Study Finds Features Linked to Mortality Risk in Parkinson's

A variety of motor and non-motor factors may be associated with a higher risk of mortality in patients with early Parkinson's disease, according to research published in the November issue of the Archives of Neurology.

Raymond Y. Lo, M.D., of the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, Calif., and colleagues analyzed Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program data on 573 subjects with Parkinson's disease that was newly diagnosed during 1994 and 1995. Subjects were followed for death until the end of 2005.

During follow-up, the researchers note that 352 subjects died. Factors associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality included severe cognitive impairment based on Mini-Mental State Examination scores, symmetry of motor signs, older age at diagnosis, dysphagia, and postural instability gait difficulty subtype (hazard ratios, 2.7, 2.0, 1.1, 1.4, and 1.8, respectively).

"In this multiethnic incident Parkinson's disease cohort, we conclude that several motor and non-motor features in early Parkinson's disease can predict higher mortality risk, particularly older age at diagnosis, postural instability gait difficulty, cognitive impairment, and hallucinations. Our findings are in keeping with those of others, suggesting that these results are robust and generalizable. With effective clinical predictors, we can improve understanding of the disease process, refine risk stratification in designing clinical trials, and guide decision making in clinical practice," the authors conclude.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Worms could help in Parkinson's disease research?

Parkinson's affects more than half a million Americans, with around 50,000 more being diagnosed each year. It seems to affect men more than women and Caucasians more than others. It is seen mostly as a disease related to aging, but recently cases of "early-onset" Parkinson's (where the patients diagnosed are under 40 years old) have increased. And although age and heredity have both been found to increase the risk of a person getting Parkinson's, it is still largely unknown why some people develop it (even though they may not be at high risk) and some people who fall into the high risk category do not.

Scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland now hope that studying the nervous system of a worm called C. elegans could provide more insight into why some humans develop this debilitating disease. This worm shares the genes associated with developing Parkinson's with humans, and adding that to the fact that the way the worm's nerve cells communicate with each other is very similar to how human's nerve cells do (but in a much simpler form) makes it a great opportunity to research how changes or mutations in these genes lead to the development of Parkinson's and how drugs could possibly be utilized to stop these mutations from happening or to correct them.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Parkinson's disease has 'subtle ethnic differences'

Parkinson's disease affects people from different ethnic backgrounds in subtly varying ways, it is said.

New research from the Far East has discovered that subtle ethnic differences have been discovered in regards to the progression of Parkinson's disease.

The Kobe University project in Japan looked into the genes of 2,011 people with Parkinson's and a further 18,381 others without the neurodegenerative disorder, concluding that a range of genes have been found to be more prevalent in European or Japanese ancestries.

Dr Kieran Breen, the director of research and development at the Parkinson's Disease Society, said the research is "fascinating".

He continued: "It's fantastic to see international collaboration between research teams leading to new insights into genetics.

"Understanding the role of inherited genes in Parkinson's will help us to develop treatments that may delay, or even prevent, the development of the condition."

Earlier this week, the Daily Telegraph reported on how researchers in Scotland discovered that around five per cent of people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease may have been wrongly classed as affected by the condition, showing little more than hand tremors or stiffness.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

New law bans genetic discrimination

By Joe Markman
LA Times

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the most sweeping anti-discrimination law in nearly 20 years, prohibits employers from hiring or firing based on a person's genetic makeup.

Reporting from Washington - The most sweeping federal anti-discrimination law in nearly 20 years takes effect today, prohibiting employers from hiring, firing or determining promotions based on genetic makeup.

Additionally, health insurers will not be allowed to consider a person's genetics -- such as predisposition for Parkinson's disease -- to set insurance rates or deny coverage.

Not since the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 has the federal government implemented such far-reaching workplace protections. Stuart J. Ishimaru, acting chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a statement that the law reaffirms the idea that people have a right to be judged solely on merit.

"No one should be denied a job or the right to be treated fairly in the workplace based on fears that he or she may develop some condition in the future," he said.

The National Federation of Independent Business, a nonprofit lobbying group for small businesses, filed a number of concerns in April with the EEOC, which oversees the law. The concerns included whether employers who "innocently discover" genetic information about their workers may be held liable for having that information in their files, the "confusing" interplay of other federal statutes, and the lack of an exception for publicly available genetic information on the Internet.

The business group is seeking to teach its members that under the law, any piece of medical history -- whether an employee's own or that of a family member -- constitutes genetic information, said Elizabeth Milito, senior counsel at the federation.

Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the industry group America's Health Insurance Plans, said that his association originally supported the bill, but that the resulting regulations ultimately would disrupt efforts to stay healthy through wellness and disease-management programs.

"If a patient is at risk for a particular condition, they are a good candidate to do more preventive screenings, and this would prohibit some of that information even being gathered," Zirkelbach said.

There is not a lot of evidence that this kind of discrimination has been taking place. As of May, no genetic-employment discrimination cases had been brought before U.S. federal or state courts, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute. The government filed suit in 2001 against the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. under the ADA for secretly testing some workers for a genetic defect that some believe can predispose a person to carpal tunnel syndrome. The railway settled the EEOC suit for $2.2 million.

Peter Bennett, an attorney in Maine who specializes in employment law, said he knew of no pending genetic discrimination cases, but expects them to pile up soon, in what he called a "kabuki dance" of litigation to sort out who is liable for what.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, signed by President Bush in May 2008, is a huge victory for proponents of personalized medicine, which includes using genetic tests to aid in the diagnosis of disease and the selection of medicine.

"The psychological security regarding employment and insurance was a stumbling block to the advancement of personalized medicine," said Edward Abrahams, executive director of the Personalized Medicine Coalition.

"Moving that boulder from the train tracks was a major accomplishment."

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Stereotactic radiosurgery as effective in eliminating Parkinson's disease tremors as other treatments but less invasive

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) offers a less invasive way to eliminate tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremor than deep brain stimulation (DBS) and radiofrequency (RF) treatments, and is as effective, according to a long-term study presented November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Source: American Society for Radiation Oncology

"The study shows that radiosurgery is an effective and safe method of getting rid of tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, with outcomes that favorably compare to both DBS and RF in tremor relief and risk of complications at seven years after treatment," Rufus Mark, M.D., an author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Joe Arrington Cancer Center and Texas Tech University, both in Lubbock, Texas said. "In view of these long-term results, this non-invasive procedure should be considered a primary treatment option for tremors that are hard to treat."

Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurologic disease that causes tremors, in addition to other symptoms. Essential tremor is the most common of all movement disorders and causes uncontrollable shaking of the hands, head, and sometimes other parts of the body.

Stereotactic radiation is a specialized type of external beam radiation therapy that pinpoints high doses of radiation directly on a confined area in a shorter amount of time than traditional radiation treatments. Stereotactic radiosurgery, or SRS, refers to a single or several stereotactic radiation treatments of the brain or spine. SRS is delivered by a team involving a radiation oncologist and a neurosurgeon. This radiation treatment is often called by the brand
names of the manufacturers, including Axesse, CyberKnife, Gamma Knife, Novalis, Primatom, Synergy, X-Knife, TomoTherapy and Trilogy.

Between 1991 and 2007, 183 patients underwent stereotactic radiosurgery thalamotomy, for hard-to-treat tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremors. A thalamotomy is a procedure that destroys tissue at a particular spot—the Ventralis Inter-Medius nucleus—on the thalamus of the brain which influences movement.

With a median follow-up of seven years, 84 percent of patients had significant or complete resolution of tremors. In patients with Parkinson's disease, 83 percent had near or complete tremor resolution, while those with essential tremor had 87 percent of this degree of tremor resolution.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Nervous System Drug-by-design: Formulation May Slow Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's

Science Daily
Working like an architect, Prof. Hagit Eldar-Finkelman of Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine is "building" a new drug, L803-MTS, to treat a number of central nervous system (CNS) diseases like Alzheimer's. In pre-clinical studies, it also shows promise against Parkinson's, Huntington's and diabetes.

L803-MTS is based on the physical structure of the GSK3 protein, which plays a causative role in insulin resistance and Type II diabetes. Working with chemists, biotechnologists and 3-D modelists, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman and her colleagues built -- like engineers constructing a building -- a drug that locks onto the GSK3 protein, rendering it harmless and unable to wreak havoc inside the body.

Recent research findings on the L803-MTS drug have been published in the Journal of Molecular Biology (2008) and Current Pharmaceutical Design (2009, currently in press).

An innovative approach

Since Prof. Eldar-Finkelman linked GSK3 to insulin resistance in diabetes more than ten years ago, a race has been on among drug manufacturers to find a drug that can potentially turn off the harmful effects of GSK3. But rather than build on existing drugs, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman and her colleagues worked from the ground up. "I decided to take a completely different approach from all the big drug companies rushing to find the ultimate drug," says Prof. Eldar-Finkelman. "I designed my own."

Pre-clinical results have been positive, and the new drug does not exhibit dangerous toxic side effects, a problem with existing formulations. While L803-MTS cannot reverse the onset of a CNS disease once it has started, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman believes it can slow down the devastating effects of CNS diseases, like impaired memory and depression, or insulin-resistance.

"Ours is the first lab that showed the importance of GSK3 as a target in Type II diabetes, and was among the first to introduce a specific inhibitor against the GSK3," she says. "Our approach became so popular that today many pharmaceutical companies, big and small, are competing to work on a GSK3 inhibitor."

A new competition

With seed money from Ramot, Tel Aviv University's technology transfer arm, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman has taken her basic research to the next step, seeking a strategic partner to guide the research through the clinical process and eventual commercialization.

