattes. Now a new study has found the caffeine in a cup of coffee might be as effective as some drugs at treating certain symptoms of Parkinson's disease. While a cup of Joe might make most of us feel jittery, it has the opposite effect on people suffering from Parkinson's disease. Researchers found caffeine can temporarily improve motor function in people suffering from the disease, according to a randomized, placebo-based trial published in the journal Neurology on Wednesday. [Deep Brain StimulationMay Offer Long-Term Parkinson's Relief] "It's not like we get with the best medications to treat Parkinson's, but [caffeine's] effects seem to be as good as some of the less powerful drugs," says lead researcher Ronald Postuma, of McGill University in Montreal. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder that affects as many as 60,000 new patients in the United States each year and is associated with unintended shaking, balance trouble, and energy problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it's the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. In the study, 30 Parkinson's sufferers took between … Continue reading →

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Highland Instruments, Inc., (Highland) today announced award of a multi-year SBIR Grant from the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH-NINDS) for the clinical evaluation of Highlands ElectroSonic Stimulation (ESStim) technology for the treatment of Parkinsons Disease (PD)1. The main academic partner collaborator in this grant and location of the clinical trial will be Spaulding Rehabilitation (Spaulding) Hospitals Laboratory of Neuromodulation (Boston). Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, MPH, will be the Lead Clinical Investigator. Dr. Fregni is the Director of the Laboratory of Neuromodulation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Bill Edelman, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Highland commented, We are thrilled to have received award of the SBIR Grant for the clinical evaluation of ESStim. We are currently investigating the potential benefits of ESStim for the management of osteoarthritis pain and look forward to potentially expanding the clinical capabilities of this technology in Parkinsons disease. Dr. Fregni is a pioneer in the world of noninvasive brain stimulation, having conducted groundbreaking trials exploring neuromodulation treatments for chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. Timothy Wagner, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder for Highland commented, Following years … Continue reading →

By Clare Goldwin PUBLISHED: 17:45 EST, 30 July 2012 | UPDATED: 09:12 EST, 31 July 2012 When Nikki Baudains was diagnosed with Parkinsons, one of the few positive things that seemed to come out of it was a new burst of creativity. While previously the closest shed come to being an artist was face-painting children at fetes, two years ago a few months after starting a new medication she had a burning desire to paint. Suddenly, art dominated her life; she produced thousands of canvases some 2,000 in the past 18 months alone and exhibited near her home in Jersey. Compulsion: Nikki Baudains painted 12 hours a day. Her obsessive behaviour was a side-effect of the medication she was taking for Parkinson's Like many other Parkinsons sufferers, Nikkis obsessive behaviour was a side-effect of her medication. But while hers was expressed creatively, there have been other examples of Parkinsons patients developing more troubling behaviour, such as gambling or sex addictions. Those affected find themselves trapped in an almost impossible situation: their compulsions are caused by medication, but they cant stop taking it because it would leave them unable to function physically. For Nikki, 48, her obsession has come at a … Continue reading →

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Decision Resources, one of the worlds leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that through examination of U.S. patient-level claims data, that patient share of Teva/Lundbecks Azilect among recently treated Parkinsons disease patients continues to grow, increasing 8 percent between the fourth quarter of 2010 and the fourth quarter of 2011. Treatment Algorithms in Parkinsons Disease examines prescription drug use for more than 23,000 diagnosed, drug-treated Parkinsons disease patients. Use of Azilect may be driven in part by its milder side effect profile compared with selegiline (Somerset Pharmaceuticals Eldepryl, generics), making Azilect a safer treatment choice among monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors. Among recently treated patients who progressed to Azilect, the majority added the agent to their preceding line of therapy rather than discontinue the preceding line. Additionally, most patients progressed to Azilect from generic levodopa-carbidopa fixed-dose combinations, with the majority of these patients adding Azilect to levodopa-carbidopa therapy. Parkinsons disease patients moving from levodopa-carbidopa treatment to Azilect or adding Azilect to their levodopa-carbidopa therapy likely need additional treatment to control motor symptoms. Azilects mild side effect profile along with data suggesting possible disease-modifying capabilities make it the preferred MAO-B inhibitor, … Continue reading →

