Brain machine interfaces could improve Parkinson’s treatment

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 8 November 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Brain machine interfaces, which are commonly used to help those living with paralysis, could be used to treat Parkinson’s.

The technology may be able to predict symptoms before they arise as it can translate what the brain is saying.

It is hoped this technology will also be able to improve deep brain stimulation as it could better identify the brain’s needs in real time.

Helen Bronte Stewart, professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University, US, said that a well-timed brain stimulation approach may prevent freezing of gait – with fewer side effects than before. She also said that a more sophisticated feedback system could treat the cognitive effects of Parkinson’s.

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Perspectives

Who said what: QoTW 11.06.15

Our favourite quotes of the week from around the web

Parkinson’s Portrayed: real stories reflected through art

We meet the creators behind the art project raising awareness for Parkinson

‘Project Emma’ tremor-reducing watch unveiled by Microsoft CEO

Haiyan Zhang and Emma Lawton showcase tremor-reducing device

Study finds just six minutes of daily exercise might delay onset of Parkinson’s disease

Regular exercise is a common therapeutic strategy for people with Parkinson’s. Now, a study from New Zealand has suggested that daily physical activity might even delay the onset of this condition. Published in ‘The Physiological Society’, the study focused on a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – which has previously been shown to boost cognitive performance. The researchers assessed the impact of fasting and physical activity on BDNF production in 12 people aged 18 to 56. The tests involved fasting and completing exercises of varying intensity, such as cycling for six minutes, as well as combinations of both fasting and physical activity. The results showed that brief, intense exercise was the best option for increasing the production of BDNF – with the protein increasing by a factor of four to five times compared to light exercise or fasting. Because BDNF can protect the brain from cognitive decline, the findings could…

Machine learning may help predict risk of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

Difficulty taking steps forward, often referred to as the freezing of gait (FOG), is a common symptom experienced by people with Parkinson’s and one that can be difficult to predict. China-based researchers suggest that machine learning – artificial intelligence (AI) that uses algorithms to analyse data – could help predict the risk of freezing of gait developing in the early stages of the condition. Their study, published in ‘npj Parkinson’s Disease’, gave laboratory and clinical data to a machine learning model brain. This information was collected from 158 adults with untreated early-stage Parkinson’s and 73 healthy adults over a five-year period. They found that the risk of FOG could be predicted with an accuracy rate of up to 78%. The study authors suggested that machine learning methods “have the potential to help predict future FOG in patients with early Parkinson’s at an individual level”.

Long-term exposure to air pollution could impact Parkinson’s disease mortality risk

New research has suggested that long-term exposure to air pollutants could increase the risk of death from Parkinson’s. A team of European researchers conducted the study, published in the journal ‘Environment International’, as part of the Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE) project – a Europe-wide initiative looking at the effects of low air pollution levels on people’s health. The researchers used ELAPSE’s datasets to analyse figures for over 200,000 adults from six European countries. They also looked at air pollution models, estimating the concentrations of air pollutants in these countries to explore the link between pollution exposure and deaths from Parkinson’s. The results suggest that long-term exposure to PM2.5 particles at high levels was associated with a 25% higher risk of death from the condition, and the authors of the study added that the research “adds strong evidence in support of an association between air…

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
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Brain machine interfaces could improve Parkinson’s treatment

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 8 November 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Perspectives

Who said what: QoTW 11.06.15

Interviews

Parkinson’s Portrayed: real stories reflected through art

Advances

‘Project Emma’ tremor-reducing watch unveiled by Microsoft CEO

Study finds just six minutes of daily exercise might delay onset of Parkinson’s disease

Machine learning may help predict risk of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

Long-term exposure to air pollution could impact Parkinson’s disease mortality risk

{title}

Subscribe

Brain machine interfaces could improve Parkinson’s treatment

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 8 November 2017

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Perspectives

Who said what: QoTW 11.06.15

Interviews

Parkinson’s Portrayed: real stories reflected through art

Advances

‘Project Emma’ tremor-reducing watch unveiled by Microsoft CEO

Study finds just six minutes of daily exercise might delay onset of Parkinson’s disease

Machine learning may help predict risk of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

Long-term exposure to air pollution could impact Parkinson’s disease mortality risk

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in