"One important thing to note is that our drug acts differently than other compounds," she says. "Most GSK3 inhibitors are developed on the basis of ATP competitors. Ours are substrate competitors, meaning that they bind to a different site at the surface of the protein. This strategy is completely different, and yields a better and safer compound."

Prof. Eldar-Finkelman is now conducting additional pharmacological and toxicological tests on the new compound. She believes it will be a lead compound for treating CNS disorders, "because it was based on rational drug design. We started from scratch and thought through the design of a specific compound that would be safe and effective. Our aim is to slow the progression of CNS diseases, but the new drug might also be used as a preventative therapy," she adds.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

GAUCHER'S DISEASE AND PARKINSON'S DISEASE

New England Journal of Medicine

Gaucher's Disease has been found to make Parkinson's Disease five times more likely. Gaucher's Disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which harmful quantities of a substance called glucocerebroside can accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and the brain. Glucocerebroside accumulates because glucocerebrosidase (the chemical that breaks it down) is deficient in Gaucher's Disease. It is named after the French doctor Philippe Gaucher, who originally described it. For more information go to Gaucher's Disease. A lot of people are carriers for Gaucher's Disease without realising it. Around 1 in 100 people are a carrier for Gaucher's Disease. In Ashkenazi Jews as many as 1 in 15 are a carrier. Those people that had Gaucher's Disease and Parkinson's Disease developed Parkinson's Disease at an earlier age, were more likely to have affected relatives, and were more likely to have atypical clinical manifestations. Although it is known what causes Gaucher's Disease, it is not known how that can also cause the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

VA Approves Agent Orange-Parkinson’s Disability Claims

Approximately 200,000 Vietnam veterans may soon be able to receive disability benefits for illnesses stemming from their exposure 40 years ago to Agent Orange. The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to propose this week new rules that add Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease and hairy-cell leukemia to the growing list of medical problems presumptively caused by the widely-used defoliant on the jungles of Vietnam. The VA already recognizes conditions such as Hodgkin’s disease, prostate cancer and Type 2 diabetes as being caused by Agent Orange. The new rules will apply to any of the 2.1 million veterans who spent time in Vietnam during the war.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

New research to halt Parkinson's, Michael J. Fox remains hopeful

Tom Blackwell, National Post with files from Canwest News Service

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2029862#ixzz0TUuylrbp
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A decade ago, Michael J. Fox predicted Parkinson's -- the disease that has afflicted him for 17 years -- would be cured in 10 years. No such breakthrough is close, but new research at the University of Windsor could halt its advance.

Each time University of Windsor graduate student Katie Facecchia sees the B.C-raised actor on television, talking about his life-and-death battle with Parkinson's disease, she "can't help but think -- just hang on, there'll be something soon."

Ms. Facecchia is part of a team of researchers from the school's biochemistry and psychology departments, led by Prof. Siyaram Pandey, who believe they have made a research breakthrough that laboratory tests have proven halt the advance of Parkinson's.

Prof. Pandey said the treatment is a water-soluble formulation of the natural chemical compound - coenzyme Q10 - that stops further degeneration of neurons in the brains of lab rats.

The currently non-curable neurodegenerative disease is caused by the death of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain that control movement.

The "Co-Q10" compound cannot reverse the damage, cautioned Prof. Pandey, but he said it can halt its progression.

"As the disease progresses, the neurons die at a faster rate," said Prof. Pandey, "Usually, by the time it's diagnosed, 50 per cent of the neurons are gone. The only treatment now is for the symptoms, but the dosage has to always be increased, because the neurons continue to die. If we can protect those neurons that are left over, it could lead to a normal life."

He said the research so far has "shown amazing results . . . the near-complete protection of brain cells."

The findings have been published in the academic journal BMC Neuroscience, and the team has begun collaborating with a pharmaceutical company based in New Jersey, Zymes LLC.

Prof. Pandey said he hopes their research will proceed to clinical testing soon.

"We're still at the pre-clinical stage," he said. "But the results are promising."


Mr. Fox officially launched his research foundation in Canada on Thursday, saying he still wakes up every day believing the illness will be beaten during his lifetime, but now recognizes the advances will come in small, often unspectacular steps.

"I have learned that 99% of progress is failure," said the 47-year-old former star of TV and movies.

"You're not so much proving things as disproving things, and that is a fundamental part of it," he said. "The brain is like space, like the depths of the ocean: it's this frontier we just don't understand ... I'd love to get the answers, but if we can find the right questions, that's just as important for me and just as exciting."

He later suggested that scientists will have figured out the disease within 30 or 40 years, "if not a lot sooner," but said he was not driven by a desire to find a cure for himself.

"People have a hard time believing this - [but] I sometimes forget that I'm even affected by this," he said. "I want to enable and empower those who have the intelligence and the knowledge and the wherewithal to solve the problem ."

Throughout a 20-minute news-conference appearance in Toronto, Mr. Fox swayed back and forth under the disorder's influence, his hands clenching the table in front of him and his voice faltering at times, but kept his audience rapt with often-witty responses.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation - which has dispersed $150-million in the United States, Canada and elsewhere since its founding in 2000 - has just been given charitable status in Canada, a fact that Mr. Fox said meant a lot to him as a Canadian.

He and the foundation's CEO, Katie Hood, heaped praise on the event's co-hosts, the McEwan Centre for Regenerative Medicine - cutting-edge stem-cell researchers - and Toronto Western, which Ms. Hood called one of the world's hotbeds of Parkinson's science.

The Fox foundation itself has earned positive reviews for its focused, aggressive approach to funding research, designed to ensure scientists share information and quickly pounce on any breakthroughs.

The actor, who first found fame in the 1980s NBC series Family Ties, and later in movies such as Back to the Future, played a much different role in recent years as a high-profile opponent of George W. Bush's decision to bar U.S. government funding of research on embryonic stem cells.

That funding decision has since been overturned by Barack Obama, who succeeded Mr. Bush as president. And scientists at Thursday's event suggested stem cells - with their ability to convert into other types of cells - may help them understand how Parkinson's affects the brain, but are unlikely to be developed into a "magical" cure.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fox dismissed complaints that his research-focused charity will sap donor dollars from the Parkinson's Society, a Canadian group dedicated to supporting and advocating for the country's 100,000 patients, stressing that the foundation is not launching an "invasion" of this country.

"I really feel that a rising tide lifts all boats," he said. "I think in the 10 years we've been doing this, we've raised Parkinson's awareness to the point where most organizations and most people endeavouring to help the Parkinson's community are getting more attention than they did."

Mr. Fox was to appearing at a fundraising dinner later on Thursday with '80s rock star Bryan Adams.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Pesticides Linked to Parkinson's

(HealthDay News)

People whose jobs bring them in regular contact with pesticides may be at increased risk for Parkinson's disease, a U.S. study finds.


Researchers asked 519 Parkinson's patients and 511 people without the disease about their work history and exposure to toxins, including pesticides and solvents. Working in agriculture, education, health care or welding wasn't associated with Parkinson's disease, nor was any other specific occupation after the researchers adjusted for other factors.


But the study found that 44 (8.5 percent) of Parkinson's patients reported pesticide exposure, compared with 27 (5.3 percent) of those without the disease. The finding suggests an association between work-related pesticide exposure and increased risk of Parkinson's.


"Growing evidence suggests a causal association between pesticide use and parkinsonism. However, the term 'pesticide' is broad and includes chemicals with varied mechanisms," wrote Dr. Caroline M. Tanner of the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, Calif., and colleagues. "Because few investigations have identified specific pesticides, we studied eight pesticides with high neurotoxic plausibility based on laboratory findings. Use of these pesticides was associated with higher risk of parkinsonism, more than double that in those not exposed."


Three compounds -- an organic (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), an herbicide (paraquat), and an insecticide (permethrin) -- were associated with a more than threefold increased risk of Parkinson's, the study found. Laboratory tests have shown that all three compounds have effects on dopaminergic neurons, which are affected by Parkinson's disease.


"This convergence of epidemiologic and laboratory data from experimental models of Parkinson's disease lends credence to a causative role of certain pesticides in the neurodegenerative process," Tanner and colleagues concluded. "Other pesticide exposures, such as hobby gardening, residential exposure, wearing treated garments or dietary intake, were not assessed. Because these exposures may affect more subjects, future attention is warranted."


The study appears in the September issue of the Archives of Neurology.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

When and how do I tell the person I'm dating that I have a chronic illness?

Having a chronic illness is a difficult reality to accept because chronic is characterized by an ailment that is consistent or recurring. Included in this category are illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, Cancer, Lupus and Multiple scleroses to name a few. An interesting statistic from the National Health Interview Survey show marriages have a hard time sustaining when one person is suffering with a chronic illness. With 1 out of 2 Americans affected by a chronic illness, chances are your next partner will be battling a condition as well; nevertheless the divorce rate exceeds 75 percent. For single people who suffer from chronic illnesses the focus is not sustaining a relationship but rather how to establish a happy and healthy relationship while in the midst of battling their disease.

Imagine swallowing tons of pills daily or carrying needles everywhere you go for injections. Sounds irritating and cumbersome but to the sufferer of chronic acute illnesses, this has become an inevitable reality. The first step towards having a healthy passionate relationship is to accept and understand your disease. The time will come when you will have to explain your condition to the person you’re dating so educate yourself with resources like the Center for Disease Control and be prepared to answer questions. Joining a disease management program is a good gesture because it offers advice on how to control your disease and most offer support groups. Seminars are held throughout the metro Detroit area for individuals who are battling a variety of sicknesses. The techniques learned in such programs will aid in the challenge of getting others to understand what you are going through.

