Study links Parkinson’s to 16 types of cancer

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Author: AdminPublished: 24 June 2015

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A study conducted by researchers in Taiwan has found that people with Parkinson’s are at higher risk of being diagnosed with over 16 different types of cancer.

Using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to separate two groups of people – one with Parkinson’s and the other without – the researchers found Parkinson’s patients in Taiwan to be at an increased risk of malignant brain tumours, gastrointestinal tracts, lung cancers, some hormone-related cancers, urinary tract cancers, lymphoma/leukaemia, melanoma and other skin cancers.

Pan-Chyr Yang of the National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, said: “Based on this nationwide study on the association between Parkinson’s and cancer risk, we conclude that Parkinson’s is a risk factor for most cancer in Taiwan.”

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Researchers at the University of Manchester, UK, have drawn on one woman’s sense of smell to develop a swab test that may be used to detect Parkinson’s. The scientists used the test to analyse sebum (a type of oily substance on the skin) in 79 people with Parkinson’s and a control group of 71 healthy individuals. The team identified more than 4,000 different compounds in the participant samples – including 500 that were unique to those living with the condition. The test was developed with the help of Joy Milne from Perth, Scotland, whose unique sense of smell meant that she noticed a change in her late husband Les’s odour twelve years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Speaking to the BBC, Professor Perdita Barran, who led the research, described the test as potentially “transformative” – and said that the team hopes to roll the test out to people in…

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Study links Parkinson’s to 16 types of cancer

News

Author: AdminPublished: 24 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Global update

“Getting it right was important” – the new TV drama portraying Parkinson’s disease on-screen

Perspectives

Painter with Parkinson’s: John McLean shares some of his favourite works

Carers' Corner

“My voice matters”: the Parkinson’s caregiver raising awareness

Ireland survey aims to uncover link between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease

Is there a link between Parkinson’s disease and blood vessel dysfunction?

New swab test may help with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

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Study links Parkinson’s to 16 types of cancer

News

Author: AdminPublished: 24 June 2015

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

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Related articles

Global update

“Getting it right was important” – the new TV drama portraying Parkinson’s disease on-screen

Perspectives

Painter with Parkinson’s: John McLean shares some of his favourite works

Carers' Corner

“My voice matters”: the Parkinson’s caregiver raising awareness

Ireland survey aims to uncover link between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease

Is there a link between Parkinson’s disease and blood vessel dysfunction?

New swab test may help with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

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