Carers Week launches in UK

Carers' Corner

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 10 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Wake up to the needs of 6.5 million carers, say campaigners

All of this week (8-14 June), Carers Week aims to recognise, support and celebrate the vital contribution that carers make to families and communities across the UK, including those dealing with the impact of Parkinson’s.

The annual campaign connects communities with individuals, providing resources and materials to encourage greater awareness and help empower carers. Events are taking place up and down the country to involve carers and make them aware of the support available to them.

The focus of this year’s Carers Week is on building ‘carer-friendly communities’ – an acknowledgment that caring can often become an extremely isolating job.

Diana Walles, manager of Carers Week, said: “This is our call to action to urge individuals, organisations and service providers to wake up to the needs of carers and do their bit. Across the UK 6.5 million – 1 in 10 people – are caring for a loved one.

“Without help and assistance at the right time carers can find themselves facing financial hardship, health problems, emotional stress and relationship breakdown.”

To pledge your support and to find out how to get involved with events near you, visit the website.

Let us know what kind of support carers receive in your country by contacting us

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

PD in Practice

Are impulse control disorders the last Parkinson’s ‘taboo’?

New PD guidelines updates focus on impulse control disorders

Parkinson’s Life Reader Survey: find out if you’re a winner

Thank you for your feedback – competition winners announced!

Paws for Parkinson’s: the perks and the quirks of service dogs

‘Man’s best friend’ can provide a stabilising presence

Acupuncture may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms

A study conducted by researchers in South Korea has found that acupuncture may help alleviate motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. The study – published in science journal ‘Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience’ – collected data from 42 existing trials testing the effects of acupuncture on different mouse models of Parkinson’s disease. A total of 40 studies showed that acupuncture increased levels of tyrosine hydroxylase – an enzyme in the brain which is part of the dopamine-producing process. Although there was no evidence to suggest acupuncture can induce changes in dopamine levels, results suggested that acupuncture may help alleviate motor symptoms in mice. Discussing their findings, the researchers commented: “Acupuncture treatment potentially protected [dopamine] neurons through various beneficial mechanisms. “Nevertheless, resolving the low quality of studies and further research investigating the efficacy of different acupuncture treatment methods in Parkinson’s disease rodent models will be needed.”

Could insulin be used to treat Parkinson’s symptoms?

A US study has found that intranasal insulin, which is commonly used to treat diabetes, may be able to improve Parkinson’s symptoms. As part of the study, published in scientific journal ‘PLOS ONE’, 14 people with Parkinson’s were administered a daily dose of intranasal insulin for four weeks. After the four week period, researchers – made up staff from Harvard Medical School, US, and the University of Massachusetts, US – saw an improvement in both the participants motor skills and verbal fluency. Discussing the trial, the researchers said: “Our study provided preliminary data that suggested an improvement of functional skills after four weeks of daily INI [intranasal insulin] treatment. That paves the way toward a larger cohort study to evaluate long-term safety and potential efficacy of intranasal insulin administration for potential treatment and prevention of functional decline in patients with Parkinson disease”.

Can drinking milk increase the risk of Parkinson’s?

Researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, have found that drinking more than 40 millilitres of milk per day may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s. As part of the study, 81,889 participants between the ages of 45 and 83 who do not live with the condition completed a survey detailing their milk, soured milk and yoghurt consumption. After an average follow up of 14 years, a total of 1,251 participants reported a Parkinson’s diagnosis. The dietary patterns of the participants showed that individuals who drank 40 to 159 millilitres of milk per day were 30% more likely to develop the condition. The researchers – who presented their study at the 2019 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases in Lisbon, Portugal – concluded: “Findings from this cohort study indicate that consumption of milk, but not soured milk and yogurt, is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.”

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

Carers Week launches in UK

Carers' Corner

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 10 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

PD in Practice

Are impulse control disorders the last Parkinson’s ‘taboo’?

Global update

Parkinson’s Life Reader Survey: find out if you’re a winner

Perspectives

Paws for Parkinson’s: the perks and the quirks of service dogs

Acupuncture may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms

Could insulin be used to treat Parkinson’s symptoms?

Can drinking milk increase the risk of Parkinson’s?

{title}

Subscribe

Carers Week launches in UK

Carers' Corner

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 10 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

PD in Practice

Are impulse control disorders the last Parkinson’s ‘taboo’?

Global update

Parkinson’s Life Reader Survey: find out if you’re a winner

Perspectives

Paws for Parkinson’s: the perks and the quirks of service dogs

Acupuncture may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms

Could insulin be used to treat Parkinson’s symptoms?

Can drinking milk increase the risk of Parkinson’s?

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in