Many people prefer to keep silent and reveal only on a need to know basis. Support is critical for a person with a chronic illness because there are low points when the strength of a loved one will be the only thing carrying you through. If you are dating someone, eventually you will need to tell him/her that you have a condition. However, it is not strategically wise to reveal the delicate details of your life on a first date. Many first dates are inadvertently the last date so telling all of your business during this first encounter is like telling the mail courier, the milk man, the stranger you met in the elevator and pretty much anyone you come in contact with. Instead, get to know the person you are dating by having light conversations. Save the heavy talk for a moment in your relationship when you have graduated to a more intimate level. If you give the relationship time to blossom, you will yield a more sincere response when you finally decide to have that heartfelt conversation. Another reason to withhold the fact that your health is compromised is to avoid sending the message that you’re sick and needy all the time. Many individuals who suffer from chronic illnesses lead normal lives and statistics show only a small percentage of the people have a condition which is visible.


After your relationship transcends from casual to exclusive you will have reached a different level of communication. By this time, you will have identified traits about your lover such as soft spots and uninterested subject matters. When you have gathered the courage to have this conversation, choose an evening when you both are in a laid back mood. The topic is too serious to discuss for the first time while you’re in a slap stick silly mood. Be open about your feelings and stern on what you will expect from your lover should the relationship continue. It’s best not to wait too long to have this conversation because your lover needs to know what they’re getting into and should be allowed to make a conscious decision on whether to deal with the situation or not. For example, if your illness has taken away your ability to have children, you will need to tell the person you’re dating before you ever reach the point of discussing the married family life. You don’t want to expose yourself too soon but you also don’t want to lead a person on. Many people with chronic illnesses lead happy normal lifestyles and have only a few things that are off limits. If the person you’re dating is as caring and understanding as you think, it will be an easy transition from not knowing about your condition to becoming your primary support. However, if the relationship cannot bare the stipulations it’s best to find out sooner than later. The bottom line is your illness is a part of your life and whoever decides to be in your life will have to accept that. Always remember your health comes first.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Australians walk for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's Australia is hoping to raise more than $100,000 for the chronic disease at Australia's Unity Walk.

The organisation is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Parkinson's Australia by once again holding the four kilometre Unity Walk around Sydney Olympic Park. This follows the success of the event last year when it was held for the first time in August, 2008.

More than 1,000 people are expected to turn out for the walk.

Proceeds from the walk will go towards research into the disease and to support people with Parkinson's as well as their families and carers.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurological conditions in Australian, second only to dementia.

There are an estimated 80,000 living with Parkinson's in Australia.

For more information go to: www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Southampton University to research Parkinson's disease

RESEARCH is to be undertaken at the University of Southampton into why people with Parkinson’s Disease are prone to falling. The Parkinson’s Disease Society has awarded a £183,000 grant to Dr Emma Stack to carry out the study.

She will look at what kind of activities are likely to cause most mobility problems and what stops people with Parkinson’s taking part in leisure activities.

Her team will also investigate tripping, stepping backwards and misjudging distances which are all commonly associated with the condition.

Dr Stack said: “By understanding what causes falls outside the home, we hope to create safer environments for people with Parkinson’s.”

St. Jude Medical Announces Australian TGA Regulatory Approval For Libra Deep Brain Stimulation Systems For Parkinson's Disease

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval of its Libra® and LibraXP™ deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that progressively diminishes a person's control over his or her movements.

Similar to a heart pacemaker, the Libra DBS systems function by delivering mild electrical pulses from an implanted device via thin wires with multiple independent electrodes. The stimulation is targeted to one of three regions in the brain which are involved in muscle control for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease.

"This approval is an important step forward in bringing our deep brain stimulation systems to a broader market," said Chris Chavez, president of the St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division. "We are excited to be able to provide physicians in Australia with these best-in-class deep brain stimulation systems, allowing them to have more capability and control in treating their patients."

The Libra and LibraXP neurostimulators are constant current devices that feature the largest battery capacity of any DBS device in their class, which may maximize the time between device replacement procedures. This therapy can be externally programmed by a clinician to meet individual patient needs.

An estimated 6.3 million people worldwide live with Parkinson's disease, according to the European Parkinson's Disease Association. The disease usually develops in people between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of onset of 60 years. Parkinson's disease affects both men and women in almost equal numbers, although research suggests that men are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than women.

Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

Parkinson's disease patients may experience stiffness or rigidity of the arms and legs, slowness or lack of movement, and walking difficulties, in addition to tremor of the hands, arms, legs, jaw or face. These symptoms can make simple, everyday tasks like getting dressed, shaving, eating with utensils and drinking from a glass difficult. Faced with these challenges, Parkinson's disease patients often have a significant decline in their quality of life.

In addition to the TGA approval, the Libra and LibraXP DBS systems have also received the CE Mark approval in Europe. In the U.S., the systems are currently being evaluated in clinical studies for depression, Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

For more information and resources about Parkinson's disease you can check out www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org It's one of the most comprehensive websites on the internet for Parkinson's disease information.

Metabolic profiling of Parkinson's disease: evidence of biomarker from gene expression analysis and rapid neural network detection

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder. The diagnosis of Parkinsonism is challenging because currently none of the clinical tests have been proven to help in diagnosis.

PD may produce characteristic perturbations in the metabolome and such variations can be used as the marker for detection of disease. To test this hypothesis, we used proton NMR and multivariate analysis followed by neural network pattern detection.Methods &Results1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis was carried out on plasma samples of 37 healthy controls and 43 drug-naive patients with PD.

Focus on 22 targeted metabolites, 17 were decreased and 5 were elevated in PD patients (p<0.05). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that pyruvate is the key metabolite, which contributes to the separation of PD from control samples.

Furthermore, gene expression analysis shows significant (p<0.05) change in expression of PDHB and NPFF genes leading to increased pyruvate concentration in blood plasma. Moreover, the implementation of 1H- NMR spectral pattern in neural network algorithm shows 97.14% accuracy in the detection of disease progression.

Conclusions: The results increase the prospect of a robust molecular definition in detection of PD through the early symptomatic phase of the disease.

This is an ultimate opening for therapeutic intervention. If validated in a genuinely prospective fashion in larger samples, the biomarker trajectories described here will go a long way to facilitate the development of useful therapies.

Moreover, implementation of neural network will be a breakthrough in clinical screening and rapid detection of PD.

A research group focuses on neurobiology of Parkinson's disease and the early detection of the disease

A research group based at the University of Granada, in cooperation with the Neurology Unit of the San Cecilio Hospital of Granada and the Department of Experimental Sciences of the University of Jaen, is studying the Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). They have developed a non-invasive method for serological diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, which is being patented by the University of Granada. To this end, the scientists analyzed and purified proteins associated with this disease, such as aminopeptidase. However, it is not an easy task: "there are thousands of proteins in the blood, and only a few are related to neurodegenerative diseases."

Francisco Vives, Head of the Institute the Neurosciences of Granada and coordinator of the University of Granada's research group for the "Study of neurodegenerative diseases in Andalusia" says that "so far, there is not effective treatment" for Parkinson's disease so, at the moment the only solution is palliative treatment. Therefore, "finding plasma specific proteins in patients before the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear, will allow us to use drugs that either stop or at least slow down the disease. An early diagnose is important to PD medication"

L-dopa is a dopamine (the neurotransmitter that decreases in this disease) precursor. It is a very effective drug, but its therapeutic effects disappear within a few years of treatment. Other researchers say it even makes the disease worse. In this sense, scientists from the University of Granada have been carrying out a very complex statistical study, using blood samples from patients with PD, and they had proven than L-dopa has an antioxidant effect, that is, a neuroprotective effect.

Alpha Synuclein

Furthermore, one main feature of PD is the formation of intracellular precipitates, called Lewy bodies. The major components of this toxic precipitates are two proteins, α-synuclein and ubiquitin . Many studies have reported the detection of α-synuclein in biological fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of PD patients. It is a matter of debate if plasma α-synuclein is a protein secreted by normal neurons or released by damaged neurons. This research group has found high concentrations of plasma α-synuclein in PD patients. But the most interesting think is that, in newly diagnosed PD patients, and before any medication, plasma α-synuclein is increased. Thus, this blood protein may be used for PD diagnose. So far, this is the first report (in press) reporting changes in α-synuclein in early diagnosed patients without treatment. The increased concentration of α-synuclein found in PD patients with and without treatment suggest that LBs are associated to neurodegeneration and that this is an early event in PD. Medication directed to prevent α-synuclein aggregates may be useful to PD treatment.

PARK-6

Sporadic Parkinson's, associated to age, is the most frequent form of PD. However, and according to experts, genetic predisposition and environmental factors play a key role in the development of the disease.

The Granada research team, with the help of researchers from the Nuclear Medicine Department of the Goethe University (Germany), have studied genetic alterations in several families from the province of Granada, with various of its members affected of PD. In all these families, there have been cases of Parkinson's at an early age. The genetic analysis proved that the presence of a polymorphism in a specific gene (PARK6) is very frequent in those families.

Despite the findings, Francisco Vives states that "there is not a sole gene responsible for Parkinson's disease, but it is rather the conjunction of several genes. Furthermore, the disease accelerates if patients are exposed to environmental toxics, so prevention and an early diagnose is the best for PD patients."

According to Francisco Vives Montero, "rare neurodegenerative diseases of previous times are now increasingly and becoming more frequent, because they are related to aging". Neurodegenerative diseases linking to ageing, like Parkinson's, are estimated to affect 1.5% of people older than 60.

