Janet Reno “showed the world that Parkinson’s does not have to define you”

Perspectives

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 8 November 2016

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Campaigners celebrate the life of Janet Reno, former US Attorney General, who died after living with Parkinson’s for more than 20 years

Janet Reno, former US Attorney General under President Bill Clinton, died on Monday at the age of 78 after complications with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s campaigners paid tribute to her as a “legend” for her contribution the Parkinson’s community. She was honorary chair of Moving Day Miami, the National Parkinson Foundation’s fundraising walk, from 2012-2015, and a prominent advocate of Parkinson’s research and awareness.

As the first female Attorney General of the US, Reno served in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 2001. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1995 after noticing a tremor in her left hand, but continued in her government role.

John Kozyak, chairman of the Parkinson’s Foundation, praised the example she set for others living with the condition: “She set an example for people living with Parkinson’s and she set an example for so many more to live life to the fullest, to be humble and to do the right thing. I will never forget how Janet comforted me when my parents were diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She is a legend to me and many.”

Dr Michael Okun, national medical director of the Parkinson’s Foundation and professor and chairman of neurology at the University of Florida, paid tribute to Reno’s determination to not let the disease define her.

“Janet Reno lived two decades with Parkinson’s and was an amazing example to everyone suffering with this disease, showing that it is possible to live a happy life. She showed the world that Parkinson’s does not have to define you,” said Dr Okun.

Janet Reno at the National Parkinson Foundation event, Moving Day Miami

Image credit: National Parkinson Foundation

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rempat

While Parkinson’s doesn’t define us, we cannot ignore it either. I’m glad that Reno sought to comfort others about it, as illustrated in this article. I look at it as an opportunity to gain further experience with it that I can use together with my other skills to help others.
Mary Spremulli,MA,CCC-SLP

When to share the diagnosis has been a topic of discussion with my LOUD Crowd members lately. Saying the PD word out loud let’s the steam out for some people, and others keep it private for longer. Treating PD like a chronic disease, much the way we think of diabetes, can keep it in perspective. Something to be managed, but also only one aspect of all that you are.

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Breath test “detects early-stage Parkinson’s”

Scientists from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, have developed a breath test that they claim can detect early-stage Parkinson’s. As part of a study – published in medical journal ‘ACS Chemical Neuroscience’ – scientists used a breathing device to analyse the breath of 29 participants who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. In addition, scientists also examined the breath of 19 people in the same age group who did not have the condition. The results suggested the breath test had an accuracy of 81% – leading scientists to believe the device could be used as a portable screening tool without assistance from a medical professional. The authors of the study said: “Early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is important because it affects the choice of therapy and is subject to a relatively high degree of error.”

World-first Parkinson’s stem cells trial

Scientists at a Japanese university will carry out a world-first clinical trial transplanting reprogrammed stem cells into the brains of seven people with Parkinson’s. Researchers believe the process – which was tested on monkeys last year – will allow the brain to create dopamine to counter the effects of Parkinson’s. Shinya Yamanaka, who is working on the study and won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for his work with stem cells, said: “We intend to carry on conducting our research carefully, yet expeditiously, in coordination with Kyoto University Hospital, so that new treatment will be brought to patients as soon as possible.” Researchers are hoping to create a treatment that will be covered by national health insurance in Japan.

Contact sports linked to onset of Parkinson’s

Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, US have found a link between engaging in contact sports such as American football, boxing and ice hockey – and developing neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson’s. The study – published in the ‘Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology’ – found that engaging in contact sports increased the risk of developing Lewy body disease – a condition which is caused by deposits of protein forming inside brain cells and can lead to Parkinson’s. After studying 694 brains, researchers concluded that those who had played contact sports for more than eight years developed neurological conditions at six times the rate of those that did not. Dr Thor Stein, the author of the study, said: “We found the number of years an individual was exposed to contact sports, including football, ice hockey, and boxing, was associated with Parkinsonism and dementia.”

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Janet Reno “showed the world that Parkinson’s does not have to define you”

Perspectives

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 8 November 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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September 2017

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

Global update

John Stapleton: “More Parkinson’s research is needed, full stop”

Breath test “detects early-stage Parkinson’s”

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Contact sports linked to onset of Parkinson’s

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Janet Reno “showed the world that Parkinson’s does not have to define you”

Perspectives

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 8 November 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

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John Stapleton: “More Parkinson’s research is needed, full stop”

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