Canada’s first specialist Parkinson’s facility set to help 8,000 patients

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Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 9 November 2015

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The first Canadian specialist Parkinson’s disease facility has opened its doors and promises to help approximately 8,000 patients.

The Buchanan Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, is the first facility of its kind to cater specifically people living with Parkinson’s disease. There are an estimated 8,000 Albertans living with the condition according to CBC news.

Edmontonian businessman Gordon Buchanan, after whom the centre is named, had Parkinson’s disease himself and donated CAN$4 million to build the centre. Sadly, he passed away almost exactly one year before its opening.

The centre’s expertise focuses on the physical and mental fitness of people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. It has also now become the new home for Parkinson Alberta, the local Parkinson’s organisation.

Diane Buchanan, Gordon’s wife, said: “I think that he’d be very proud if he was here today to see this result and that people are feeling better.”

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Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Parkinson’s may be present from birth in younger people with the condition, new research has found. The study – conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, US, and published in ‘Nature Medicine’ journal – used induced stem cells from people with young-onset Parkinson’s, to grow dopamine-producing neurons and observe them for early warning signs of the condition. An abnormal pile-up of protein was found during the neurons’ development, including alpha-synuclein; which occurs in Parkinson’s. The scientists conjecture that Parkinson’s symptoms appear when the pile-up continues over 20 or 30 years. The team also found that the drug PEP005 – currently used against skin precancers – could help treat the condition. Michele Tagliati, vice chair and professor at Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Neurology and the study’s co-author, said: “This exciting new research provides hope that one day we may be able to detect and take early action to prevent this disease in at-risk individuals.”…

Testing saliva can help diagnose Parkinson’s, study finds

A saliva test carried out by doctors may be able to both diagnose Parkinson’s and detect the severity of the condition, according to a recent study published in medical journal ‘Neurological Sciences’. Several indicators of the development of Parkinson’s, including problems in the production of energy, can be easily detected in saliva. As part of the study, carried out by a team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, saliva samples were collected from 76 patients living with Parkinson’s, and 37 participants with good general health. They found that the saliva of those with Parkinson’s reflected evidence of alteration in neurotransmitters – chemical messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate. The researchers said the test “may highlight the characteristic changes in metabolite levels during the onset of Parkinson’s”.

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Canada’s first specialist Parkinson’s facility set to help 8,000 patients

News

Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 9 November 2015

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Canada’s first specialist Parkinson’s facility set to help 8,000 patients

News

Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 9 November 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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