More than $1.7 million raised by US Unity Walk

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Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 2 July 2015

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The total amount of donations raised as a result of the 21st Parkinson’s Unity Walk has been announced as more than US$1.7 million. All the proceeds will go to research to find a cure.

On 25 April, 11,000 people took part in the event in Central Park, New York, raising funds and awareness for Parkinson’s.

Carol Walton, executive director of the US Unity Walk, said: “One hundred per cent of the donations will support critical research that will help people living with Parkinson’s disease – research that brings us closer to a cure.

“As optimistic as we are that we will see a cure for Parkinson’s within our lifetimes, we cannot stop the relentless pursuit of treatments and help for those living with the disease. But together we can accomplish incredible things.”

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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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More than $1.7 million raised by US Unity Walk

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 2 July 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: March

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Parkinson’s podcast: Stopping disease progression – growth factors

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More than $1.7 million raised by US Unity Walk

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 2 July 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

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Global update

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