Category Archives: Parkinson’s Treatment

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 14, 2014 The American Parkinson Disease Association is pleased to announce the application process for this prestigious award is now open. The George C. Cotzias, MD Memorial Fellowship was developed by the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) in 1979 to honor Dr. Cotzias who was a pathfinder in the pharmacologic exploration of brain functions and in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with levodopa. The goal of the award, which provides financial support to recipients of $80,000 per year for 3-years, is to stimulate young neurologists to follow in Dr. Cotzias footsteps in understanding new discoveries that will lead to advances in treating neurological movement disorders. The fellowship is awarded to promising young neurologists to help them establish careers in research, teaching and patient services relevant to the problems, causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease and related neurological movement disorders. I recognize the APDA Cotzias Fellowship as one of the most important events in establishing my long-term commitment to Parkinson disease research. I received my award in 1996, which was a crucial moment in my career, states David G. Standaert, MD, PhD, Chair of the APDA Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and John N. Whitaker … Continue reading →

Criteria for selection of the Top 10 Neurology Projects to Watch are: Large market, large unmet need, with increasing opportunity History of the molecule and drug Strong science Strong company Diversity of indications Potential for new opportunities beyond the initial indications Multi-level partnering opportunities, i.e., biotech to biotech as well as pharma to biotech Over one million people in the U.S. and an estimated 4 to 6 million people globally suffer from Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts motor activity, and its prevalence is increasing with the aging of the population. OFF episodes are a complication of Parkinson's disease that leave patients rigid and unable to move and communicate. Approximately 25% to 50% of Parkinson's patients experience OFF episodes, which can occur 1 to 6 times daily and last between 30 and 120 minutes. Today, apomorphine is the only drug that can rapidly convert a patient from OFF (unable to move) to ON (fully functional). Unfortunately for Parkinson's patients, apomorphine is primarily only available as a needle injection, which can be painful and difficult to administer. Read the original: Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc.: Cynapsus Therapeutics' Phase 2 Drug Candidate for Parkinson's Chosen as One … Continue reading →

One in 14 New Zealanders will benefit from better access to treatments after a ground-breaking deal between Pharmac and pharmaceutical company Novartis. People with multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic myeloid leukaemia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's will be the big winners with new public funding for nine new treatment options and six new medications which is expected to help 300,000 people. It represented the greatest number of new medicines and widening of targeted treatment areas for a single agreement since Pharmac was created to manage public spending on medicines 21 years ago. The deal included funding Gilenya, a medication for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, and Tasigna, a drug that transformed treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia. The move was applauded by those suffering the debilitating conditions. Auckland woman Mellanie Ullrich, 40, is New Zealand's only person self-funding Gilenya, which costs her nearly $60,000 a year. She broke down in tears at the news of Pharmac's decision. "I hope my personal and extremely positive experience on Gilenya helps Pharmac confirm that the decision to fund the drug for patients in New Zealand is the right one," she said yesterday. Within weeks of starting the drug, her fatigue … Continue reading →

Lisa Lyon, nurse at the emergency department at Addenbrooke's is climbing Mount Kilimanjiro. An intrepid nurse is preparing to climb Africa's highest summit next month in memory of her nan who died from Parkinson's after suffering with the illness for 20 years. Lisa Lyon, a nurse in the A&E department, has already completed a four-day hike to the Inca Trail in Peru as training and scaled Ben Nevis earlier this year in preparation for her climb up Mount Kilimanjiro on October 9 which she hopes to return from on October 18. And on May 18 she also took part in the 1st Action Heroes Abseil as part of her charity fundraising for her Kilimanjaro Climb. She is hoping to raise 3,950 for The Cure Parkinson's Trust and the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust to support the research and treatment for Parkinson's at Addenbrooke's. "I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on my nan's birthday as a tribute to her memory as she died from Parkinson's in 2012," she said. "This has given me the drive and passion to raise funds to help future generations with those diagnosed with Parkinson's. "Parkinson's effects one in every 500 people and they do not receive anywhere near … Continue reading →