Seeing the future for Parkinson's patients

by John Nuttt, guest opinion
Friday June 05, 2009, 1:00 PM

The recent news that former Portland Trail Blazer Brian Grant suffers from Parkinson's disease caught many of us off guard. It was the same kind of shock we experienced upon learning that actor Michael J. Fox and former Attorney General Janet Reno also suffer from the disease.

Why were we so surprised? For one reason, Parkinson's, like Lou Gehrig's disease and Alzheimer's, is considered a disease of aging, and in a way this is true. Parkinson's typically strikes those older than 60. But as illustrated by Brian Grant, the young are not spared.

Another reason we were so shocked by Grant's diagnosis is the fact that he is in top physical condition. In many minds -- and in fact in many instances -- physical fitness can lead to a certain level of immunity against many diseases, including Parkinson's. Perhaps we all felt a little more susceptible upon learning of the former Blazer star's affliction.

It's unfortunate that it takes stories such as these to remind us how much we have to learn about Parkinson's disease. We don't know the cause of the vast majority of cases and there is no cure. However, it's also a good opportunity to take stock of how far we have come. Because of generous donors and the federal government's commitment to research, we have greatly expanded the list of available treatments within a relatively short amount of time.

We can now treat some of the most severe Parkinson's symptoms. For instance, Dr. Kim Burchiel of Oregon Health & Science University was the first neurosurgeon in the nation to offer deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's -- a pioneering surgical approach in which tiny electrodes are implanted in the brain to diminish the tremor and slowness associated with the disease. In addition, OHSU researcher Fay Horak is hoping to provide patients relief with an exercise program targeting Parkinson's disease to delay onset of associated problems with walking and balance.

So what does the future hold? While it is true that a cure is currently not in sight, medical research is beginning to suggest methods to delay the progression of the disease. In fact, these advancements might help us redefine the word "cure." Perhaps our best approach for Parkinson's is to delay the onset of symptoms to a period so late in life that many who are diagnosed will never feel the full impacts. In other words, let's delay the symptoms of Parkinson's past a person's life expectancy. In a way, might this be considered a cure?

As physicians and researchers at the OHSU Parkinson Center of Oregon, we hope to one day tell all our patients that a Parkinson's diagnosis is a minor nuisance that can be controlled. But there is much work to be done to make this goal a reality We all need to support more research for Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases that affect both young and old.

Together, let's improve the outlook for Brian Grant and so many other patients.

John Nutt is a physician and director of the Parkinson Center of Oregon at OHSU.

French farmers are more prone to Parkinson's disease

In a new study, researchers have found that professional exposure of French farm workers to pesticides makes them prone to Parkinson's disease (PD).
French farmers are more prone to Parkinson's disease
The researchers observed that the risk was more pronounced in case of professional exposure towards organochlorine insecticides.

The study, led by Dr. Alexis Elbaz, of Inserm, the national French institute for health research in Paris, involved individuals affiliated with the French health insurance organization for agricultural workers who were frequently exposed to pesticides in the course of their work.

For the study, occupational health physicians interviewed participants, visited farms, and collected a large amount of data on pesticide exposure to construct a detailed lifetime exposure history to pesticides.

The data included farm size, type of crops, animal breeding, which pesticides were used, time period of use, frequency and duration of exposure per year, and spraying method.

It was found that PD patients had been exposed to pesticides through their work more frequently and for a greater number of years/hours than those without PD.

Also, among the three main classes of pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides), they found that men who had used insecticides had a two-fold increase in the risk of PD.

"Our findings support the hypothesis that environmental risk factors such as professional pesticide exposure may lead to neurodegeneration," noted Elbaz.

The study underlined the need to educate workers applying pesticides as to how these products should be used and the importance of promoting and encouraging the use of protective devices.

The study also raises the question about the role of lower-level environmental exposure through air, water and food, and additional studies are needed to address this question.

The Lives of Dancers: Tense and Fleeting

In some ways John Jasperse’s “Becky, Jodi and John” seems like a trifle: an entertaining hour passed with three people (and a fourth on video) in a kind of show-and-tell about their lives as dancers. In other ways the piece — first performed two years ago at Dance Theater Workshop, where it returned on Wednesday night — is oddly serious: a meditation on aging and loss, and the difficulty of sustained achievement in an art form typically judged by the most recent performance or production.

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In “Becky, Jodi and John” Mr. Jasperse evokes his own life as a dancer and choreographer alongside those of his longtime friends and colleagues Becky Hilton, Jodi Melnick and — via recorded Skype video — Chrysa Parkinson. All are 45, and their realities are those of any closely linked group: aging, career success or failure, the strain of maintaining relationships. (Ms. Hilton lives in Australia, Ms. Parkinson in Belgium. “I never thought we’d be separated,” Ms. Parkinson says plaintively.)

The work opens with text projected across a screen. “We made this piece two years ago in Australia,” it reads. “Since then, much has changed. Other things, not so much.” As Ms. Parkinson’s face appears on a television screen, the three performers suddenly emerge from darkness, seated in a trough running along the back of the stage. (The lighting, by Joe Levasseur and Mr. Jasperse, is a consistent marvel.) They move with slow, glazed deliberation, flopping one foot over the other, lifting a leg high as their bodies angle back down into the pit.

The trough may be metaphoric: an abyss, into which, later, they sometimes fall. But the idea is never labored; it’s just there, as is a delicate solo from Ms. Melnick. Her casual-looking shifts of weight, swaying movements and angling shoulders combine to offer a portrait of a dancer who now has more than ever to show onstage despite the injuries and physical limitations cataloged in an e-mail message, read aloud by Ms. Hilton. (“I don’t jump,” she wrote. “I can’t stress this enough.”)

The fine poetic texture of the piece partly arises from Hahn Rowe’s score, which evokes both gamelan music and Laurie Anderson-like interwoven text. It also comes from the combination of Mr. Jasperse’s deliberate, carefully layered movement (he makes you notice dancers’ feet and hands, the tiny gestures) and the broader strokes: a funny Q.&A. session, a toy elephant whizzing on a motorized cart, smoke emanating from his body as he dances alone toward the end.

Art is smoke and mirrors, tricks and ploys. But it’s also real people and their lives. Mr. Jasperse — and his colleagues — show us both.

The John Jasperse Company performs through Saturday at Dance Theater Workshop, 219 West 19th Street, Chelsea; (212) 924-0077, dancetheaterworkshop.org.

Living with a 'gift that keeps on taking'

Friday, April 24, 2009

Living with a 'gift that keeps on taking'
'If you're trying to get away from the disease, you're going to wear yourself out.' Michael J Fox before The Late Show with David Letterman in New York this month. Photograph: Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage'If you're trying to get away from the disease, you're going to wear yourself out.' Michael J Fox before The Late Show with David Letterman in New York this month.

Just 30 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, actor Michael J Fox’s natural optimism eventually re-asserted itself and he is now a leading fundraiser and campaigner for stem-cell research. And his previous life as a movie star wasn’t such a great party anyway, he tells EMMA BROCKES

AFTER HE WAS diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but before he started writing books about optimism, Michael J Fox went through a period of seeing himself as he thought others saw him.

“Peculiar,” he says, was the overall impression. “Funny-looking. makes me squirm and it makes my pants ride up so my socks are showing and my shoes fall off and I can’t get the food up to my mouth.”

Fox had been a movie star for five years when he was diagnosed, and was used to being stared at. But of course this was different.

“I hate the way it makes me look,” he thought. “That means that I hate me.”

Seventeen years after diagnosis, and it’s still hard for him to predict exactly when his daily meds will kick in. Visitors prepare for a range of possibilities: if the drugs haven’t taken effect, he becomes “akinetic”, seized by tremors and stiffness. If the medication is working but coincides with a natural surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine, he goes the other way and becomes “dyskinesic”, sending him “rocking, dipping, diving”. Fox once appeared unmedicated before Congress, to illustrate the terrible effects of the disease, and describes how he looked “as if an invisible bully were harassing me”.

Today, he is on target and walks into his Manhattan office buff, trim and wearing a blue cashmere sweater. It’s tough to look louche with advanced-stage Parkinson’s, but somehow Fox manages it.

If you were adolescent or thereabouts when Back to the Future came out in 1985, nothing that has happened to Fox in the years since will have unseated the image of him in that red body-warmer, standing in a car park at midnight as the souped-up DeLorean hit 88mph and disappeared back to 1955. The cute little face, the Calvin Klein underpants, the soft sable hair (I was the target audience. Does it show?) – we were so short ourselves, we didn’t even notice he was just 5ft6 3in, or, more incredibly, a 24-year-old playing a 17-year-old.

He’s 47 now and retains the heightened physical awareness of a tiny male movie star. Where possible, Fox converts his tics into mannerisms: an arm will dock in his hair and smooth it back; a leg will end up balanced on one knee. The effect is of someone with a boyish energy who has had too many Cokes, but even on bad days, “I don’t care. If I don’t get food in my mouth, I’m still happy. If my pants are round my ankles, as long as I don’t get arrested for indecent exposure, I’m happy.”

Since he came out as a sufferer from the disease in 1998, and launched a campaign to normalise its symptoms, Fox has become a pin-up for a certain kind of relentless brightness in the face of adversity. As he well knows, his first memoir, Lucky Man , could quite easily have been called “Poor Bastard”. Instead, Fox wrote of how, after seven years of depression, he came to terms with his diagnosis, set up the Michael J Fox Foundation, gave up drinking and started advocating on behalf of “Parkies”. He is at such an advanced stage of acceptance that it can sound like evangelism, another form of denial (he calls the disease a “gift”). But then, with the charm that made Lucky Man a bestseller, he adds sardonically, “the gift that keeps on taking”.

