Parkinson’s Disease
What is PD?
What is PD?
What is PD?
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a motor system disorder resulting from the breakdown of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. The loss of dopamine causes the symptoms of PD, which include tremors, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and changes in speech.
While the disorder gets progressively worse over time, the intensity of symptoms and rate of progression varies from person to person.
While PD can impact life expectancy, there are medications and therapies that can control symptoms for many years. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for PD. Scientists are studying how the disease progresses and working to develop new drug therapies to delay, prevent, or reverse the disorder.
While the precise cause of PD is unknown, genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role. However, more research is needed to uncover the causes and treatments for the disorder.
For more information on PD and on the research underway to fight the disorder, please visit the website
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The red tulip, with a fringe of white, became the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease at the 9th World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference in Luxembourg on April 11, 2005 (although the flower had been associated with Parkinson’s awareness since the early 1980s).
The tulip is described in detail as the “exterior being a glowing cardinal red, small feathered white edge, the outer base whitish; the inside, a currant-red to turkey-red, broad feathered white edge, anthers pale yellow.”
This particular tulip was developed by J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist who had Parkinson’s disease. He named the flower after James Parkinson, the doctor who first described the disease as the “shaking palsy.”
MJFF
What is PD?
What is PD?
UPDATES FROM MJFF
Higher Vitamin C and E Intake Linked to Lower Parkinson’s Risk
A new study in the journal Neurology, led by Essi Hantikainen, PhD, of the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy, links higher Vitamin C and E consumption to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
For the study, researchers asked more than 41,000 adults without Parkinson’s about their diet during the previous year. They then extracted data on Vitamin C and E intake and followed participants over an average of 18 years. They found that 465 people (one percent) developed Parkinson’s and that groups with the highest levels of dietary Vitamin C and E each had a 32 percent decreased risk of PD compared to those with the lowest levels.
For the complete story use this link Research News
News in Context
Two Study Outcomes Disappoint, but Parkinson’s Pipeline Remains Strong
In the first week of February, the Parkinson’s community faced twin disappointments as pharmaceutical companies Biogen and Sanofi Genzyme separately announced that they are discontinuing development of two respective experimental treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Neither approach met its goals for improvement in symptoms in human trials.
Both studies had been closely followed by patients and scientists alike because, if successful, these treatments could have slowed or delayed disease progression — something no currently available Parkinson’s drug can do. For the complete story us this link News Two Studies
Trial Tests Focused Ultrasound for Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms
A new approach to focused ultrasound (FUS) for Parkinson’s is in the news.
FUS is a non-invasive procedure that carefully concentrates ultrasound waves to destroy brain cells involved in Parkinson’s. Currently, FUS is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Parkinson’s tremor that does not respond to medication. It also is approved for essential tremor, another movement disorder that causes shaking of the hands, head or voice. In these cases, FUS targets a part of the brain called the thalamus.
For the complete story use this link News Ultrasound
To view more Parkinson's Research Information and updates go to the MJFF Research Blog
Exercise and Parkinsons
Exercise and Parkinsons
Exercise and Parkinsons
Research shows that regular exercise can help individuals with Parkinson’s manage the symptoms of their disease.
The Parkinson’s Outcomes Project, run by the National Parkinson Foundation, shows that people with Parkinson's who exercise a minimum of 2.5 hours a week experience a slowed decline in quality of life. The impact of exercise was most pronounced for individuals who started exercising earlier in the course of the disease.
A variety of exercises, including boxing, cycling, swimming, dancing and walking on the treadmill, can help. Physical therapists can help develop customized exercise plans to maximize effectiveness. As always, individuals starting an exercise program should check with their doctor before they begin.
This video from CBS News shows a great example of how boxing has helped slow the progression of Parkinson’s for patients in New York.
Other Resources For Your Information
Rock Steady Boxing - rocksteadyboxing.org
The mission of Rock Steady Boxing is to empower people with Parkinson’s disease to fight back.
Quiet Punch- quietpunch.com
The original home punching bag. Fits most doorways from 28" - 36" and provides easy to follow home workouts.
Other Resources
Exercise and Parkinsons
Exercise and Parkinsons
Listed are links for websites with other information that maybe helpful.
This information is being provided For Your Information. It is not a substitute for Professional Advise.
Caring.Com
Caring.com is an online destination for those seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones.
Medicare Guide
With millions of people using these benefits and tens of thousands of providers delivering health care service under Medicare, navigating the program’s benefits can be complex.
This resource will help seniors and their loved ones understand what Medicare is and provide some basics about how the various aspects of the program work, such as whether Medicare will cover senior care services like an assisted living community or home health care.
Senior Living
By 2030, 20 percent of the US population will be 65 and over. To help serve this growing population, Caring.com looked at 70 metrics to rank the best and worst places for senior living.
- Senior Living Report with States Ranking
- Senior In Home Care
- Senior Care - Assisted Living
- Senior Independent Living Options
Caregivers Help
Most people don’t enter care giving thinking that they’re putting their own health in harm’s way. But those who provide care to a frail loved one tend to live with high chronic stress and skimp on self care.