Penn neurologists report on promise of statins, estrogen and telemedicine in Parkinson's

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

27-Apr-2014

Contact: Kim Menard kim.menard@uphs.upenn.edu 215-200-2312 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

PHILADEPHIA- A trio of studies from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrate new approaches to understanding, treating and potentially staving off Parkinson's disease (PD). Studies show that factors such as estrogen exposure and statin use have an impact on the onset of Parkinson's disease. And a new look at telemedicine demonstrates feasibility in providing care for Parkinson's patients using remote video visits to expand access and center care around the needs of Parkinson's patients. These studies and more will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting at Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Convention Center from April 26 to May 3, 2014.

"Researchers at Penn Medicine are looking at Parkinson's disease from all angles - ways to improve treatment methods for those currently battling the disease, understanding the root causes of disease, and identifying potential interventions to delay the onset of disease," said Matthew Stern, MD, professor of Neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of Penn's Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center. "We are persistent and eager to find better targets and treatments to help patients with Parkinson's disease, which affects up to 1 million Americans and 10 million people globally." Dr. Stern is the current president of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Statins May Delay Onset of Parkinson's Disease

Research presented by Yosef Berlyand, undergraduate in the laboratory of Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD, MSc assistant professor of Neurology, suggests that statins may be beneficial in Parkinson's disease. In collaboration with Roy Alcalay, MD and colleagues at Columbia University School of Medicine, members of Dr. Chen-Plotkin's research group demonstrated that blood levels of the protein Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) are lower in people with Parkinson's disease than those without disease. PD patients taking statin medications, which can elevate levels of ApoA1, had an older age of disease onset, which appears to be driven by PD patients taking statins. Previous work led by Dr. Chen-Plotkin has suggested that ApoA1 levels may be a new biomarker for PD risk. The team is in the midst of a follow-up study on plasma ApoA1 and statins, evaluating participants in the Michael J. Fox Foundation's Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) cohort, to confirm whether ApoA1 modifying drugs such as statins may be a promising neuroprotective therapy for Parkinson's disease.

Yosef Berlyand will present [P2.055] Statin Use, Apolipoprotein A1, and Parkinson's Disease on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 7:30 a.m., during P2: Poster Session II: Movement Disorders: Co-morbidities and Novel Care Models from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Hall E.

Christine Swanson, MD, postdoctoral fellow in Neurology [S17.004] Apolipoprotein A1 Levels Are Associated with ApoA1 Promoter Variation and Influence Parkinson's Disease Risk on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 4:00 p.m., during S17: Scientific Session: Parkinson's Disease: Genetics and Epidemiology in Room 108 AB.

Estrogen Investigated for Protection from Parkinson's

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Penn neurologists report on promise of statins, estrogen and telemedicine in Parkinson's