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist is a follow-up volume, a loose account of the past 10 years. It was written via dictation, as he paced up and down his office and his writing assistant took down his thoughts.

MUCH OF THE book is given over to how he got into campaigning for stem-cell research, the hope of many Parkinson’s sufferers and bugbear of the Christian right, which sees it as a moral equivalent to abortion. Stem cells are extracted from embryos a few days old that are produced through IVF, and which would in any case be destroyed.

“There are 30,000 conditions and diseases that they think they might be able to address through stem-cell research,” Fox says, “but the thing is, the opportunity.” On March 9th, when President Obama overturned Bush’s freeze on research funding, Fox was filming a documentary in Bhutan. After years of campaigning, his satisfaction was tempered by the knowledge that eight precious years of potential advances had been lost. Now that the president is in favour, Fox observes wryly, “there is no money” for Congress to pay for it.

In the book, Fox strains so hard for a measured tone when writing about the former president that you can almost see the vein standing out on his forehead.

“There’s no sense in beating up George Bush,” he says. “George Bush is gone.” Just for your own satisfaction, then. “I got that on March 9th.”

He isn’t so dainty about Rush Limbaugh, the far-right radio host who accused Fox of “exaggerating” his symptoms and “acting” in an election broadcast in 2006. Appearing on behalf of a pro-research Democrat in Missouri, Fox shocked audiences who hadn’t seen him in public by swaying in his chair and speaking through the Parkinson’s mask, a facial rigidity caused by the disease, all of which Limbaugh impersonated the next day on TV. Fox says that of course he was appalled by the man’s crassness, but “that’s what Rush Limbaugh does. He has a very devoted following. The popular name for them is ‘ditto-heads’, because whatever he says, they say ditto. That’s not a club I want to belong to, for anybody.”

Ultimately it worked in his favour, Fox says, because “we were able to harness that attention and there was a shift in public opinion about stem cells. We made some real headway. I personally like the way people – an athlete or an entertainer or a broadcaster or someone – can say something unbelievably politically incorrect, harmful, hurtful, nasty.” He adds, pausing: “I really like it. Because it’s, like, okay, now I know who you are.”

It has been so long since Fox was a movie star that he’s not sure his youngest children even know that’s what he was. His eldest son, Sam, 19, is studying biology at college in California; his twin girls, Aquinnah and Schuyler, 14, go to high school in New York, and his baby, Esme, is eight.

His office is opposite Central Park, in the same building as the family home. Fox met his wife, Tracy, on the set of Family Ties , the 1980s sitcom in which she played his on-screen girlfriend. These were the early days of his fame, when he was out partying all the time. When Fox woke up one morning in 1990 and noticed his little finger shaking, he thought it was a side-effect of a hangover. He was in a hotel in Florida, where he was filming Doc Hollywood, and his life in the Hollywood bubble was supposed to be perfect. But he felt miserable.

“Space within the bubble would increase with every success and contract with every failure,” he writes in Always Looking Up . He was drinking too much, was always away from home and, whenever he had a new film out, turned into a nervous wreck.

He didn’t realise it at the time, Fox says, but he was living “in fear”. In 1990, the Back to the Future franchise had finished, Family Ties had ended and he was at that difficult stage between teen and adult movie star.

He went to a doctor, who told him the finger was nothing to worry about and indulged Fox’s theory that it had to do with an accident on the set of Back to the Future III, when he’d caught his neck in a rope. It was almost a year later, after every test had been exhausted, that he was told in a Manhattan doctor’s office that he had early-onset Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative illness with no cure.

“Hide”, Fox says, was his first reaction, and he stuck to it for as long as he could. Fox was 30 years old – 70 per cent of Parkinson’s sufferers are over 50.

THE WEIRD THING is, he says, that until that moment he had always felt lucky. Growing up an “army brat” in Canada, the fourth of five children, he was expected to go into low-paid manual work or something clerical. His father was a rigid figure whom the young Fox judged harshly for never taking any risks; after he left the army, he found work as a police dispatcher. His mother was a clerk in a storage plant. His role model was his grandmother, whom the family believed to be psychic. She told them her grandson was going to be famous and, at 16, true to her words, he won a part playing a 12-year-old in a Canadian TV show. He was paid $6,000, “a shitload” of money to a family such as his, and it gave him the confidence to quit school without graduating and drive to LA. When he got there, he discovered the Screen Actors’ Guild already had a Michael Fox listed. Fox’s middle name is Andrew, but Michael A Fox sounded ridiculous, he thought, so he went with a J. There were a few threadbare years as he scrounged for work, but not enough to shake his conviction in his own lucky genes. Then he won the part in Family Ties .

“I have a lot of compassion for my younger self,” he says. “It’s funny. I wouldn’t have an appreciation for the things I do now if I didn’t have those experiences. I was so . . . it really is a course correction – at that point in my life, when I got Parkinson’s, I had to look at the way I was living: the drinking. It wasn’t like a little warning sign at the side of the road. It was a big caution in flashing lights.”

After he was diagnosed in 1991, Fox’s drinking got much worse. The alarm call came a year later, when he woke up on the sofa one morning, stinking of booze, with his baby son crawling on him and half a can of beer on the floor next to him. When he opened one eye to see his wife looking down at him, she didn’t seem angry or disgusted, but, worse, indifferent. Fox made arrangements that day to get help with his drinking and hasn’t touched alcohol since. “No, I don’t look back with wistfulness; I don’t romanticise it.”

There is a poignant moment in the book, however, when, flicking through channels on late-night TV, he is “ambushed by the image of a younger, healthier me”. Muhammad Ali, a fellow Parkinson’s sufferer, is one of Fox’s role models, along with Lance Armstrong and the late Christopher Reeve. Fox rang Ali’s wife, Lonnie, to ask about this horror of being confronted with the way you once were.

“I was thinking: ‘What does he think when he sees himself on television as he was as Cassius Clay? Ducking and weaving and joking and spouting poetry. Does he feel sadness? A sense of loss?’ Lonnie said: ‘He loves it. He loves to see himself. He can’t get enough of it.’

“And I got that,” says Fox. “Because it’s still him. Parkinson’s doesn’t take away anything of his identity.”

THIS IS HOW Fox feels about himself. He can joke about being approached by drug dealers in the street who mistake his quivering for a junkie’s comedown. On the other hand, he says, Parkinson’s has made him a better poker player, as no one can tell when he’s bluffing.

The effect of those first seven years, when Fox was in denial and would, incredibly, film in front of a live studio audience every week on the sitcom Spin City , have been thoroughly expunged. He developed tricks to disguise his condition, anchoring himself to furniture and sitting on his hands. Finally, when the prospect of brain surgery loomed, he “came out” and, after a huge public response, tentatively began his new career as an advocate. When he filmed his final episode of Spin City in 2000, he knew it was probably his last regular acting job.

The work of the foundation and the success of his memoir have refreshed his fame since then. But in any case, after years of intense psychotherapy, he has changed his view of how the disease affects him. “The one choice I don’t have is whether or not I have it. But, beyond that, my choices are infinite. How I approach it is up to me. It has a lot to do with – and this is hard for people to understand – accepting it . . . If you’re trying to get away from it or change it, you’re going to wear yourself out.”

The Michael J Fox Foundation has become the leading Parkinson’s fundraiser in the US, putting $140 million (€107 million) into research over the past eight years. Would he run for office? “Nah. I don’t have the constitution.”

To his surprise, he has had the chance to do some acting lately: a few episodes of Boston Legal and an appearance in Rescue Me , his friend Denis Leary’s show about New York firefighters. “It felt good. I played a paraplegic, which is insane.”

His children’s attitudes seem to be as healthy as his. Fox’s philosophy as a parent is “love ’em, feed ’em, keep ’em out of traffic”. He thinks much of modern parenting is too fussily protective – “they’re really sturdy little buggers”.

He has told his children that his brain works differently from theirs. When he was writing his first book, his twins, then five, asked what it was about. “I guess it’s about me,” he said. “About you being Shaky Dad?” “Yeah.” “But Shaky Dad doing what? Riding a bicycle?” He laughed and said: “Something like that.”

I have one last question, although it’s not really a question. That red body-warmer in Back to the Future . . .

“The sea vest?” Er, yes.

Fox says he’s flattered when people bring up his movie work, but he looks suddenly weary. “The whole thing with Back to the Future was so strange. Eric Stoltz shot it for six weeks and then they hired me, wham bam, I was in the parking lot where they filmed the scene with the DeLorean and it was really last-minute and it was cold and if it hadn’t been I wouldn’t have worn that vest. That whole look: those Guess jeans with the peg-legs and the high waist?” His self-scorn has found its appropriate level. “Ridiculous,” he says.

– Guardian service

Parkinson’s Disease News: Pesticides May be a Cause, While Omega Three Acids May Prevent

Parkinson’s Disease News: Pesticides May be a Cause, While Omega Three Acids May Prevent

Today brought exciting news in the research of Parkinson’s disease, the central nervous system disorder that causes impaired speech, motor skills, and other reduced functioning in millions of Americans.

First, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles released a study they say is strong evidence that some Parkinson’s cases are caused by exposure to toxic pesticides. Meanwhile, another team of university researchers announced that they have found omega three fatty acids appear to shield brain cells from a malformed protein caused by a gene mutation in Parkinson’s disease.
UCLA Team Details Pesticide-Parkinson’s Link

The UCLA research confirms what has been long suspected, that exposure to toxic pesticides can cause debilitating neurological disorder. A team of scientists poured over about two decades of public records regarding the use of pesticides in the Central Valley of California, a primary agricultural area. The team then determined estimates for pesticide exposure in areas next to the fields.

