Who said what: 4 powerful Parkinson’s quotes we loved this week

Perspectives

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 14 May 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

A weekly roundup of our favourite Parkinson’s related quotes, as selected by the Parkinson’s Life editorial team:

“The rope is representative of that battle, the need to hold on, to be fighting every day”

– Michael McCastle, US Navy officer who is rope-climbing the height of Everest after losing his father to Parkinson’s

“I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavours in life”

– Kirk Gibson, former baseball player on his diagnosis

*“With Parkinson’s, sometimes you wake up and think: ‘Why the f*** did they pick me?’ But, you know, that’s part of life”*

– Freddie Roach, trainer of boxer Manny Paquiao

“The amount of new knowledge in the field of Parkinson’s disease gained in the past five years exceeds everything we knew from the previous 200 years”

– John Jurenko, healthcare research philanthropist who recently passed away after living with Parkinson’s

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World War II weapon antidote could treat Parkinson’s

Researchers at Purdue University, US, are studying a World War II chemical weapon antidote that they believe could be used to treat Parkinson’s. It is believed the antidote, called dimercaprol, may be able to remove acrolein – a toxin that poisons neurons and can lead to the development of Parkinson’s disease. In addition to this, researchers believe dimercaprol can increase the survival rate of brain cells, improve mobility and reduce symptoms of pain. Riyi Shi, professor of neuroscience and biomedical engineering at Purdue University, said: “Our studies show that by removing the toxin (acrolein) from the brain, we are not just reducing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but also significantly reversing the damage of Parkinson’s disease. This could actually provide a new treatment for Parkinson’s patients.”

Repurposed cancer drug shows promise for Parkinson’s

Researchers at the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre, UK, have repurposed an experimental cancer drug – called tasquinimod – as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s. The study – funded by Parkinson’s UK and published in science journal ‘Cell Stem Cell’ – has been tested on a total of 10 patients so far. As part of the research, the study grew brain cells from donated skin cell samples of people living with a rare genetic form of Parkinson’s – this process was then repeated on people with a common non-genetic form of the condition. Researchers found that tasquinimod can block HDAC4, a protein that causes Parkinson’s genes to become inactive. Professor Richard Wade-Martins, co-lead author of the study, said: “We think that switching off these genes in brain cells may play a vital role in the cell damage and death that occurs in Parkinson’s.”

Research survey assesses impact of holidays on Parkinson’s symptoms

The Radboud University Medical Center, Netherlands, is seeking participants for an online survey assessing the effects of a holiday on Parkinson’s. The study will assess whether a vacation can have physical and mental benefits for people living with the condition. It will also look at which specific factors, such as temperature and physical activity, can alleviate or increase symptoms. The Michael J Fox Foundation has approved the study’s protocol. Participants can sign up to complete the 20-minute survey online. The survey is open to anyone over 18 who has Parkinson’s and has been on vacation once or more between 1 June 2016 and 30 September 2018. Marjan Faber, the study’s daily supervisor, said: “If the study is able to identify decisive factors, those can act as a starting point for novel approaches in care for people with Parkinson’s disease.” To apply please visit research platform ParkinsonNEXT.

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Who said what: 4 powerful Parkinson’s quotes we loved this week

Perspectives

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 14 May 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

“The rope is representative of that battle, the need to hold on, to be fighting every day”

“I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavours in life”

*“With Parkinson’s, sometimes you wake up and think: ‘Why the f*** did they pick me?’ But, you know, that’s part of life”*

“The amount of new knowledge in the field of Parkinson’s disease gained in the past five years exceeds everything we knew from the previous 200 years”

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Who said what: 4 powerful Parkinson’s quotes we loved this week

Perspectives

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 14 May 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

“The rope is representative of that battle, the need to hold on, to be fighting every day”

“I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavours in life”

“With Parkinson’s, sometimes you wake up and think: ‘Why the f*** did they pick me?’ But, you know, that’s part of life”

“The amount of new knowledge in the field of Parkinson’s disease gained in the past five years exceeds everything we knew from the previous 200 years”

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

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Michael J Fox on his Parkinson’s: “Acceptance isn’t resignation”

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*“With Parkinson’s, sometimes you wake up and think: ‘Why the f*** did they pick me?’ But, you know, that’s part of life”*