Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 16, 2014 The Parkinsons Disease Public Awareness and Education Act (A-2576) was signed into law by New Jersey State Governor, Chris Christie on December 11, 2014. The law is intended to institutionalize programming to promote public awareness of Parkinsons disease and highlight the value of early detection, disease management and treatment, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurological condition that affects over one-million people in the United States. Approximately 60,000 people are newly diagnosed each year. Parkinsons is characterized by motor problems including slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremor. A number of non-motor symptoms are associated with Parkinsons, including fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. The New Jersey Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association had been working on this law for the past nine years. When Chapter President, Allan Bleich assumed the chapters leadership role 18 months ago, discussing the laws merits with policymakers in Trenton became one of his top priorities. Bleich, a retired police officer of 25 years, who was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease at age 45, embarked on this personal crusade of phone calls, e-mails and speeches that paved the way for unanimous … Continue reading →

SOURCE: Envita Natural Medical Centers of America SCOTTSDALE, AZ--(Marketwired - December 16, 2014) - A revealing new study on chronic Lyme disease treatment and the inherent complexities was just published by Dr. Dino Prato and colleagues from Envita Medical Center and featured in theOpen Journal Of Medical Microbiology.The study is titled, "Borrelia burgdorferi: Cell Biology and Clinical Manifestations in Latent Chronic Lyme," and it offers an extensive overview of 157 published papers that provide crucial insight into a better understanding and the proper diagnosis/treatment of chronic Lyme disease. Starting with an in-depth explanation of the Borrelia genome and pointing to key clinical factors, it paints a picture to help physicians and patients better understand what is really occurring in Lyme disease. The paper explains the severity of the Borrelia, its complexities, and complications in the diagnostics and clinical treatment. Envita maintains that chronic Lyme disease is very complex and the symptoms, co-infections, immunity and other complicating factors vary from case to case, and each person's case can be unique and different. This is why personalization could be the strongest and most valuable tool moving forward in the fight against chronic Lyme disease. Armed with the correct scientific outlook and a … Continue reading →

Living Cell Technologies Limited today announced that the final patient has been successfully implanted in its Phase I/IIa clinical trial of regenerative cell therapy NTCELL for Parkinsons disease. The operation took place at Auckland City Hospital last week. The Phase I/IIa clinical trial, led by Dr Barry Snow, is an open-label investigation of the safety and clinical effects of NTCELL in patients who no longer respond to current therapy. Dr Snow MBChB, FRACP, FRCPC, leads the Auckland Movement Disorders Clinic at the Auckland District Health Board and is an internationally recognised clinician and researcher in Parkinsons disease. LCT anticipates presenting the results of the 26-week trial at the 19th International Congress of Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders in San Diego in June 2015. Dr Ken Taylor, chief executive, notes that the success of the implant procedure means that LCTs clinical programme remains on track. "The treatment phase of the trial has been completed on schedule. We believe NTCELL has the potential to be the first disease-modifying treatment for patients who are failing the current conventional treatment for Parkinsons disease," said Dr Taylor. Read more: Patient implants in Parkinsons trial completed … Continue reading →

By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 12, 2014 People who suffer from Parkinsons disease (PD) have a different set of microbiota in their intestines than those without the disease, according to a new study conducted by the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Central Hospital. The researchers hope that these new findings on gut bacteria will lead to the development of a diagnostic test for PD; they could also pave the road for the development of better treatment strategies, and possibly even prevention. In the U.S., approximately one million people suffer from PD, which results in the gradual loss of cells responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurochemical transmitter essential for movement coordination. Our most important observation was that patients with Parkinsons have much less bacteria from the Prevotellaceaefamily; unlike the control group, practically no one in the patient group had a large quantity of bacteria from this family, says DMSc Filip Scheperjans, neurologist at the Neurology Clinic of the Helsinki University Hospital (HUCH). The researchers are still trying to figure out why there is a lack ofPrevotellaceaebacteria in Parkinsons and what this actually means. Do these bacteria carry a … Continue reading →

Published December 12, 2014 Larry Kahn high-fives his instructor after a boxing work out.(MyFoxAtlanta.com) A 55-year-old tax lawyer turned novelist thought his future was out of his hands after he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease five years ago. It wasnt until he and his wife tried boxing that he once again found himself in control and ready to combat the disease, for which there is no cure. I feel empowered. I just feel stronger, Larry Kahn told MyFoxAtlanta.com. With his wife of 29 years Kahn has started a nonprofit called Parkinsons Disease Gladiators. The group meets three times a week for non-contact boxing classes and workouts. Hes a fighter. I love it, Ellie Kahn told the news station. On a good day, hes giving it all hes got and hes doing combat. Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurological disorder that attacks nerve cells in the brain. A patient may suffer symptoms like tremors, slowed movement, rigidity and balance problems. While there are treatment options, there currently is no cure. The National Parkinson Foundation recommends vigorous exercise to help slow down the disease and lesson symptoms, according to MyFoxAtlanta.com. I felt in much better shape. I track my physical symptoms in … Continue reading →

