New survey highlights challenges facing Parkinson’s carers

Carers' Corner

Author: Roisin McCormackPublished: 13 June 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

The EPDA is launching a survey that hopes to highlight the difficulties and consequences of caring for someone with Parkinson’s

The European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) is releasing a new survey that seeks to shine a light on the physical, emotional and financial challenges of caring for someone with Parkinson’s.

The survey, which is being conducted with support from healthcare devices company Air Liquide Healthcare, is aimed at anyone who provides care – either in a continuous or occasional capacity – for a family member, partner or friend living with the condition.

Hoping to gain new insight into the experience of being a carer – as well as the often overlooked effects on the individual and society at large – the EPDA plans to use results to inform future campaigns and curate a new range of valuable resources, tools and solutions for carers and the wider Parkinson’s community.

Taking no more than 15 to 20 minutes to complete, the survey will be available in several European languages including English, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian and Czech.

Russell Patten, the secretary general of the EPDA, said: “Carers are such an important part of the Parkinson’s community – they provide the firm foundations that support their loved ones who are physically living with the condition.

However, carers’ needs and quality of life are sadly, all too often, overlooked; this can lead to devastating and lasting effects on the individual and the wider society.”

The survey is open until 6 September 2019.

Please click here to take part in the survey, available in English, French, German and Italian.

For more information on carers and Parkinson’s, please visit the EPDA website.

Harry Styles is an “absolutely brilliant” carer for his granddad who has Parkinson’s

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Advances

5 things you might not know about DBS

Diving deeper into deep brain stimulation with Dr Lennart Stieglitz

VIDEO: 5 exercises to improve Parkinson’s symptoms

Watch this exclusive exercise video that may help your symptoms

John McLean: Parkinson’s has exposed me to new painting techniques

The abstract painter tells us about his Cure3 Exhibition art

Study suggests why neurons die in Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at the University of Córdoba, Spain, have discovered how a certain protein may be linked to death of dopamine-producing neurons associated with Parkinson’s. Using animal models of the condition to conduct their study, the team focused on the protein DJ-1 – whose link to Parkinson’s has previously been established, though its exact function was uncertain. The researchers compared neurons in the brains of mice that possessed the gene expressing DJ-1 with those that did not. The findings revealed that dysfunction or absence of the gene expressing the DJ-1 protein could trigger the ‘cell cycle’ (the process by which cells divide), which should not occur under normal conditions. Because neurons lack the capacity to divide, this causes them die – leading to the onset of symptoms linked with Parkinson’s. It is hoped that uncovering these details about the relationship between DJ-1’s absence and Parkinson’s may lead to the development of…

Researchers have finally identified brain cells linked to Parkinson’s disease

For decades, scientists have known that Parkinson’s is associated with the death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. Now, researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, US, have discovered the specific subtype of brain cells that die in Parkinson’s disease. Using a technique called single-cell RNA signalling, which enables the individual analysis of cells within a tissue for activity and protein production, researchers identified 10 subtypes of dopamine-producing cells within the donated brains of people who died from causes unrelated to Parkinson’s. The team carried out the same investigation on people who had died with Parkinson’s or a condition with similar symptoms called Lewy body dementia. They discovered that only one subtype of the cells had reduced in number – which suggests many of these cells had died while the people were living. It is hoped that the findings could lead to better understanding of Parkinson’s causes and…

Tiny DBS implant shows potential to advance Parkinson’s disease treatment

In an innovative trial by North Bristol NHS Trust, UK, surgeons have succeeded in implanting a tiny deep brain stimulation (DBS) device into a person’s skull. Their aim? To address symptoms of Parkinson’s. Designed with a tiny battery system that is inserted into the skull, the DBS device delivers electric impulses to targeted areas of the brain through electric probes. In doing so, it works to address abnormal brain cell activity associated with Parkinson’s – and may help to ease symptoms. One of around 25 patients selected for the year-long trial has described the device’s impact as “amazing”. Commenting on the results of the trial so far, consultant neurologist Dr Alan Whone of North Bristol NHS Trust said: “We are hopeful that if these findings hold up, we will have a significant technical advance by which to improve Parkinson’s care across the world.”

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

New survey highlights challenges facing Parkinson’s carers

Carers' Corner

Author: Roisin McCormackPublished: 13 June 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

sponsored article

Advances

5 things you might not know about DBS

Health & Fitness

VIDEO: 5 exercises to improve Parkinson’s symptoms

Interviews

John McLean: Parkinson’s has exposed me to new painting techniques

Study suggests why neurons die in Parkinson’s disease

Researchers have finally identified brain cells linked to Parkinson’s disease

Tiny DBS implant shows potential to advance Parkinson’s disease treatment

{title}

Subscribe

New survey highlights challenges facing Parkinson’s carers

Carers' Corner

Author: Roisin McCormackPublished: 13 June 2019

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

sponsored article

Advances

5 things you might not know about DBS

Health & Fitness

VIDEO: 5 exercises to improve Parkinson’s symptoms

Interviews

John McLean: Parkinson’s has exposed me to new painting techniques

Study suggests why neurons die in Parkinson’s disease

Researchers have finally identified brain cells linked to Parkinson’s disease

Tiny DBS implant shows potential to advance Parkinson’s disease treatment

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in