Parkinson’s patients ‘owed’ more research into using cancer drug as treatment

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Author: AdminPublished: 2 November 2015

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A small clinical trial showed that cancer drug Nilotinib may reverse late-stage Parkinson’s disease, potentially enabling participants to speak and walk again for the first time in years.

President and co-founder of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, Tom Isaacs, has called for a close follow up of this small study to ensure that any opportunity for a breakthrough in the treatment of Parkinson’s is not missed.

Isaacs said: ‘Nilotinib is a case in point. When people with Parkinson’s volunteer for clinical trials and feel the type of marked improvements to their symptoms and wellbeing as those reported in this study, we owe it to them, and indeed everyone, to follow the results up as quickly and as rigorously as possible.”

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Take part in The Parkinson Tulip Project

This April, The World Parkinson Coalition is launching The Parkinson Tulip Project – a global collaborative photography campaign to raise awareness of the world’s fastest growing neurological disease. As part of the campaign, which is supported by Supernus Pharmaceuticals, members of the Parkinson’s community are invited to share a photo of themselves with tulips – the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease. The project will run until April 2022, and all images shared by the community will be displayed at the sixth World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, every photo submitted will be entered into The Parkinson Tulip Project raffle. The World Parkinson Coalition hopes that the project will “give a face and name to those impacted by Parkinson’s” and “inspire the community, reminding people touched by Parkinson’s disease that they are not alone”.

Looking after dental health with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease symptoms and medications can cause dental health problems – including difficulty cleaning teeth and increased tooth decay. Now, a study from researchers in Brazil has offered dental care recommendations to help people living with the condition. Analysing data from 14 studies, the scientists highlighted people with Parkinson’s can have “reduced quality of oral health and hygiene”. Their advice included routine teeth-brushing, as well as regular trips to a dentist. They also suggested brushing teeth with both hands, as symptoms like tremor and rigidity could mean using one hand is more difficult. The researchers wrote: “Although oral diseases are largely preventable, they are among the most prevalent diseases globally, thus creating a public health problem. “Despite the relatively low level of evidence in studies on oral health among patients with Parkinson’s disease, the data retrieved for this systematic review allowed us to create a set of simple guidelines.”

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Parkinson’s patients ‘owed’ more research into using cancer drug as treatment

News

Author: AdminPublished: 2 November 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Beating ‘burnout’: nine ways to stay positive when caring for your partner

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Podcast: What’s it like managing your working life with Parkinson’s?

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Dog research could lead to detection of the cause of Parkinson’s

Why is it harder to cross obstacles when you have Parkinson’s disease?

Take part in The Parkinson Tulip Project

Looking after dental health with Parkinson’s disease

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Parkinson’s patients ‘owed’ more research into using cancer drug as treatment

News

Author: AdminPublished: 2 November 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

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Carers' Corner

Beating ‘burnout’: nine ways to stay positive when caring for your partner

Episodes

Podcast: What’s it like managing your working life with Parkinson’s?

Interviews

Dog research could lead to detection of the cause of Parkinson’s

Why is it harder to cross obstacles when you have Parkinson’s disease?

Take part in The Parkinson Tulip Project

Looking after dental health with Parkinson’s disease

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