Digital entrepreneur becomes face of Australian charity

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Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 17 June 2015

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After being diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s at just 35, self-confessed digital media guru Kate Matheson has been appointed National Ambassador for Australian charity, Shake It Up.

Kate, managing director of GLOSS magazine, is keen to raise awareness for young Australians also living with the disease and getting involved with the charity is her way of inspiring others to help find a cure.

She said: “We aren’t victims, we’re strong, amazing people who happen to have a crummy disease, and we want a cure. Young onset Parkinson’s is real and it’s common. It’s not just a disease of older people.

“Parkinson’s is not a disease you choose. It chooses you. And it doesn’t care if you’re trying to raise a family. It cares about what you choose to do after you’re diagnosed.

“What you choose to do with Parkinson’s is going to shape the future of the disease.”

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Researchers in Taiwan have found that osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition, may significantly increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease for older adults. As part of the study, the researchers analysed the health records of 33,360 people living with osteoarthritis, aged between 50 and 64. They compared the records with data from a second group of 33,360 people, in the same age range, without osteoarthritis. The results suggested that those with osteoarthritis have a 41% higher risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s – and that individuals with knee or hip osteoarthritis are more at risk than those with joint pain in other areas. Shin-Liang Pan, senior author of the study, said: “Coexisting osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s disease can additively increase the risk of falling. Moreover, osteoarthritis-related mobility impairments may mask early motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Health professionals need to be alert to the potential link between these two diseases.”

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Parkinson’s research is “hampered by inefficient recruitment and burdensome in-person assessments”, according to researchers in the US and Canada. But could virtual research have the potential to help solve some of these problems? Recruiting 203 participants from Fox Insight – an online clinical study sponsored by The Michael J Fox Foundation – the team assessed the validity of the participants’ self-reported Parkinson’s health information, and their willingness to take part in video-based research. Participants completed online questionnaires and attended two virtual visits, with a movement disorder specialist determining the likely diagnosis compared to the self-reported diagnosis. The study revealed that the participants’ self-reported diagnosis of Parkinson’s was accurate – and that 98.5% of participants would consider participating in a future study with virtual visits. The researchers concluded: “Our study demonstrates the promise of a much-needed novel model for conducting Parkinson’s research and highlights the potential of such a model for ……

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Gait and tremor may be the most identifiable early signs of Parkinson’s disease, according to researchers from the US, France and Germany. The researchers analysed data from two large health-record databases, including an insurance company’s de-identified administrative claims. Selecting 8,382 participants with Parkinson’s disease, the scientists evaluated individual occurrences of reported symptoms over time – and how these corresponded to their Parkinson’s diagnosis. The analysis revealed a “pre-diagnostic window” in which symptoms were reported but no diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease was made. The most dominant symptoms in this pre-diagnostic window were abnormal gait and tremor, highlighting “the existence of a population of [Parkinson’s] patients whose diagnoses can be accelerated”. The researchers concluded: “Accurate, prospective identification of high-risk individuals would allow for earlier diagnosis, intervention and more effective large-scale evaluation of potential therapeutics.”

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Digital entrepreneur becomes face of Australian charity

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 17 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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How close are we to a Parkinson’s breakthrough? Three experts have their say

Perspectives

That moment the doc drops the P bomb

Osteoarthritis may increase risk of Parkinson’s disease, researchers find

Could virtual studies support Parkinson’s disease research?

Gait and tremor may be the best early predictors of Parkinson’s disease

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Digital entrepreneur becomes face of Australian charity

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 17 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

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PD in Practice

WEBINAR: Get expert advice on managing Parkinson’s pain and fatigue

Special reports

How close are we to a Parkinson’s breakthrough? Three experts have their say

Perspectives

That moment the doc drops the P bomb

Osteoarthritis may increase risk of Parkinson’s disease, researchers find

Could virtual studies support Parkinson’s disease research?

Gait and tremor may be the best early predictors of Parkinson’s disease

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