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7 days ago

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

Undergoing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) – a sudden injury that damages the brain – may be linked to Parkinson’s onset at an earlier age, new research suggests. The study, led by researchers in the US, examined data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Centre (NACC) database and assessed whether TBI was associated with age of disease onset, survival and the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. They found that while there was no significant association with age of death or greater impact on dopamine-producing nerve cells, results showed that TBI was linked to a 4.9-year earlier age of Parkinson’s onset. Reflecting on the results, the researchers wrote that traumatic brain injury “appears to accelerate Parkinson’s onset without altering age of death”. However, the researchers also cautioned that “the nature of this relationship remains unclear”.

2 weeks ago

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

“When I got diagnosed with Parkinson’s I thought it was over,” US astronaut Michael “Rich” Clifford once said, in a webcast conversation with Parkinson’s expert Dr Ray Dorsey. But when US space agency NASA offered him another opportunity to board a space shuttle, despite the onset of Parkinson’s symptoms, he didn’t hesitate. “And it was as easy as that.” Now, nearly 30 years since his final venture into space, Clifford has died due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He leaves a legacy of three journeys into space, several awards for his services to the space programme – including the NASA Space Flight Medal – and a history of advocacy for people with Parkinson’s. In a 2013 conversation with the Michael J Fox Foundation, Clifford said: “Everyone with Parkinson’s handles it differently. Don’t let it get in the way of living. “Life is too good. Keep going. The sky’s the limit.” Image credit:…

3 weeks ago

Sir Billy Connolly opens up about life with Parkinson’s disease in new documentary

Scottish comedian, actor and musician Sir Billy Connolly shared updates about his experiences with Parkinson’s disease in a new documentary for UK channel ITV. The documentary, titled ‘Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure’, featured the comedian discussing moving to his new home in Florida Keys, US, writing his first autobiography ‘Windswept and Interesting’, and how he’s managed living with Parkinson’s. Opening up about living with the condition, Connolly said in the documentary: “Parkinson’s disease has taken a lot from me. I can’t play the banjo anymore; I can’t smoke cigars. It’s taken more and more of what I like.” Connolly also said he behaves a certain way so his children “don’t think I’m a dead loss”. Despite this, Connolly remains upbeat about managing Parkinson’s: “You have to have a Glasgow attitude and say: ‘Oh, you think you’ve got me beat? Try this for size.’ I just deal with it. If I…

Perspectives

Misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s: why access to specialist neurologists is essential

Perspectives

Doctors thought I had Parkinson’s for nearly a decade – they were wrong

There are 2 results for "Joanne Clements" in "All"

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

Sir Billy Connolly opens up about life with Parkinson’s disease in new documentary

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Perspectives

Misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s: why access to specialist neurologists is essential

Perspectives

Doctors thought I had Parkinson’s for nearly a decade – they were wrong

There are 2 results for "Joanne Clements" in "All"

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

Sir Billy Connolly opens up about life with Parkinson’s disease in new documentary

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