MJ Fox Foundation gala raises US$5 million for Parkinson’s disease research

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 17 November 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

David Letterman, Denis Leary and John Fogerty along with 1,000 supporters of the Michael J Fox Foundation gathered on Saturday (14 November) for the charity’s annual benefit gala held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Raising more than US$5 million for Parkinson’s research, guests of the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala were treated to a Marty McFly-themed opening number from host Denis Leary and performances from the likes of Lenny Clarke, Jeff Ross and John Fogerty.

Letterman spoke fondly of Michael and his bravery as a Parkinson’s advocate: “To go out in front of a crowd of strangers without Parkinson’s disease takes gut. You do it with that diagnosis, that’s courage beyond human limits.”

To date, the gala has raised more than US$65 million to fund Parkinson’s disease research.

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Global update

7 New Year’s resolutions from the Parkinson’s community

Our readers share their goals for 2020

Watch: Michael J Fox Foundation pays tribute to Parkinson’s campaigner

Watch the inspirational short film

Parkinson’s in the news: November

This month’s top Parkinson’s disease news stories from around the globe

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers in Denmark have shared insights on a cause of up to 95% of Parkinson’s disease cases. Using data on gene patterns and three mouse models, scientists at the University of Copenhagen found that a blockage to a pathway regulating mitochondria (‘powerhouses’ that generate energy for reactions in cells) causes a form of the condition known as ‘sporadic Parkinson’s disease’. When the pathway becomes blocked by a protein, damaged mitochondria accumulate, unable to produce enough energy – which in turn causes nerve cells to die. “Just like when people eat, cells take what they need and get rid of … waste products,” explained corresponding study author Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas. “But if our brain cells have this specific kind of signalling blockage, it means that the powerhouse of the cell – mitochondria – cannot get cleaned up after being damaged.” The team now plan to investigate the pathway’s role in neuronal…

Could dance help to treat Parkinson’s disease?

Dance training with music could help slow the progression of mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, researchers at York University in Canada have found. As part of the study, the researchers followed 16 participants with Parkinson’s disease who attended weekly dance classes between 2014 and 2017. The research team compared them to 16 people with Parkinson’s who did not take part in the classes. The research team found that the motor and non-motor symptoms of those who took part in the dance classes improved or did not progress over time – while those who did not participate showed a continual decline. “Dance is so complex,” said study author, PhD candidate Karolina Bearss. “It’s a multi-sensory type of environment. It incorporates and stimulates your auditory, tactile, visual and kinaesthetic senses and adds an interactive social aspect. Regular exercise does not offer these aspects. There’s so much more to dance.”

Vineyard pesticides may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

Exposure to pesticides used in vineyards could be linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to researchers in France. As part of their study, the team used a health insurance database to identify farmers in France who had been diagnosed with the condition. They then compared these records with data combining an agriculture census and pesticide expenditures across regions of varying farming types, including vineyards. They found that areas with vineyards that lacked designation of origin, and spent the most on pesticides, were associated with a 16% higher incidence of Parkinson’s. “This result suggests that agricultural practices and pesticides used in these vineyards may play a role in Parkinson’s disease,” the researchers concluded, “and that farmers in these farms should benefit from preventive measures aiming at reducing exposure.”

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.

MJ Fox Foundation gala raises US$5 million for Parkinson’s disease research

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 17 November 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Global update

7 New Year’s resolutions from the Parkinson’s community

Global update

Watch: Michael J Fox Foundation pays tribute to Parkinson’s campaigner

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: November

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

Could dance help to treat Parkinson’s disease?

Vineyard pesticides may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

{title}

Subscribe

MJ Fox Foundation gala raises US$5 million for Parkinson’s disease research

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 17 November 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Global update

7 New Year’s resolutions from the Parkinson’s community

Global update

Watch: Michael J Fox Foundation pays tribute to Parkinson’s campaigner

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: November

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

Could dance help to treat Parkinson’s disease?

Vineyard pesticides may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in