Nearly 400 people who lived within 500 yards of fields where two common types of pesticides were sprayed were examined and compared to about 300 people who did not live near agricultural fields.

The result was that on average, people who lived near fields where the pesticides maneb and paraquat were sprayed were 75 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, among other findings.
LSU Scientists Document Benefit of Omega Three Acids

Researchers from Louisiana State University announced they have determined that taking omega three fatty acids may protect people from Parkinson’s disease.

The Ataxin-1 gene is caused by the improper folding of a protein produced by the gene. Misshaped proteins present a problem for the body, since they cannot be properly processed by the body’s cell machinery and can collect in tangled clumps of toxic protein that can kill the cell.

The researchers studied the effect and found that docosahexaenoic acid, an omega three fatty acid, protects cells from this defect.

The LSU study findings recently were presented at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, Experimental Biology.

Hazardous Falls Don't Have to Happen

Hazardous Falls Don't Have to Happen
04.12.09, 08:00 PM EDT
Experts offer seniors tips on avoiding harmful tumbles

MONDAY, April 13 (HealthDay News) -- Falls are the leading cause of injury among senior citizens in the United States, but there are ways to reduce the risk, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Each year in the U.S., more than 11 million senior citizens suffer a fall, which works out to one out of every three people older than 65. Falls can occur during simple, everyday activities such as getting out of the bathtub or climbing the stairs. In 2006, 368,000 people were diagnosed for hip fractures, the AAOS said.

Medical risk factors for falls include: osteoporosis; walking difficulties; arthritis; irregular heartbeat; blood pressure fluctuation; depression; senility; neurological problems such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; vision or hearing loss; cancer that affects bones; and urinary or bladder dysfunction.

The AAOS offered the following fall prevention tips:

* Get an annual physical and eye exam, particularly an evaluation of heart and blood pressure problems.
* Consume adequate dietary calcium and vitamin D.
* Don't smoke and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
* Exercise to improve agility, strength, balance and coordination.
* Eliminate all tripping hazards in the home and install grab bars, handrails and other safety devices.
* Wear properly-fitting shoes and nonskid soles.
* Never walk in your stocking feet.
* Place a lamp, telephone and flashlight near your bed.
* Sleep on a bed that is easy to get into and out of.
* Arrange clothes in your closet so that they're easy to reach.
* Install a night light along the route between your bedroom and bathroom.
* Keep all areas of the house clutter-free.
* Arrange furniture so that you have a clear pathway between rooms.

Parkinson’s is on the increase

Parkinson’s is on the increase

Dr. Philip Rutherford talks about his experience with Parkinson’s disease. April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month.
Cara Brady/Morning Star

By Cara Brady - Vernon Morning Star

Published: April 16, 2009 6:00 PM

In the fall of 2000, Philip Rutherford was a busy family physician in Armstrong. He noticed that he had an ache in his left arm and tingling in his left hand and when it didn’t go away, he saw his doctor and was referred to a specialist for tests.

“It was quite a surprise to be told at 44 that I had what I perceived to be an old person’s disease. I had Parkinson’s disease patients but they were all older,” he said. “It took awhile to sink in but I think I accepted it well. It’s a progressive disease and I know what’s going to happen.”

Rutherford said there is an increasing incidence of what is called young-onset Parkinson’s, before age 50, with some as young as 18 years old. Parkinson’s is a neuro-degenerative disease that happens when the cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between nerves in the brain, die. Symptoms include tremour, stiffness and slowness, balance and muscle problems and others like fatigue, writing changes and sleep disturbances.

There is thought to be a genetic component to the disease in about six per cent of cases while other people may have some kind of predisposition that may be triggered by environmental toxins, infections, post-concussion or other factors. The use of illegal drugs can trigger Parkinson’s in some young people. The majority of cases are of unknown cause with no family history. Diagnosis is made by assessment by a neurologist and there is no cure, but medication can help reduce symptoms.

“I started to get a bit of tremour when I was stressed or anxious and I would limp when I got stressed,” said Rutherford.

“As a physician, you’re obviously aware of how you appear to your patients. I’d be self-conscious and there were certain procedures I couldn’t do. My writing was getting smaller and smaller and I had difficulty keeping patient records. Then there were the things like drooling. Patients don’t find that attractive. Sometimes they would ask me if I was feeling well.”

He and his wife, Carol, a registered nurse, talked to their son, now in his teens, about the disease and the changes. Rutherford loved his work and his patients and continued to practise until he had to make the difficult decision to retire last March.

“There is stress in living with a chronic disease. The medications are effective for controlling symptoms and they work for a time but almost everyone will have side effects or they will cease to be effective. Surgery is helpful for some people,” he said.

“I have had to recognize myself as having a disability and that’s a difficult process. I have become more empathetic and look at the person, not the disability.”

He finds regular exercise, like biking, hiking and cross-country skiing — he had to give up downhill skiing — are beneficial, and that it takes longer to do things like eating and dressing.

Rutherford is making it his project to work locally on the possible implications of environmental factors contributing to Parkinson’s disease. He was involved with the campaign to stop the use of pesticides on school grounds in Armstrong. He is also concerned about Fish and Wildlife Branch plans to use the pesticide rotenone in Gardom Lake to kill non-native species and re-introduce other species. He fishes at Gardom Lake and thinks that caution should be used with wide-spread use of any pesticide. He cites studies that link long-term, low-dose exposure to pesticides to a higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease and some researchers find a connection between exposure in the womb and developing the disease. It appears that the disease may appear long after the initial trigger, whatever that might have been.

Rutherford feels hopeful about help for Parkinson’s disease in the longer term. New research on the genetic components of Parkinson’s disease is being funded by Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, whose mother has the disease.

“There is a lot of research being done and there is likely to be a significant break-through in the next five to 10 years,” he said.

Taking Steps for Parkinson's Disease: Parkinson Research Foundation Announces First Annual Walk

Taking Steps for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson Research Foundation Announces First Annual Walk

Sarasota, FL--- The Parkinson Research Foundation will be presenting its first annual walk to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and money to help support the mission of the Parkinson Research Foundation.

On Saturday April 18th, the annual walk will be held in downtown Sarasota and will begin at 9:00am. The walk will begin at J.D. Hamel Park and cover a 3 mile loop through Main Street and the surrounding areas.

This year’s walk has already gained the unanimous support of the Sarasota community, including the Downtown Sarasota Merchants Alliance, the Burns Court Merchants and Artist Market and exclusive magazine media sponsor SRQ Magazine. The Parkinson Research Foundation hopes that bringing its cause to the streets will help raise awareness about over one million people across American who are affected by this crippling disease.

The money raised will be used to fund research, educational programs, advocacy and awareness efforts that will support Parkinson’s patients, caregivers and families in communities across America.

Registration will begin at 8:00am the day of the walk, however, preregistration is highly recommended. Walkers can participate as an individual or a member of a team. Registration is $10 dollars in advance and $15 dollars the day of the walk. The registration includes a Taking Steps T-shirt and one free 50/50 Taking Steps raffle ticket.

For every $50 that a walker raises in sponsorships and pledges they will receive an additional 50/50 ticket. Upon the completion of the walk a ticket will be drawn at random and the winner will be awarded 50% of the proceeds from the raffle ticket sales. Additional raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 each.

For more information and to register contact Laura Petrolino at lpetrolino@parkinsonresearchfoundation.org or visit us the walk website at www.parkinsonfunwalk.com

Parkinson's Disease Medication Triggers Destructive Behaviors

Parkinson's Disease Medication Triggers Destructive Behaviors
Posted April 8th, 2009 by Mayo Clinic

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new study conducted at Mayo Clinic reports that one in six patients receiving therapeutic doses of certain drugs for Parkinson's disease develops new-onset, potentially destructive behaviors, notably compulsive gambling or hypersexuality.

VIDEO ALERT:Additional audio and video resources including excerpts from an interview withDr. J. Michael Bostwickdescribing the research, are available on theMayo Clinic News Blog.

The study extends findings from two Mayo case series published in 2005 that reported a connection between dopamine agonist medications and compulsive gambling or hypersexuality.

Dopamine agonists are a class of drugs that include pramipexole and ropinirole. They are commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease, but low doses also are used for restless legs syndrome. They uniquely stimulate brain limbic circuits, which are thought to be fundamental substrates for emotional, reward and hedonistic behaviors.

"The 2005 case series alerted us that something bad was happening to some unfortunate people. This study was done to assess the likelihood that this effect would happen to the average Parkinson's patient treated with these agents," says J. Michael Bostwick, M.D., Mayo Clinic psychiatrist who spearheaded the new study. It is published in the April issue ofMayo Clinic Proceedings.

The researchers analyzed the medical records of patients with Parkinson's disease residing in counties surrounding Rochester, Minn., who received their primary neurological care at Mayo Clinic in Rochester between 2004 and 2006. This group included 267 patients. Of those, 66 were taking dopamine agonists for their Parkinson's disease. Of those 66, 38 were taking the drugs in higher therapeutic doses (doses expected to be at least minimally beneficial).

The findings were definitive. Seven patients experiencing new-onset compulsive gambling or hypersexuality were taking dopamine agonists in higher therapeutic doses. None of the other Parkinson's disease patients developed compulsive gambling habits or hypersexuality, including the 28 patients on subtherapeutic dopamine agonist doses or the other 201 patients not taking dopamine agonists. None of the 178 patients treated only with the standard drug for Parkinson's disease, carbidopa/levodopa, developed these behaviors.