Dr. Carrolee Barlow is chief executive of the Parkinsons Institute and Clinical Center. / photo by Charlie Neuman * U-T San Diego Its a long commute from Solana Beach to Silicon Valley, but its one Dr. Carrolee Barlow is willing to make for the chance to lead one of the nations premiere research institutes on Parkinsons disease. Barlow became chief executive of the Parkinsons Institute and Clinical Center in March after a distinguished career in drug development with private companies like Merck Research Laboratories and the local biotech firm BrainCells Inc. She is just the second CEO for the Sunnyvale-based institute since its establishment 25 years ago. Barlow said the institutes founder, Dr. J. William Langston, had a lot to do with her decision to accept her current position. In 1982, Langston revolutionized Parkinsons research when he discovered that a neurotoxin called MPTP produces Parkinsons-like muscular paralysis. His finding came after a clever bit of medical detective work that linked cases of young residents in the Bay Area who all used the same bad batch of synthetic heroin. The drug caused their muscles to lock up in ways similar to what happens with Parkinsons disease. The MPTP breakthrough led to … Continue reading →

This year, Marie Bott, a 72-year-old resident of The Woodlands, was able to hand-write Christmas cards for the first time in years. Bott was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2012 and suffered from a severe tremor in her right hand, which made everyday activities like writing nearly impossible. Now, not only can she write, but she can beat eggs for her famous egg custard, climb flights of stairs and perform other daily functions that she previously found daunting, and its thanks to therapy that she received at TIRR Memorial Hermann The Woodlands rehabilitation hospital. In the year since it opened in The Woodlands, TIRR Memorial Hermann has grown from fewer than 10 to 35 therapists specializing in a variety of disciplines to help patients with a range of conditions, including strokes, balance disorders, brain injuries, amputations and neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinsons. Nora Harrigan, a senior physical therapist specializing in Parkinsons disease treatment, works with Bott and others in the early stages of the disease using a physical therapy method called LSVT-BIG. LSVT-BIG is an intensive, four-week exercise program where a therapist works closely with the patient four times a week on exercises that help improve motor skills. Whats unique about … Continue reading →

Pfizer Australia confirmed it has proposed a settlement after action was taken by 150 patients who claim they weren't warned of side effects Federal Court of Australian now has to consider whether to agree it Study published earlier this year found Parkinson's drugs do increase the risk of sex and gambling addictions as well as compulsive shopping Impulsive and compulsive behaviour is common with dopamine agonists Dopamine agonist drugs were 277 times more likely to result in a report of specific impulse control symptoms than other drugs, report found Up to 14% of patients develop changes in behaviour when taking them By Anna Hodgekiss and Lizzie Parry for MailOnline Published: 11:37 EST, 9 December 2014 | Updated: 19:36 EST, 9 December 2014 149 shares 9 View comments One type of medication prescribed for Parkinson's increases the risk of compulsive behaviours A drug company has offered a settlement to patients who claim they became addicted to gambling and sex after taking medication to treat Parkinson's disease. Pfizer has confirmed it has proposed the settlement after class action was taken by 150 patients. They claim they were not warned of the side effects. Originally posted here: Patients who claim they developed gambling … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 4-Dec-2014 Contact: Jacqueline Partarrieu press@escardio.org 33-492-947-756 European Society of Cardiology @escardio Vienna, Austria - 04 December 2014: Non-ergot derived dopamine agonists used to treat Parkinson's disease may be safe for the heart, according to preliminary research presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2014 by Dr Hilal Erken Pamukcu, cardiologist at Ankara Diskapi Education and Research Hospital in Turkey. EuroEcho-Imaging is the annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and is held 3-6 December in Vienna, Austria. Dr Erken Pamukcu said: "Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that occurs in nearly 1% of the world's population over 60 years of age and in 4% of people over 80 years of age. Various drug treatments are available. Ergot derived dopamine agonists were often used in the past but today their usage is not preferred by most neurologists worldwide because they caused fibrotic heart valve disease and fibrosis in other tissues." She continued: "Today, non-ergot derived dopamine agonists are widely used in daily clinical practice but recent studies have suggested that the non-ergot derived dopamine agonist pramipexole increases the risk of heart failure. In September 2012 the US Food and … Continue reading →

Non-ergot derived dopamine agonists used to treat Parkinson's disease may be safe for the heart, according to preliminary research presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2014 by Dr Hilal Erken Pamukcu, cardiologist at Ankara Diskapi Education and Research Hospital in Turkey. EuroEcho-Imaging is the annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and is held 3-6 December in Vienna, Austria. Dr Erken Pamukcu said: "Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that occurs in nearly 1% of the world's population over 60 years of age and in 4% of people over 80 years of age. Various drug treatments are available. Ergot derived dopamine agonists were often used in the past but today their usage is not preferred by most neurologists worldwide because they caused fibrotic heart valve disease and fibrosis in other tissues." She continued: "Today, non-ergot derived dopamine agonists are widely used in daily clinical practice but recent studies have suggested that the non-ergot derived dopamine agonist pramipexole increases the risk of heart failure. In September 2012 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the public about a possible increased risk of heart failure with pramipexole but the studies were … Continue reading →