Michael J Fox Foundation announces 2017 highlights

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Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 4 January 2018

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The Michael J Fox Foundation has announced that it provided US$80 million in funding to over 240 investigators from academia, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and governments in 2017.

The organisation, which was founded in 2000 by the actor and person with Parkinson’s Michael J Fox, has funded a range of projects, focusing on: investigating Parkinson’s biological pathways, laboratory tools to accelerate Parkinson’s research, and growing the online Fox Insight study.

The foundation also shared the significant research progress that was made in 2017, such as the advancement of alpha-synuclien clinical trials, the release of new drugs to manage motor symptoms and the emergence of key technologies that provide insights to scientists.

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Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Reawakening dormant neurons could help reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms, researchers in South Korea have found. While Parkinson’s is typically believed to be caused by neuronal death, a new study – published in ‘Current Biology’ journal – suggests that dormant neurons could be another cause. After completing an animal test – which treated the subjects with two compounds that block dopamine-producing neurons from becoming dormant – the researchers found these neurons to be “awakened”, allowing them to resume dopamine production. The researchers hope that this will lead to a disease-modifying treatment, especially for people in the early stages of Parkinson’s. Hoon Ryu, a senior author of the study and researcher at KIST Brain Science Institute, South Korea, said: “This research refutes the common belief that there is no disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s due to its basis on neuronal cell death.”

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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Michael J Fox Foundation announces 2017 highlights

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 4 January 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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VIDEO: Parkinson’s stem cell treatments explained in just 90 seconds

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Love creating art? Here’s your chance to help raise awareness on World PD Day

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“A fundamental change in medical culture” is needed

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Testing saliva can help diagnose Parkinson’s, study finds

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Michael J Fox Foundation announces 2017 highlights

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 4 January 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

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Resources & Tools

VIDEO: Parkinson’s stem cell treatments explained in just 90 seconds

Global update

Love creating art? Here’s your chance to help raise awareness on World PD Day

Europe

“A fundamental change in medical culture” is needed

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Testing saliva can help diagnose Parkinson’s, study finds

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