Bill Edelman, chairman, Highland Instruments Highland Instruments Inc. has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant over the next few years to study the use of its ElectroSonic Stimulation (ESStim) technology for the treatment of Parkinsons Disease. Bill Edelman, chairman of the board for Highland, told Mass High Tech only that the grant, through the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH-NINDS), is substantial, but did not disclose the amount. The ESStim has been in a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain of the knee since October 2011, said Edelman. Highland, which was founded in 2007 and operates out of small Boston office, has as its main academic partner in the grant, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospitals Laboratory of Neuromodulation in Boston, according to a statement from the company. Following years of extensive pre-clinical development, I am excited to see the potential benefits of ESStim being brought into the clinic, said Timothy Wagner, Chief Scientific Officer and founder of Highland in a statement. We hope that ESStim will overcome limitations of other reported non-invasive brain stimulation technologies. Read the original: Highland gets SBIR grant to study Parkinson’s treatment … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/n8xzh5/handbook_of_parkin) has announced the addition of the "Handbook of Parkinson's Disease, Fifth Edition" book to their offering. This blue-ribbon guide has long prevailed as one of the leading resources on Parkinson's Disease (PD). Fully updated with practical and engaging chapters on pathology, neurochemistry, etiology, and breakthrough research, this source spans every essential topic related to the identification, assessment, and treatment of PD. Reflecting the many advances that have taken place in the management of PD, this source promotes a multidisciplinary approach to care and supplies new sections on the latest pharmacologic, surgical, and rehabilitative therapies, as well as essential diagnostic, imaging, and nonmotor management strategies for PD. Key Topics Covered: - Early Iconography of Parkinson's Disease - Epidemiology of Parkinsonism - Differential Diagnosis of Parkinsonism - Pathophysiology and Clinical Assessment of Parkinsonian Symptoms and Signs - Autonomic Dysfunction and Management - Sleep Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease Read more: Research and Markets: Handbook of Parkinson's Disease, Fifth Edition 2012 Contains New Sections on the Latest ... … Continue reading →

A Phase I trial assessing the drug's safety in human patients is under way By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 16:00 EST, 24 July 2012 | UPDATED: 19:32 EST, 24 July 2012 Early results from animal studies suggest new class of drug could be very effective against brain diseases One pill with the potential to treat conditions including Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis and strokes has been unveiled by scientists. Given early enough, it may even be able to stop full-blown Alzheimers from taking hold. It works by dampening down the inflammation thought to be at least partly to blame for many degenerative brain conditions, as well damage caused by head injuries and strokes. Animal tests have been encouraging and the pill has been given to humans for the first time, although the results have yet to be released. Early results from animal studies suggest it could be effective against a plethora of devastating brain conditions. They include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), motor neurone disease, frontotemporal dementia, and complications from traumatic brain injury. See the original post here: Wonder pill could treat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's AND multiple sclerosis … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (July 23, 2012) A new and powerful class of antioxidants could one day be a potent treatment for Parkinson's disease, researchers report. A class of antioxidants called synthetic triterpenoids blocked development of Parkinson's in an animal model that develops the disease in a handful of days, said Dr. Bobby Thomas, neuroscientist at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University and corresponding author of the study in the journal Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. Thomas and his colleagues were able to block the death of dopamine-producing brain cells that occurs in Parkinson's by using the drugs to bolster Nrf2, a natural antioxidant and inflammation fighter. Stressors from head trauma to insecticide exposure to simple aging increase oxidative stress and the body responds with inflammation, part of its natural repair process. "This creates an environment in your brain that is not conducive for normal function," Thomas said. "You can see the signs of oxidative damage in the brain long before the neurons actually degenerate in Parkinson's." Nrf2, the master regulator of oxidative stress and inflammation, is -- inexplicably -- significantly decreased early in Parkinson's. In fact, Nrf2 activity declines normally with age. "In Parkinson's patients you can clearly see … Continue reading →