27th December 2012 - New research

THE INCIDENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IS DECLINING

Journal of Neurology [2012] Dec 23 [Epub ahead of print] (Horsfall L, Petersen I, Walters K, Schrag A.) Complete abstract

A new study has found that the incidence of Parkinson's Disease has been declining for years. The incidence of Parkinson's Disease is the rate of new diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. The rate of annual decline was found to be somewhere between 1% and 6% depending on the criteria used. A rate of decline of 1% was obtained when symptoms and antiparkinsonian drugs were included. A rate of decline of 6% was obtained when only Parkinson's Disease diagnosis was considered.

Although increasing population means that there are more people with Parkinson's Disease overall, this is the first time that the chances of developing Parkinson's Disease has been found to be continuously decreasing. The incidence of Parkinson's Disease in this study was found to be 46% higher in men than in women. The incidence rates were 12% higher in urban areas, and slightly less in socially deprived areas. For a printable version of this article click here. In order to refer to this article on its own click here. 

26th December 2012 - New book

Publisher's description : Dr. Bernard Patten authentically captures in The Great Cotzias the realities of medical research; the petty jealousies, the back biting, the desperate race to knowledge. We get the details, of the events and the people involved in the discovery of the beneficial effect of L-DOPA on Parkinson’s disease. The main character is George C. Cotzias, a Greek born, Harvard educated, hypomanic physician who in his frenetic drive to win the Nobel Prize sacrificed wife, family, friends, and, finally himself. Eventually he makes the discovery that proved that so-called hopeless degenerative nervous system diseases can benefit from replacement of natural body chemicals that are deficient with the disease. Click here for more details. For more books concerning Parkinson's Disease go to Parkinson's Disease Books.  

25th December 2012 - New book

Kevin T Boekhoff

Publisher's description : "I Forgot That I Remembered" provides a glimpse into the day to day challenges of a person living with a chronic disease. Kevin relates the various struggles he deals with while living with Parkinson's. Those with a chronic illness can relate in many ways to his unwanted changes and adaptations. His unique writing style and humor may have you laughing, yet the reality in the stories may being tears. Each story relates different aspects of life with a chronic illness. They are arranged like the occur in life - random and unplanned. "...the very thing I struggle with every single day (Parkinson's disease); is the same thing that enables me to write - paradoxicity methinks." Click here for more details. For more books concerning Parkinson's Disease go to Parkinson's Disease Books.  

15th December 2012 - New book

Publisher's description : Acupressure for Parkinsonism Made Easy - An Illustrated Self Treatment Guide is an unique book full of illustrations and written in very simple language. The coverage of the most of the Parkinsonism/ Parkinson's Disease complications make is equally useful for all the Parkinsonism patients regardless their type and stage of disease. Dr. Krishna N. Sharma is an Author, Medical Professional and Educator. He is founder Editor of the Scientific Research Journal of India and founder Gen. Secretary of the Online Physio Community, India. He writes health articles and columns in various newspapers and magazines of India and Bangladesh. So far he has written more than a dozen books. Click here for more details. For more books concerning Parkinson's Disease go to Parkinson's Disease Books.  

2nd December 2012 - New research

GM1 GANGLIOSIDE CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS

Journal of the Neurological Sciences [2012] Nov 20 [Epub ahead of print] (J.S.Schneider, S.M.Gollomp, S.Sendek, A.Colcher, F.Cambi, Wei Du) Complete abstract

A clinical trial was carried out to assess the symptomatic and disease-modifying effects of GM1 ganglioside in Parkinson's Disease. The authors do not know the precise mechanism of GM1 ganglioside but suggest what effects it has are "neuroprotective". Gangliosides are concentrated on cell surfaces mainly in the nervous system. They have been considered for use in neurological disorders. For more information go to Gangliosides.

GM1 ganglioside was assessed for 120 weeks in people with Parkinson's Disease. The effects were compared to those people who delayed starting the treatment. At week 24, the early-start group had significant improvement in Parkinson's Disease motor symptoms. There was a significant worsening of scores in those people that delayed starting the treatment. At week 72 and week 120 those people taking GM1 ganglioside from the outset were better than those that did not. There was only a reduced worsening of symptoms after 120 weeks. So it was slowing deterioration rather than ridding symptoms. There were similar results in a previous study. For more information concerning the previous study go to the  Complete abstract  For a printable version of this article click here. In order to refer to this article on its own click here.