Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Latest Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Merz introduces new educational website for patients with focal dystonias

In support of the focal dystonia community, Merz Pharmaceuticals today announced the launch of a new educational website, FocalDystoniaExchange.com, where people affected by certain focal dystonias, as well as caregivers, family and friends, can learn more about the conditions and access helpful resources. For people who suffer from focal dystonias, completing simple, everyday tasks can be a difficult and challenging process.

3 Feb 2011

Older people with metabolic syndrome may face high risk of developing memory loss

Older people with larger waistlines, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome may be at a higher risk for memory loss, according to a study published in the February 2, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Feb 2011

Targeted delivery combination crosses brain protecting barrier and homes in on tumors

A targeted delivery combination selectively crosses the tight barrier that protects the brain from the bloodstream to home in on and bind to brain tumors, a research team led by scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

2 Feb 2011

Defective nucleoli linked to Parkinson's disease

"Nucleolus", or small nucleus, is the term coined by early biologists for the tiny structure within the nucleus which they saw under the microscope. In this structure within the nucleus, RNA molecules and proteins are assembled to form ribosomes, the true protein factories of cells.

2 Feb 2011

Biogen Idec 2010 total revenues increase 8% to $4.7 billion

Biogen Idec Inc., a global biotechnology leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapies, today announced its full year and fourth quarter 2010 results.

1 Feb 2011

French guy says Parkinson’s drug induced gambling and gay sex addiction, tries to sue GSK for $610,000

GlaxoSmithKline is being sued this week by a French father-of-two, alleging the British pharmaceutical firm’s drug – Reqip (Ropirnirole) to treat Parkinson’s disease turned him into a gay sex and gambling addict. Parkinson’s disease is a seriously and progressively debilitating disease that leads to tremors, slowing of movements and ultimately total immobility.

1 Feb 2011

AVANIR's NUEDEXTA for pseudobulbar affect now available by prescription

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that NUEDEXTA™ (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate) is now available by prescription in the United States. NUEDEXTA is the first and only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pseudobulbar affect (PBA).

1 Feb 2011

Physicians suggest new target structure for deep brain stimulation

Nearly ten percent of all cases of depression are so severe that the patients do not respond to any established treatment method. Targeted stimulation of areas in the brain using a type of "brain pacemaker" has recently raised hopes: According to initial studies, half of patients with the most severe depression treated in this manner see a significant improvement in mood.

31 Jan 2011

EU grants 3.3 million to AMP for gene therapy development against AIP

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, a leader in the field of human gene therapy, announced today that the European Union has finalized a EUR 3.3 million grant to the AIPGENE consortium, of which AMT is a member, for the development of a gene therapy product for Acute Intermittent Porphyria.

31 Jan 2011

Venture philanthropist invests $3.5 million to thwart Alzheimer's disease

Retired San Francisco real estate developer Douglas Rosenberg says he has a new job - helping to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Through the Ellen and Douglas Rosenberg Foundation, the venture philanthropist is betting at least $3.5 million that Buck faculty Dale Bredesen, MD has the correct take on how to thwart the memory robbing disease that affects over 5 million Americans.

31 Jan 2011

Scientists convert adult skin cells into cardiomyocytes using direct reprogramming strategy

Scripps Research Institute scientists have converted adult skin cells directly into beating heart cells efficiently without having to first go through the laborious process of generating embryonic-like stem cells. The powerful general technology platform could lead to new treatments for a range of diseases and injuries involving cell loss or damage, such as heart disease, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease.

30 Jan 2011

Research provides new clues for compulsive behavior, cognitive defects linked with LND

Research from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine provides new clues for the compulsive behavior and cognitive defects associated with a rare childhood neurological disease called Lesch-Nyhan Disease.

29 Jan 2011

ALS Biopharma receives ADDF grant to develop therapeutics against Alzheimer's disease

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation announced today that it has awarded a grant of $195,000 to ALS Biopharma, LLC to develop therapeutics targeted at clearing toxic proteins implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

28 Jan 2011

Baxter fourth quarter net income declines 26% to $423 million

Baxter International Inc. today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2010, and provided its financial outlook for the first quarter and full-year 2011.

From Baxter International Inc. 27 Jan 2011

First three-dimensional projectome map of intact brain

It would be hard to understand how a city is organized without knowledge of the course of all of its streets. Scientists confront the same problem when trying to understand the functioning of the brain. In the case of vertebrates, we only have fragmentary knowledge of which nerve cells send their connections, so-called axons, into certain regions of the brain.

27 Jan 2011

Abbott fourth quarter worldwide sales increase 13.4% to nearly $10 billion

Abbott today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010.

27 Jan 2011

Researchers discover new treatment for difficult-to-control high blood pressure

Researchers were surprised to discover what may be a potential new treatment for difficult-to-control high blood pressure, according to a case report published in the January 25, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

25 Jan 2011

St. Jude Medical's Athena programmer DBS system receives Australian TGA approval

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced regulatory approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of its Athena™ programmer, a deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy management system.

24 Jan 2011

Math may help assess how rapidly stem cells and cancer-causing cousins increase numbers

The difficult task of sorting and counting prized stem cells and their cancer-causing cousins has long frustrated scientists looking for new ways to help people who have progressive diseases.

21 Jan 2011

Chelsea reports top-line data from Phase III NORTHERA extension study in NOH

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. reported new 12-month data from Study 303, a safety extension study from its Phase III NORTHERA™ (droxidopa) registration program in symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). Preliminary, top-line results demonstrate Northera provides clinically meaningful and durable symptomatic improvements in patients with NOH throughout a one-year observation period.

20 Jan 2011