"It is crucial for clinicians prescribing dopamine agonists to apprise patients as well as their spouses or partners about this potential side effect. The onset can be insidious and overlooked until life-altering problems develop," saysJ. Eric Ahlskog, M.D., Ph.D.,Mayo Clinic neurologist who co-authored and treated many of the patients in the 2005 study. "It also is worth noting that the affected patients were all taking therapeutic doses. Very low doses, such as those used to treat restless legs syndrome, carry much less risk."

"For some patients, a reduction in the dose of the dopamine agonist may prove to be sufficient treatment," says Dr. Ahlskog, "although total elimination of the offending drug is often necessary."

A peer-review journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings publishes original articles and reviews dealing with clinical and laboratory medicine, clinical research, basic science research and clinical epidemiology. Mayo Clinic Proceedings is published monthly by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research as part of its commitment to the medical education of physicians. The journal has been published for more than 80 years and has a circulation of 130,000 nationally and internationally. Articles are available online at www.mayoclinicproceedings.com.

Man aims for world record in name of Parkinson's

Man aims for world record in name of Parkinson's

Healthcare News
30/03/2009
An avid cyclist hoping to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe on his bike is doing it to raise money for Parkinson's disease, it has emerged.

An avid cyclist hoping to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe on his bike is doing it to raise money for Parkinson's disease, it has emerged.

Speaking to the Independent, James Bowthorpe highlighted that his passion for fighting the disease was founded when he finally understood the trials and tribulations of his grandfather, who he remembers as a "slow old man with sticks".

He explained: "About two years ago I decided I wanted to get into medical school and had to volunteer to get clinical experience. I wanted to explain to my younger self what was up with my granddad, so looked for work around Parkinson's."

Cycling 120 miles a day, Mr Bowthorpe will cover 18,000 miles overall and hopes to beat current record holder Mark Beaumont by three weeks - in turn raising £100 a mile and giving his £1.8 million to research.

The Parkinson's Disease Society has been funding a number of research projects over the last 39 years, spending around 25 per cent of its total budget each year on the exercise.

Can Sound Slow Parkinson's?

Can Sound Slow Parkinson's?

Q: I've heard you mention how certain types of sound overtones can apparently slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. What kind of music activates the body's healing system? What else do you recommend to stop or slow the progression of the disease?

By Andrew Weil M D
Published on March 23, 2009 -


A: Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological process affecting the "substantia nigra," a small area of cells in the midbrain. Loss of these cells results in a reduction in levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine and upsets the balance between dopamine and another brain chemical, acetylcholine. The most familiar signs of the disease are resting tremor (trembling) of the arms, legs, jaw and face that decreases with movement; a generalized slowness of movement; stiffness in the limbs and trunk; rigid facial expressions; and problems with balance or gait. Mental function can deteriorate in advanced cases, and depressiondefine is common.

Several small studies have suggested that music therapy can slow the progression of Parkinson's. One of the best-known clinical trials, from Italy, found that music therapy positively affected movement, emotions and quality of life among a small group of patients. Other research has suggested that some types of music can stimulate production of dopamine and serotonin, another neurochemical involved in Parkinson's. There's not one type of music that helps everyone. Music therapists report that with each patient, they must try various rhythms or music styles to see which ones help with walking, balance and movement. However, sometimes slow, rhythmic music can help promote relaxation and sleep among patients who would otherwise be wakened by involuntary movements.

Consider working with a music therapist to investigate whether music benefits you (to learn more, visit the American Music Therapy Association at www.musictherapy.org). On your own, however, you can listen to various types of music to see what helps you move, prompts you to sing (and thus strengthens your voice) or helps you relax and sleep.

While there's no cure for Parkinson's, a variety of drugs including L-Dopa (Levodopa) and Sinemet (Carbidopa) can slow its progression and help manage symptoms. L-Dopa is converted to dopamine in the brain. Sinemet prevents L-Dopa from being broken down before it reaches the brain.

Findings from a small study (with only 80 participants) at the University of California, San Diego, suggest that taking 1,200 mg per day of coenzyme Q (CoQ10) can also help slow progression of the disease in its early stages, although these are very high doses and quality supplements can be quite expensive. Before we can say for sure that CoQ10 helps, the results must be confirmed in larger studies.

For other tips on managing Parkinson's disease, see the Web site of the Parkinson's Action Network at www.parkinsonsaction.org.

"Ask Dr. Weil" does not provide specific medical advice and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health-care professional. You should always consult your physician to discuss specific symptoms and conditions.

COPYRIGHT 2009 UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE and Weil Lifestyle, LLC

Reproductive factors may protect women from Parkinson's disease

Reproductive factors may protect women from Parkinson's disease
15 Mar 2009

A large new study provides evidence that longer exposure to the body's own hormones may protect women from Parkinson's disease. The study has been released and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 to May 2, 2009.


The study found that women who have more years of fertile lifespan (number of years from first menstruation to menopause) had a lower risk of developing the disease than women with fewer years of fertile lifespan. The fertile lifespan is a marker for the body's own sex hormone levels. In addition, women with four or more pregnancies were at greater risk of developing the disease than women with fewer pregnancies. Separately, the risk of Parkinson's disease was increased in women who had hysterectomies and had also previously taken hormone replacement therapy compared to those who never took hormone therapy, but it was not increased in women who took the hormones but had not had hysterectomies.

"These findings suggest that longer duration of exposure to the body's own (endogenous) hormones may help protect the brain cells that are affected by Parkinson's disease. Further investigation is necessary to explain why women with four or more pregnancies are at increased risk compared with those with fewer pregnancies. This study does not support a role for treatment with hormone therapy in Parkinson's, but there are still many unanswered questions," said study author Rachel Saunders-Pullman, MD, MPH, MS, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, NY, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

For the study, researchers analysed the records of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study to determine who developed Parkinson's disease. The study involved about 74,000 women who underwent natural menopause and about 7,800 women who underwent surgical menopause.

Among women with natural menopause, those who had a fertile lifespan of more than 39 years, which is a time associated with higher levels of the body's own sex hormones, had about a 25 percent lower risk of developing the disease than women with a fertile lifespan shorter than 33 years. Researchers also looked at the number of pregnancies, and women who had four or more pregnancies were about 20 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than women who had three or fewer pregnancies.

Women who had menopause from surgery had almost twice the risk of developing the disease if they had previously taken hormone therapy and stopped than if they had never taken hormone therapy. Taking hormones did not have any effect on Parkinson's risk for women who had natural menopause.

Because Parkinson's disease is more common in men than in women, researchers have long hypothesised about the role of hormones in the disease.

(Source: American Academy of Neurology: American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting: March 2009)

Obama to End Stem Cell Ban

SATURDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama will lift the eight-year ban on embryonic stem cell research on Monday, the White House has announced.
A White House ceremony is scheduled for late morning, when Obama will issue an executive order formally removing the federal funding limits imposed by his predecessor, President George W. Bush, in 2001.
And while The New York Times reports that it may take many months for the National Institutes of Health to develop new guidelines for research, researchers were already applauding the president's actions.
The availability of federal funding for research on cell lines that had been off-limits during the Bush administration, coupled with billions of newly available dollars in federal stimulus money, could set the stage for a tidal wave of support that could propel stem cell research well into the next decade -- if things move quickly, said a prepared statement from Stanford University researchers in California.
This action is both welcome and overdue, added Dr. Philip Pizzo, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine and a governing board member of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, in the statement. This vote of confidence from President Obama in the promise of embryonic stem cell research validates and extends CIRM's mission to help millions of people suffering from currently incurable medical conditions. It is also a powerful signal that advances in medical research must be pursued even in times of economic difficulty.
Peter T. Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Christopher And Dana Reeve Foundation in Short Hills, N.J., said in a prepared statement, With a stroke of his pen, President Obama acknowledged the will of the majority of Americans and harnessed the power of the federal government to move research forward. By removing politics from science, President Obama has freed researchers to explore these remarkable stem cells, learn from them and possibly develop effective therapies using them.
The general enthusiasm followed a wave of similar sentiments last month when initial reports of the new policy came out of a closed-door meeting between Obama and House Democrats.
It's going to remove an embarrassment for American science, said Dr. Darwin Prockop, director of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, said in February. It's a statement that we're going to again believe in science.
Stem cell research received a big boost in January, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever human trial using embryonic stem cells as a medical treatment.
Geron Corp., a California-based biotech company, was given the OK to implant embryonic stem cells in eight to 10 paraplegic patients who can use their arms but can't walk.
In 2001, then-president Bush limited federal funding for stem cell research only to human embryonic stem cell lines that already existed.
The decision prompted some scientists to worry that the United States would fall behind other countries in the drive to unlock the potential of stem cell research.
Embryonic stem cells are the most basic human cells, believed to be capable of growing into any type of cell in the body. Working as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells. The scientific hope is that stem cells may, at some point in the future, become capable of treating a variety of diseases and conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart disease and spinal cord injuries, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
National polls continue to find that the majority of Americans favors embryonic stem cell research, although some surveys have found that that support has declined somewhat in recent years.
Many people object to the use of embryonic stem cells, contending that the research requires the destruction of potential life, because the cells must be extracted from human embryos.
The stem cells being used in the recently approved Geron trial were obtained from one of the Bush administration's approved stem cell lines. And no federal funds were used in the development of this treatment.
Since the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research took effect, many research institutions have redirected their focus to other types of stem cells. Prockop's institution, for instance, deals only with adult stem cells.
Adult stem cells can give rise to all the specialized types of cells found in tissue from which they originated, such as skin. But, scientists don't agree on whether adult stem cells may yield cell types other than those of the tissue from which they originate, according to the National Institutes of Health.
More information
To learn more about stem cells, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Converted cells offer hope against Parkinson's

By NICHOLAS WADE, New York Times
March 5, 2009

In a striking instance of biologists' new prowess at manipulating human cells, researchers at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge have converted skin cells from people with Parkinson's disease into the general type of neuron that is destroyed in the disease.