Dr Kukurin: Parkinson's Results Parkinson's patient discuses the result of our treatment methods in his own words. By: Dr George Kukurin … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 6-Oct-2014 Contact: Kara Gavin kegavin@umich.edu 734-764-2220 University of Michigan Health System @UMHealthSystem ANN ARBOR, Mich. Deep in the brains of the million Americans with Parkinson's disease, changes to their brain cells put them at high risk of dangerous falls -- a problem that resists even the most modern treatments. Now, University of Michigan scientists and doctors have launched a five-year, $11.5 million effort to better understand the cause of these problems, and find new options based in the latest brain science. With the new grant from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, U-M becomes home to one of only nine Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research in the country. Named for a noted member of Congress who battled the disease, the Udall Centers bring together researchers from many fields to tackle big questions in Parkinson's, to educate the next generation of Parkinson's researchers, and to serve as a vital resource for patients with the disease. The U-M investigators will focus on a brain chemical system that is rapidly emerging as a key player in the disease's effect on walking and balance in large part … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise ANN ARBOR, Mich. Deep in the brains of the million Americans with Parkinsons disease, changes to their brain cells put them at high risk of dangerous falls -- a problem that resists even the most modern treatments. Now, University of Michigan scientists and doctors have launched a five-year, $11.5 million effort to better understand the cause of these problems, and find new options based in the latest brain science. With the new grant from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, U-M becomes home to one of only nine Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinsons Disease Research in the country. Named for a noted member of Congress who battled the disease, the Udall Centers bring together researchers from many fields to tackle big questions in Parkinsons, to educate the next generation of Parkinsons researchers, and to serve as a vital resource for patients with the disease. The U-M investigators will focus on a brain chemical system that is rapidly emerging as a key player in the diseases effect on walking and balance in large part due to advances made at U-M. Called … Continue reading →

Dr Kukurin: Parkinson's treatment session. Patient zero, Non-Invasive Deep Brain Stimulation (NI DBS), added to cerebellar decoupling exercises and salient attention drills. By: Dr George Kukurin … Continue reading →

Margi Murphy | Oct. 1, 2014 Charity Parkinson's UK is trialling wearable devices to improve symptom management for sufferers of the disease. Charity Parkinson's UK is trialling wearable devices to improve symptom management for sufferers of the disease. The Parkinson's KinetiGraph will be given to 200 sufferers across the UK, who will wear it for 10 days prior to a consultation with a doctor. The device, worn on the wrist, records patients' movements and medication to assess dosage levels and their effectiveness. Steve Ford, chief executive of Parkinson's UK, said: "Mobile health technologies provide a new opportunity to monitor and manage this debilitating movement disorder affecting an estimated 127,000 people in the UK alone. "Tools that are able to provide more objective information about how symptoms actually affect people in their everyday lives can assist clinicians in planning more suitable medication regimes. Our aim is for people living with the condition to receive the best possible treatment that best manages the symptoms that affect their quality of life." The chief executive officer at Global Kinetics Corporation (GKC) - which made the devices - said he believed similar technologies will become a routine management tool in the UK. He said: "We … Continue reading →

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 30, 2014 The American Parkinson Disease Association is pleased to award research funding supporting seven Research grants to junior investigators pursuing research in Parkinsons disease, three Post-Doctoral Fellowships to support post-doctoral scientists whose research training holds promise into new insights of geriatric psychology, pathophysiology, etiology and treatment of Parkinsons disease, and eight Centers of Advanced Research located in major academic and medical centers across the country intended to strengthen and help to integrate already existing investigative teams. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process reviewed through APDAs Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), chaired by David G. Standaert, MD, Ph.D., John N. Whitaker Professor and Chair of Neurology and Director, Division of Movement Disorders at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The SAB rigorously reviews all research applications, contemplates and debates the merits of each grant proposal and recommends funding of the most promising studies while keeping in mind APDAs critical role in driving forward progress and supporting the researchers of the future. What sets APDA apart is its track record of launching the careers of the best and brightest scientists working on Parkinsons disease, and enabling exploration of new ideas for finding the cure," commented … Continue reading →