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Moderate alcohol consumption may be linked with Parkinson’s
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Finnish author and campaigner Timo Montonen shares his top tips
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This month’s Parkinson’s stories from around the globe
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“Even ‘normal’ drinking comes with a risk”

Moderate alcohol consumption may be linked with Parkinson’s

Trolley California Street Sunrise in San Francisco

10 top tips for travelling with Parkinson’s

Finnish author and campaigner Timo Montonen shares his top tips

“What we have discovered is the tip of the iceberg”

A new method for early Parkinson’s disease diagnosis?

Combining film and poetry to send a message about Parkinson’s disease

Filmmaker Zack Grant highlights his mother’s experience

Parkinson’s in the news: July

This month’s Parkinson’s stories from around the globe

Six steps to tackle global Parkinson’s disease disparities

The World Health Organisation has outlined areas for improvement

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Parkinson’s disease genes activated in zebrafish exposed to aluminium

According to research on zebrafish in Naples, Italy, aluminium exposure may increase the activity of several genes associated with the development of Parkinson’s. The team investigated the impact of exposing zebrafish to aluminium for periods of 10, 15 or 20 days. Subsequent analyses revealed that effects in “cellular disorganisation” and swelling, brought on by the exposure, were highest after 10 or 15 days – and that around 10 Parkinson’s-related genes showed increased signs of activation. The researchers found that while fish exposed to aluminium showed signs of brain degeneration, brain tissue remained intact in the fish that were not exposed. When their results were published in the journal ‘Chemosphere’, the researchers noted that further investigation of the link between aluminium exposure and Parkinson’s is needed – but they wrote: “Overall, the data confirm the neurotoxicity induced by aluminium and shed a light on its involvement in neurodegenerative processes.”

Could wearable heart sensors help with diagnosing Parkinson’s disease?

Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) – that is, reduced time between heartbeats – has previously been associated with a greater risk of Parkinson’s. Now, researchers in Japan have suggested that using wearable sensors to measure this variability may help in diagnosing the condition at its early stages. As part of their study, the team analysed the heart rate variability of 27 people with Parkinson’s and 23 without the condition. The participants wore two heart rate sensors on their wrists for approximately 24 hours during a hospital stay. Results from the study showed that heart rate variability was “significantly decreased” in people with Parkinson’s, with the researchers reporting that the “assessment method was effective in detecting decreased HRV”. Noting the need for further research, the team wrote: “Our wearable sensor-based analysis should also be tested in subjects at the [early] stages” to determine the applicability for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

Co-existing conditions may impact how people with Parkinson’s disease perceive stigma

According to a study from the US, people with Parkinson’s who also live with certain co-existing conditions may experience greater perceived stigma and lower quality of life than those who do not. Published in the journal ‘General Psychiatry’, the study examined how conditions like thyroid disease, depression and anxiety impact perceptions of stigma and quality of life among people with Parkinson’s. The researchers surveyed 196 participants who had previously been part of the Boston University Online Survey Study of Parkinson’s Disease – a study exploring the experiences of those living with the condition. Of these participants, 79% reported having at least one co-existing condition. Whilst factors like education level and age at onset were identified as influencing factors, the researchers found a correlation between the total number of conditions and participants’ perceptions of stigma as well as poorer quality of life. The study described the findings as important for “care…

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“Even ‘normal’ drinking comes with a risk”

10 top tips for travelling with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s in the news: July

Global update

Perspectives

Global update

Global update

“Even ‘normal’ drinking comes with a risk”

Perspectives

10 top tips for travelling with Parkinson’s

Advances

“What we have discovered is the tip of the iceberg”

Global update

Combining film and poetry to send a message about Parkinson’s disease

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: July

Global update

Six steps to tackle global Parkinson’s disease disparities

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Parkinson’s disease genes activated in zebrafish exposed to aluminium

Could wearable heart sensors help with diagnosing Parkinson’s disease?

Co-existing conditions may impact how people with Parkinson’s disease perceive stigma

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“Even ‘normal’ drinking comes with a risk”

10 top tips for travelling with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s in the news: July

Global update

Perspectives

Global update

Global update

“Even ‘normal’ drinking comes with a risk”

Perspectives

10 top tips for travelling with Parkinson’s

Advances

“What we have discovered is the tip of the iceberg”

Global update

Combining film and poetry to send a message about Parkinson’s disease

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: July

Global update

Six steps to tackle global Parkinson’s disease disparities

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Parkinson’s disease genes activated in zebrafish exposed to aluminium

Could wearable heart sensors help with diagnosing Parkinson’s disease?

Co-existing conditions may impact how people with Parkinson’s disease perceive stigma

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