Parkinsons

Phase 2 clinical trials using orally administered gold nanocrystals to treat multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease have produced promising results, restoring metabolites linked to crucial energy activity in the brain that are depleted in these neurodegenerative conditions.The brain depends on a continuous supply of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to fuel its resting and active-state functions. Essential to ATP production is the molecule nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+).As glucose is broken…

A new study has found that a compound created by the body’s breakdown of a cancer drug has therapeutic properties. When combined with the original drug, the by-product produced a synergistic effect to inhibit prostate cancer cells; when used alone, it reduced the buildup of a toxic protein in the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease.After medications are consumed, they’re absorbed and distributed around the body. When they’ve produced their therapeutic effect, they’re broken down – metabolized – by various organs…

In 2015, Lucy Yung was a young industrial designer working on assistive devices for stroke victims, people with multiple sclerosis, and those with other conditions which meant they struggled with fine motor control. Her projects included a pen that used high-frequency vibrations to help Parkinson’s patients write more clearly.Then she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. “I really learned what it felt like to be a patient and that any kind of support or help can dramatically change the lives of people with long-term…

‘I am not the story,” says Michael J Fox, kind, and firm and, for the only time in our conversation, unpersuasive. “The story is the power of optimism. That it’s really a choice. Acceptance doesn’t mean being resigned to something. You look at it and say: ‘What does this truth require of me?’”He leans over for a sip of Diet Coke. “It’s like with our glorious ex-president: the only answer to that is truth. You can get caught up in the mythology being presented. In the nativism and the hatred, the resentment and the…

In yet another surprise attribute of the new class of obesity drugs, scientists have found that GLP-1 receptor agonists can also subdue brain inflammation, giving them a potential ‘superpower’ in the fight against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.Inflammation, which is highly prevalent in those with chronic metabolic diseases, is one of the hallmarks of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.“One of the really interesting things about the GLP-1 drugs is that beyond the control of blood sugar and body weight, they also seem…

When it comes to the treatment of severe Parkinson's disease, electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a commonly used technique. It does have some serious drawbacks, however, which is why scientists are now looking to tiny wirelessly activated magnets instead.In order for DBS to be carried out on a patient, electrodes must be surgically implanted in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) region of their brain, then hard-wired to a pacemaker-like battery/control unit implanted under the skin on their chest. Those electrodes…

The SynNeurGe model revolutionizes Parkinson’s disease classification by focusing on biological rather than clinical factors, promising advancements in research and personalized treatment. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Scientists propose new, biologically-based classification system for Parkinson’s Disease— the fastest-growing neurological disease worldwide.An international research team led by Krembil Brain Institute Neurologist and Senior Scientist, Dr. Anthony Lang, has proposed a new model for classifying Parkinson’s…

We don't have a cure for Parkinson's disease yet, but a recently discovered mutation in mitochondrial DNA that seems to protect the body against the condition could one day point the way to one.Discovered in a small protein called SHLP2, the genetic variant is relatively rare – found in just 1 percent of Europeans. Yet an analysis of the health records of 16,167 people led by researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) suggests the number of Parkinson's cases among people with the mutation is half what…

Inspired by a creature from Greek mythology, researchers have created a ‘two-headed’ drug that prevents the production of the toxic protein linked to Parkinson’s disease before destroying the RNA machinery that makes it. The novel drug may be a way of slowing or even stopping the disease’s progression.In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a fire-breathing hybrid composed of different animal parts, usually portrayed as a lion with a goat’s head springing from its back and a tail that ends in a snake’s head.Inspired by this…

Roberta Wilson-Garrett looked at the glove keeping her right hand steady and smiled.At bay for the moment were tremors caused by Parkinson's disease affecting her muscle control.She could do things others take for granted, like write crisply with a pen or hold a cup of coffee without spilling.The reprieve shared by the Canadian woman at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas came thanks to a GyroGlove."It's a life changer for me," said Wilson-Garrett, describing how GyroGlove stopped tremors that make seemingly…