Norman’s conquest

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 14 May 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Norman Yarrow, a 55-year-old living with Parkinson’s from Scotland, has successfully completed a 215-mile walk along the Southern Upland Way for Parkinson’s UK and The Cure Parkinson’s Trust – passing his fundraising target of £250,000, and counting.

Naming the challenge ‘Norman’s Conquest’, Yarrow completed the walk in 14 days through “sunshine, snow, driving rain and wind”, walking an average of 15 miles a day – an impressive feat for someone who was diagnosed in 2013.

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Advances

New research reveals a way of monitoring the activity of gene mutations that cause Parkinson’s

Scientists develop a new way to measure PD gene mutations

Podcast: How do women experience Parkinson’s differently from men?

Three women with Parkinson’s discuss the challenges they face

Perspectives

Even the world on your back doorstep is wonderful

View what you have through a positive lens, writes one photographer

New evidence fruit compound could support Parkinson’s disease treatment

A new study from researchers in the US and South Korea suggests farnesol, a natural compound found in fruit, may be beneficial in treating Parkinson’s disease. The team used mice models to test the compound’s role in deactivating PARIS – a protein which can contribute to Parkinson’s onset by reducing the shields around dopamine-producing neurons. For one week, they fed mice a diet containing farnesol and compared them with mice who were fed a normal diet. They then administered the mice with alpha-synuclein protein linked to Parkinson’s effects in the brain. The findings revealed that the mice that had consumed farnesol had twice the number of healthy dopamine neurons as the control group, and performed better in tests designed to assess Parkinson’s symptoms. The researchers concluded that, while safe doses for humans have not yet been determined, “farnesol may be beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease”.

Turmeric oil may offer new ways of treating Parkinson’s disease

Turmeric oil may be beneficial in treating Parkinson’s disease, according to researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan. Their findings support the known properties of aromatic turmerone (ar-turmerone), a compound found in turmeric essential oil, which reduces inflammatory responses caused by cells associated with Parkinson’s-related neurodegeneration. Using midbrain slice cultures – laboratory cellular models that mimic brain activity – the team analysed the effects of a natural form of aromatic turmerone and eight structurally similar derivatives. They tested the derivatives’ anti-inflammatory effects, as well as their ability to protect dopamine-producing neurons. Those with the strongest anti-inflammatory effects were found to prevent the loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Among these were aromatic turmerone and its derivatives, suggesting their role as a “potential candidate for treating Parkinson’s disease”. In a press release, lead author Takahiro Seki said: “Our study elucidated a new mechanism by which ar-turmerone and its derivatives directly protect … [dopamine-producing] neurons.”

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers in Denmark have shared insights on a cause of up to 95% of Parkinson’s disease cases. Using data on gene patterns and three mouse models, scientists at the University of Copenhagen found that a blockage to a pathway regulating mitochondria (‘powerhouses’ that generate energy for reactions in cells) causes a form of the condition known as ‘sporadic Parkinson’s disease’. When the pathway becomes blocked by a protein, damaged mitochondria accumulate, unable to produce enough energy – which in turn causes nerve cells to die. “Just like when people eat, cells take what they need and get rid of … waste products,” explained corresponding study author Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas. “But if our brain cells have this specific kind of signalling blockage, it means that the powerhouse of the cell – mitochondria – cannot get cleaned up after being damaged.” The team now plan to investigate the pathway’s role in neuronal…

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

Norman’s conquest

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 14 May 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Advances

New research reveals a way of monitoring the activity of gene mutations that cause Parkinson’s

Episodes

Podcast: How do women experience Parkinson’s differently from men?

sponsored article

Perspectives

Even the world on your back doorstep is wonderful

New evidence fruit compound could support Parkinson’s disease treatment

Turmeric oil may offer new ways of treating Parkinson’s disease

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

{title}

Subscribe

Norman’s conquest

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 14 May 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Advances

New research reveals a way of monitoring the activity of gene mutations that cause Parkinson’s

Episodes

Podcast: How do women experience Parkinson’s differently from men?

sponsored article

Perspectives

Even the world on your back doorstep is wonderful

New evidence fruit compound could support Parkinson’s disease treatment

Turmeric oil may offer new ways of treating Parkinson’s disease

Research offers new insights on a cause of Parkinson’s disease

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in