27th May 2012 - New research

B VITAMINS REDUCE PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Behavioural Brain Research [2012] May 17 [Epub ahead of print] (H.Haghdoost-Yazdi, N.Fraidouni, A.Faraji, H.Jahanihashemi, M.Sarookhani) Complete abstract

Homocysteine levels are increased in the blood of people with Parkinson's Disease. B vitamins are necessary for Homocysteine metabolism. So researchers assessed the effects of B vitamins in Parkinson's Disease. Of the B vitamins assessed, folic acid (vitamin B9) reduced some of the effects of Parkinson's Disease, as did pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Folic acid (vitamin B9) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) had no effect on the behavioural symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Vitamin B12 had no effect either. Although they found that certain B vitamins reduced the effects of Parkinson's Disease, this was not achieved by reducing homocysteine levels as they had expected.

The effect of the B vitamins on Parkinson's Disease would have been because certain B vitamins are required for the natural formation of dopamine, the substance whose deficiency causes Parkinson's Disease. Dopamine is naturally formed in the brain from L-tyrosine via L-dopa to dopamine. L-tyrosine to L-dopa requires folic acid (vitamin B9). L-dopa to dopamine requires pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Both steps require another B vitamin, nicotinamde (vitamin B3), which was not assessed. L-tyrosine and several other substances are also essential for the natural formation of dopamine in the brain. All of the substances required are contained in a Parkinson's Disease Supplement. For a printable version of this article click here.  In order to refer to this article on its own click here. 

26th May 2012 - New forum

PARKINSONS RECOVERY

Parkinsons Recovery is a new conference forum for people with Parkinson's Symptoms. Sunday Connections is an interactive chat room that is moderated by a rotating panel of hosts, most of whom have Parkinson's and have been successful in reversing their symptoms to some extent. The cost is $5 a month or $1.25 a week. Information about the new opportunity for Sunday Connections and their hosts is available at Parkinsons Recovery

23rd May 2012 - New research

HERBAL MEDICINES FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

PLoS One [2012] 7 (5) : e35695 (T.H.Kim, K.H.Cho, W.S.Jung, M.S.Lee) Complete study

Researchers conducted a systematic review to evaluate the current evidence of herbal medicines for treating Parkinson's Disease. Most herbal medicines are drugs in their natural form. All possible databases were used in assessing the efficacy of herbal medicines. This included controlled clinical trials and randomized crossover trials. From over 3000 studies in the medical literature, 64 clinical trials were assessed.  The researchers did not suggest overall estimates of the effects on Parkinson's Disease because of the wide variety of herbal recipes used. When compared with the effects of a placebo, herbal medicines were not clearly found to have any effect on Parkinson's Disease. Direct comparison with conventional drugs suggested that there was no evidence of herbal medicines being any better either. For a printable version of this article click here.  In order to refer to this article on its own click here. 

22nd May 2012 - New book

ANOTHER DOOR OPENS : PARKINSON'S A CATALYST FOR GROWTH AND HAPPINESS

Alan Cohee

Publisher's description : My book is about my 20 years dealing with Parkinson’s disease. The title comes from a quote of Helen Keller’s. “When one door to happiness closes, another one opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened.” Recently, I skimmed through the book, and it seemed to be all about me. I saw many I and my. As I read it more carefully, I saw that it is, actually, a book about you. This book is about your trials and your triumphs, your struggle to maintain a positive state of mind and the challenges of your daily life. For me, the biggest struggle is holding onto happiness. I give many suggestions that have helped me gain a positive state of mind.  Click here for more details. For the author's web site go to Alan Cohee. For more books concerning Parkinson's Disease go to Parkinson's Disease Books.

17th May 2012 - New research

NEW GENETIC CAUSE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Annals of Neurology [2012] 71 (3) : 370-384 (Pankratz N, Beecham GW, DeStefano AL, Dawson TM, Doheny KF, Factor SA, Hamza TH, Hung AY, Hyman BT, Ivinson AJ, Krainc D, Latourelle JC, Clark LN, Marder K, Martin ER, Mayeux R, Ross OA, Scherzer CR, Simon DK, Tanner C, Vance JM, Wszolek ZK, Zabetian CP, Myers RH, Payami H, Scott WK, Foroud T) Complete abstract

A new genetic cause of Parkinson's Disease has been discovered. The gene is known as RIT2, which is on Chromosome 18. Although the gene was previously known, it had not previously been linked to Parkinson's Disease. The researchers do not know how the RIT2 gene leads to Parkinson's Disease being more likely.

There are 18 previously known genetic causes of Parkinson's Disease, known as PARK 1 to PARK 18. They are mutations of specific genes. They do not make Parkinson's Disease inevitable, but instead to varying extents, depending on the gene, make Parkinson's Disease progressively more likely. The number of people with Parkinson's Disease who have these genetic mutations is not known, but estimates have suggested that as many as 10% to 15% of people who have Parkinson's Disease have them. For a printable version of this article click here.  In order to refer to this article on its own click here. 

17th May 2012 - New book

MARIJUANA FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Richard Secklin

Publisher's description : Pharmaceutical use of cannabis is not new and history shows us how this miracle plant has been misinterpreted through an era of ignorance. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years and the credibility of marijuana as a therapy specifically for Parkinson’s disease is somewhat new. Marijuana helps Parkinson’s patients and benefits people suffering from many other illnesses. What is presently a controversial subject matter as many States one by one approve the medicinal use of marijuana, this new research book should help provide medical support for new legislation. Readers are given a brief history on cannabis, the laws, the medicinal use, medical research, and much more. Click here for more details. For the author's web site go to Richard Secklin. For more books concerning Parkinson's Disease go to Parkinson's Disease Books.

3rd May 2012 - New research

CAUSES OF SUDDEN WORSENING IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Neurologist [2012] 18 (3) : 120-124 (K.S..Zheng, B.J.Dorfman, P.J.Christos, N.R.Khadem, C.Henchcliffe, P. Piboolnurak, M.J.Nirenberg) Complete abstract

Episodes of sudden and transient worsening of symptoms commonly occur in Parkinson's Disease, especially when the Parkinson's Disease is more severe. A quarter of people with Parkinson's Disease were found to be affected in this way. Infection was the single most frequent cause, accounting for a quarter of cases. Other common causes were anxiety, medication errors, poor adherence to taking the required drugs, medication side effects, and postoperative decline. Overall, over 80% of reasons were attributable to reversible or treatable causes.

Most  people who experienced a sudden worsening of symptoms recovered fully, but a third of people experienced recurrent episodes. One in six people suffered permanent decline. Those people most prone to sudden or transient worsening were those who had Parkinson's Disease for nearly eight years or more, had more severe symptoms, had greater use of dopaminergic drugs, and had a greater prevalence of motor complications. For a printable version of this article click here.  In order to refer to this article on its own click here.