The new approach, though it requires much further work, would in principle allow the brain cells that are lost in Parkinson's to be replaced with cells that carried no risk of immune rejection, since they would be the patients' own.

The Whitehead scientists, reporting in Thursday's issue of the journal Cell, said that the method worked in five patients whose skin cells were transformed in the test tube into neurons that produce dopamine, a chemical that transmits messages between neurons in certain regions of the brain. It is the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells that leads to the symptoms of Parkinson's.

The immediate goal of the research, led by Frank Soldner and Rudolf Jaenisch, is to grow the dopamine-producing cells in the lab to seek the cause of the disease. The cells could be exposed to the various environmental toxins that have come under suspicion as possible contributory causes of Parkinson's.

Improvement on a discovery

A longer-term goal is to prepare cells suitable for transplantation. The cells of a Parkinson's patient presumably have some innate predisposition to the disease. But since the disease generally does not show up for 50 years or more, an infusion of new cells may give the patient more useful years.

The Whitehead team exploited a discovery made in 2007 by Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka, who found that mature cells could be reprogrammed back to the embryonic state with surprising ease. The trick is to insert a handful of genes that are active in the embryonic cell, usually on the back of a virus since viruses are adept at delivering active genes into cells.

With the patients' skin cells converted back to the embryonic state, the Whitehead scientists used an established recipe for driving the embryonic cells down a different path, converting them into dopamine-making neurons.

Another scientific team achieved this goal last year, but left the virus inside the cells. Virus-laden cells are unsuitable for transplant. In addition, the Whitehead team found the virus caused subtle differences in the cells' activity. So they developed a way of snipping the virus out of cells once it had completed its mission. Their dopamine-producing neurons are free of the virus and the three extra genes required for reprogramming the skin cells.

Jaenisch said the real promise of the new approach was to provide Parkinson-type neurons that could be grown in the laboratory to study how the disease develops.

New Protein May Reverse Neurodegenerative Diseases

Newswise — An investigational protein that transformed normal laboratory mice into super-jocks holds great promise in developing new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), say researchers at the University of Virginia Health System.

A study published in the February 17, 2009 online edition of Mitochondrion reports that the protein, rhTFAM (an abbreviation for recombinant-human mitochondrial transcription factor A), succeeded in entering and energizing the DNA of the mice’s mitochondria, enabling them to run two times longer on their rotating rods than a control group cohort.

Because many neurodegenerative diseases cause mitochondria to malfunction, medical researchers have been focusing on developing methods for repairing and restoring them. The new UVA study represents an important step toward achieving that goal. It shows that a naturally occurring protein, TFAM, can be engineered to rapidly pass through cell membranes and target mitochondria. Study findings show that rhTFAM acts on cultured cells carrying a mitochondrial DNA disease as well as lab mice.

Conducted in conjunction with Gencia Corporation, a Charlottesville-based biotechnology firm that owns rhTFAM, the study also describes a scalable method of producing the protein in needed quantities.

Mitochondria are the cellular engines that transform food into fuel in our bodies and perform their work in the energy-intensive tissue of our brains, retinas, hearts and skeletal muscles. When damaged, mitochondria slow down, stop generating energy effectively and begin to over-produce oxygen free radicals. If produced in excess, oxygen free radicals chemically attack all cell components, including proteins, DNA and lipids in cell membranes.

“In simple terms, an overabundance of these free radicals cause cells to start rusting,” notes lead study author James P. Bennett, Jr., M.D., PhD, a professor of neurology and psychiatric research at the UVA School of Medicine and director of its Center for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

While the UVA findings are preliminary, Bennett considers them encouraging. “We’ve shown that the human mitochondrial genome can be manipulated from outside the cell to change expression and increase mitochondrial energy production,” he notes. “This is arguably the most essential physiological role of the mitochondria.”

Although important questions remain about the technology, mechanisms and therapeutic potential of rhTFAM, Bennett believes his team’s findings could contribute to the development of treatments that repair and restore damaged mitochondria in cells. “We’re looking toward the day when we can reverse or delay the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases and other conditions where cell energy production is deficient, including cancer, diabetes and aging,” he says.

Gencia made rhTFAM available to UVA under a material transfer agreement. One study author, Francisco R. Portell, has an affiliation with the company.

Study authors also include Shilpa Iyer, Ravindar R. Thomas, Lisa D. Dunham and Caitlin K. Quigley. All work at the Center for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence at UVA.

Cancer link to Parkinson's - study

Press Association, February 16, 2009

People with a family history of skin cancer may be more vulnerable to Parkinson's disease, new research suggests.

A link between melanoma and Parkinson's was already suspected. Previous studies have shown that sufferers of Parkinson's disease have an increased risk of developing the cancer.

The new study showed individuals who had a family history of melanoma were nearly twice as likely to develop Parkinson's as those who did not.

Scientists looked at almost 157,000 people who had not shown any symptoms of Parkinson's. They were asked if any of their parents or siblings had been diagnosed with melanoma, a type of tumour that includes the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Researchers then traced their progress for a period of 14 to 20 years. During that time, 616 of the group were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st annual meeting in Seattle in the spring.

Study author Dr Xiang Gao, from Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston, said: "The results from this study suggest that melanoma and Parkinson's could share common genetic components. More research needs to be done to examine the relationship between these two diseases."

Parkinson's disease is characterised by muscle rigidity and tremors and affects about 10,000 people in the UK each year.

It is caused by the loss of brain cells that help co-ordinate movement.

An estimated 9,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year. The disease is curable if caught early but malignant melanoma can be highly dangerous.

New Evidence Melanoma & Parkinson’s Link

Valentina Wilson / NBC33 News

February 16, 2009 - 7:24pm

New evidence links melanoma to Parkinson’s Disease. Harvard researchers studied more than 150,000 people for nearly 20 years. They found those with a reported family history of melanoma were nearly twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s. This suggests there could be a common gene between the two diseases. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Scientists Heartened at Prospect of End to Stem Cell Ban

Move by Obama expected to kick-start efforts to unlock therapeutic potential

Posted February 9, 2009

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers are rejoicing over President Barack Obama's anticipated lifting of the eight-year ban on embryonic stem cell research imposed by his predecessor, President George W. Bush.

The anticipation moved one step closer to reality Thursday, with media reports that Obama gave House Democrats at a closed-door Virginia retreat a "guarantee" that he would sign an executive order overturning Bush's policy.

"It's going to remove an embarrassment for American science," said Dr. Darwin Prockop, director of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Scott & White Hospital in Temple. "It's a statement that we're going to again believe in science."

Yet those same experts are aware that the sobering state of the economy could impose its own restrictions on this type of research.

"This clearly is a very important part of our medical future," said Paul Sanberg, distinguished professor of neurosurgery and director of the University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa. "[But] to clear the path for this without giving additional money to the National Institutes of Health will be disappointing. I hope the stimulus package also includes an increase in embryonic stem cell funding."

Sanberg also expressed concern that any monies redirected to stem cell research could divert funds from other critical avenues of research. "If it's a normal competitive process, it will take money away from other programs," he said.

Stem cell research received a big boost in January, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever human trial using embryonic stem cells as a medical treatment.

Geron Corp., a California-based biotech company, was given the OK to implant embryonic stem cells in eight to 10 paraplegic patients who can use their arms but can't walk.

In 2001, then-president Bush limited federal funding for stem cell research only to human embryonic stem cell lines that already existed.

The decision prompted some scientists to worry that the United States would fall behind other countries in the drive to unlock the potential of stem cell research.

Embryonic stem cells are the most basic human cells, believed to be capable of growing into any type of cell in the body. Working as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells. The scientific hope is that stem cells may, at some point in the future, become capable of treating a variety of diseases and conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart disease and spinal cord injuries, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

National polls continue to find that the majority of Americans favors embryonic stem cell research, although some surveys have found that that support has declined somewhat in recent years.

Many people object to the use of embryonic stem cells, contending that the research requires the destruction of potential life, because the cells must be extracted from human embryos.

The stem cells being used in the recently approved Geron trial were obtained from one of the Bush administration's approved stem cell lines. And no federal funds were used in the development of this treatment.

Since the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research took effect, many research institutions have redirected their focus to other types of stem cells. Prockop's institution, for instance, deals only with adult stem cells.

Adult stem cells can give rise to all the specialized types of cells found in tissue from which they originated, such as skin. But, scientists don't agree on whether adult stem cells may yield cell types other than those of the tissue from which they originate, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Prockop said embryonic stem cells "are mainly of interest as a research tool and a biological experimental system. Their use in patients in spite of that recent approval for Geron is really very questionable because of the potential for tumors."

Still, the anticipated lessening of restrictions by the Obama administration may help funnel more private money into stem cell research, the experts said.

"This should give more general acceptance to stem cell research, because now, there won't be this stigma associated with it as much," Sanberg said.

And, perhaps, a new federal policy would spur organizations such as the American Heart Association -- which currently does not fund research involving human embryonic stem cells or stem cells derived from fetal tissue -- to channel funds into this line of research, Sanberg added. (The heart association said it "recognizes the value of all types of stem cell research and supports federal funding of this research.")

Still, Sanberg pointed out, some ethical issues surrounding stem cell research and its application will remain.

For instance, he said, "There still needs to be some oversight on the uses of stem cells and cloning."

More information

To learn more about stem cells, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.