2.5 hours exercise a week “can reduce effects of Parkinson’s”

News

Author: Joe McAweaneyPublished: 5 April 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

A new study has found that doing 2.5 hours of exercise per week can reduce the effects of Parkinson’s.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, sampled 3,408 people living with Parkinson’s. They found that those exercising for 150 minutes a week were affected less by the condition.

Lead investigator Miriam Rafferty, of Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, said: “We found that people with Parkinson’s disease who maintained exercise 150 minutes per week had a smaller decline in quality of life and mobility over two years compared to people who did not exercise or exercised less.”

He added: “People with Parkinson’s disease should feel empowered to find the type of exercise they enjoy, even those with more advanced symptoms.”

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Interviews

Insight into Parkinson’s: “join us as we make history”

We talk to the founder of the ‘Insight into Parkinson’s’ summit

Standing tall: the fashion blogger and young onset campaigner who’s back in heels (thanks to DBS)

Tonya Walker, fashion blogger and young onset Parkinson's campaigner

Think twice: the deadly risk of fake drugs

Learn how to how to tell a fake pill from a real one

New insights on immune cell process and Parkinson’s disease

Insoluble clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein, which can cause damage to brain cells, have been previously linked to Parkinson’s. Now, scientists in Germany, France and the US have uncovered new details on how brain cells respond to these clusters. The researchers discovered that the brain’s immune cells may be able to join together to break down the protein clumps. According to a press release, this was previously unknown. They also found that these neighbouring cells share mitochondria – structures that generate energy for chemical reactions – to help one another. In certain mutations associated with Parkinson’s, this process may be impaired. The researchers hope this insight could inform the development of new therapies. “We have opened the door to a field that will certainly engage researchers for many years to come,” said Professor Dr Michael Heneka, director of the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry at the University Hospital…

Could analysing skin oil help diagnose Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease patients tend to have high levels of oil, known as sebum, on their skin’s surface. Now, a study has suggested that analysing this substance may help when diagnosing the condition. The study revealed that sebum contains significant amounts of genetic material, specifically the molecule ribonucleic acid (RNA). Analysis of RNA contained in sebum – that is, skin surface lipids RNA, or SSL-RNA – could offer insights into a person’s health. Researchers in Japan examined SSL-RNA in men and women with and without Parkinson’s. The results suggested that the SSL-RNA profiles of those with Parkinson’s had “different characteristics” than those without. The researchers then tested whether examining these profiles with machine learning could reveal those who had Parkinson’s – and who didn’t. The team’s algorithm indicated a “relatively robust discriminatory ability,” supporting the further use of SSL-RNA as part of a future “non-invasive” method for diagnosis.

‘Sonic hedgehog’ protein could impact Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

Dyskinesia is often caused by extended use of the common Parkinson’s medication levodopa – and can be debilitating for those with the condition. Now, researchers in the US may have found a way to suppress these involuntary movements through a protein called ‘sonic hedgehog’. To conduct their study, the team administered levodopa and sonic hedgehog agonists to rodent and non-human primate models of the condition. The results revealed that dopamine neurons use the protein to communicate with other neurons thought to play a role in levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Increased signalling of sonic hedgehog pathways was found to reduce this dyskinesia – providing “novel insight” into its formation and a “potential therapeutic solution”. “What we find,” wrote corresponding study author Professor Andreas Kottmann, “is that in several animal models, by replacing … dopamine together with agonists that mimic the effects of sonic hedgehog, these dyskinesias can be very much suppressed.”

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Comments
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

2.5 hours exercise a week “can reduce effects of Parkinson’s”

News

Author: Joe McAweaneyPublished: 5 April 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Interviews

Insight into Parkinson’s: “join us as we make history”

Interviews

Standing tall: the fashion blogger and young onset campaigner who’s back in heels (thanks to DBS)

Global update

Think twice: the deadly risk of fake drugs

New insights on immune cell process and Parkinson’s disease

Could analysing skin oil help diagnose Parkinson’s disease?

‘Sonic hedgehog’ protein could impact Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

{title}

Subscribe

2.5 hours exercise a week “can reduce effects of Parkinson’s”

News

Author: Joe McAweaneyPublished: 5 April 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Interviews

Insight into Parkinson’s: “join us as we make history”

Interviews

Standing tall: the fashion blogger and young onset campaigner who’s back in heels (thanks to DBS)

Global update

Think twice: the deadly risk of fake drugs

New insights on immune cell process and Parkinson’s disease

Could analysing skin oil help diagnose Parkinson’s disease?

‘Sonic hedgehog’ protein could impact Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in