Treating Parkinson's Disease

Although no cure has been created for Parkinson's disease yet, many treatment options are available for people with all different types of the disease.

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Parkinson's experimental gene therapy shows promise

As many as 60,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with Parkinson's Disease. Patients may have tremors, stiffness, and loss of motor control as the disease progresses. But a new study is showing experimental gene therapy may hold real promise for some patients.

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Nutrition for the Prevention of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects brain cells or neurons responsible for muscle movement. Symptoms of Parkinson's may include trembling hands, jaws, legs or fingers, slow movement and poor balance and coordination. Diet may play a role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's.

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YouTube videos can inaccurately depict Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders

Looking online for medical information? Viewers beware, doctors caution. After reviewing the most frequently watched YouTube videos about movement disorders, a group of neurologists found that the people in the videos often do not have a movement disorder. As described in a Letter to the Editor in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine, such medical misinformation may confuse patients suffering from devastating neurological disorders and seeking health information and advice online.

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Parkinson’s patient credits activity for crash recovery

Four months ago, Dan and Cathy Maxwell were involved in a devastating single-vehicle accident in Eastern Oregon.
Dan broke both bones in his lower right leg. His left ankle was shattered. His right shoulder was crushed. His face was torn open by shards of glass.
Cathy was pronounced dead at the scene, just one day before the couple’s 42nd wedding anniversary.
Doctors told Dan he wouldn’t walk for six months. But he had other plans.

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Professors look to song to combat disease

While the feel-good effects of singing are well-documented, experts believe that joining a choir could improve the symptoms of a range of health problems including Parkinson's, depression and lung disease.

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FDA Blocks Sale of Supplements for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

The FDA filed a permanent injunction against two Minnesota companies that distributed amino acid products marketed as treatments for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and a number of other neurological disorders.

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Children's Teeth Help Stem Cell Research

Experts say children's teeth might hold the key to effective treatments for diseases like Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

Children's teeth may be more valuable than a quarter under their pillow from the Tooth Fairy.

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HEALING OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE THRU EXERCISE

Exercise plays a key role in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). If done regularly, it may slow down the progression of the disease. It usually includes stretching, strength training and aerobic activities.

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Isotope Biomarkers Reveal Protein Fingerprints of Brain Disease

Rational and exploratory biomarker discovery approaches through putative linkage with pathways relevant to neurodegeneration; Real-time indices of neuronal dysfunction and reparative processes; Ability to measure dynamic biological and biochemical processes occurring in neurodegeneration and to move quickly from animal studies to human trials.

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Coffee could offer key ingredient for new treatments for Parkinson's disease
Caffeine is a methylxanthine, a stimulant derivative of xanthine, as is theophylline (in tea), and theobromine (in chocolate). Methylxanthines are among the most widely consumed substances in the world. Caffeine is present in many foods and drinks and reportedly consumed at an average rate of 200mg per day by Americans (Ref. 1). In 2000, the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA) published research showing a correlation between higher intake of caffeine and lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease, a devastating and incurable neurological disorder.

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The Best Diet to Alleviate Insomnia in Parkinson's Patients

Common signs and symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease include tremors, lack of facial expression, muscle aches and constipation. Insomnia, notes a 2007 study by M.D. Gjerstad and colleagues published in the "Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry," is a common complaint among people with Parkinson's disease, varies in severity over time and may be caused by numerous factors. Many people who have Parkinson's disease-related insomnia may also be depressed, note the researchers.

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The ‘DRUMS ALIVE’ exercise
Research said drumming improves and increases the neurological connection between right and left brain hemispheres, releases tension, and eases stress. The synchronization of both brain hemispheres stimulates Alfa Brain Wave activity, which leads to higher levels of concentration, enhanced sensory and motor coordination, and an improved overall sense of well-being.

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Parkinson's disease cant diminish their song

Fed up with her voice weakening because of Parkinson’s, 65-year-old Mags Blackwell decided to sing about it.
Part spirit-lifter, part exercise, part scientific experiment, the singing group Blackwell formed with a friend at Lee First Congregational Church works to mollify what one woman called an "invasive, elusive" disease.

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Scientists Discover Genetic Mutation That Causes Parkinson's Disease

A large team of international researchers have identified a new genetic cause of inherited Parkinson's disease that they say may be related to the inability of brain cells to handle biological stress.

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Protein Linked to Parkinson's Disease May Regulate Fat Metabolism

National Institutes of Health researchers have found that Parkin, an important protein linked with some cases of early-onset Parkinson's disease, regulates how cells in our bodies take up and process dietary fats.

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Researchers enlist symptom-specific exercise in battle against Parkinson's Disease
The benefits of exercise training for people with Parkinson’s disease are well established and have been a theme during the eight-year history of the Sunflower Revolution

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New Imaging Test Gives Physicians Better Tool to Diagnose Parkinson's Disease
Thanks to a new diagnostic imaging technique, physicians now have an objective test to evaluate patients for Parkinsonian syndromes, such as Parkinson's disease.
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Exercise for PD: More Fun Water Activities to Try Before the Summer Ends!
Working out in the water can be very beneficial if you have Parkinson's disease (PD), says the American Parkinson's Disease Association. Having PD can affect your gait and make walking challenging. You may tend to hold your arms stiff as you walk and take quick, short shuffling steps. To help combat this, try water walking.

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Breakthrough in Stem Cell Growth Measures
Scientists in Scotland experienced a significant breakthrough in Parkinson's disease research this week when researchers reported successfully growing stem cells from the skin of a patient with a rapidly progressing form of the disease.

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Protein Intake and PD Medication Absorption
Patients with Parkinson's disease commonly experience a general slowing of the digestive system, which can affect the efficiency of nutrient absorption. Recently, we wrote about the absorption benefits of timed meal plans. Timing your protein intake is an especially important aspect.
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