New pen designed to improve handwriting for people with Parkinson’s

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Author: AdminPublished: 12 April 2015

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The handwriting disorder ‘micrographia’ is a common symptom of Parkinson’s where the patient’s handwriting gets smaller and smaller as they write, to the point when it’s no longer legible.

This often results in the loss of the everyday usefulness and simple pleasure of writing – from to-do lists to birthday day cards for loved ones.

But a new pen, which has been shown in tests to help people with Parkinson’s overcome their micrographia, offers fresh hope that the gift of writing may be restored to many.

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Regular exercise may slow progression of early Parkinson’s disease symptoms

A research team in Japan has suggested that around four hours of weekly moderate exercise is associated with a better clinical course of early-stage Parkinson’s. Their study, published in ‘Neurology’, drew on data from 237 people with the condition, whose symptoms were monitored over a period of up to six years. The research showed that people who were regularly active for at least one to two hours, one or two days a week, were better able to maintain daily activities than those who exercised less – and even experienced a “slower deterioration of processing speed”. The researchers highlighted that these benefits stemmed from maintaining regular exercise over time, rather than levels of activity at the onset of the condition. They added that their findings “suggest it may never be too late for someone with Parkinson’s to start an exercise programme”.

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

Undergoing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) – a sudden injury that damages the brain – may be linked to Parkinson’s onset at an earlier age, new research suggests. The study, led by researchers in the US, examined data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Centre (NACC) database and assessed whether TBI was associated with age of disease onset, survival and the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. They found that while there was no significant association with age of death or greater impact on dopamine-producing nerve cells, results showed that TBI was linked to a 4.9-year earlier age of Parkinson’s onset. Reflecting on the results, the researchers wrote that traumatic brain injury “appears to accelerate Parkinson’s onset without altering age of death”. However, the researchers also cautioned that “the nature of this relationship remains unclear”.

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

“When I got diagnosed with Parkinson’s I thought it was over,” US astronaut Michael “Rich” Clifford once said, in a webcast conversation with Parkinson’s expert Dr Ray Dorsey. But when US space agency NASA offered him another opportunity to board a space shuttle, despite the onset of Parkinson’s symptoms, he didn’t hesitate. “And it was as easy as that.” Now, nearly 30 years since his final venture into space, Clifford has died due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He leaves a legacy of three journeys into space, several awards for his services to the space programme – including the NASA Space Flight Medal – and a history of advocacy for people with Parkinson’s. In a 2013 conversation with the Michael J Fox Foundation, Clifford said: “Everyone with Parkinson’s handles it differently. Don’t let it get in the way of living. “Life is too good. Keep going. The sky’s the limit.” Image credit:…

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New pen designed to improve handwriting for people with Parkinson’s

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Author: AdminPublished: 12 April 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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New technology helps prevent PwPs from falling

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New pen designed to improve handwriting for people with Parkinson’s

News

Author: AdminPublished: 12 April 2015

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

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Advances

New technology helps prevent PwPs from falling

Interviews

Why no one should have to face Parkinson’s alone

Interviews

“I’m trying to be the Stephen Hawking of Parkinson’s”

Regular exercise may slow progression of early Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Could traumatic brain injury accelerate the onset of Parkinson’s disease?

NASA astronaut who lived with Parkinson’s disease has died

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