Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Latest Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Novel mutation in the recently identified LRRK2 gene causes parkinsonism

Neuroscientists at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., leading a team of researchers in the United States and Europe, have discovered that a novel mutation in the recently identified LRRK2 gene causes parkinsonism in several North American and European families.

27 Feb 2005

Diagnosis of prions in patients should utilize novel strategy, conformation-dependent immunoassay

A technique for detecting prions in tissue, developed in recent years by UCSF scientists, is significantly more sensitive than the diagnostic procedures currently used to detect the lethal particles in samples of brain tissue from patients, according to a study performed by a UCSF team.

22 Feb 2005

First comprehensive examination of strenuous physical activity and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease

In the first comprehensive examination of strenuous physical activity and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found that men who exercised regularly and vigorously early in their adult life had a lower risk for developing Parkinson's disease compared to men who did not.

22 Feb 2005

Paradox suggests reasons why COX-2 inhibitors hurt and help

Laboratory studies at Johns Hopkins have revealed that certain products of the enzymes COX-1 and COX-2 can both protect and damage the brain. The findings, published in the February 2005 issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry, offer tantalizing clues to why drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex, which block COX-2, can ease arthritis but potentially harm the heart and brain.

14 Feb 2005

Chronic nicotine exposure worsens some Alzheimer’s-related brain abnormalities

UCI researchers have determined that chronic nicotine exposure worsens some Alzheimer’s-related brain abnormalities, contradicting the common belief that nicotine can actually be used to treat the disease.

9 Feb 2005

How polychlorinated biphenyls open brain cells to Parkinson's assault

University of Rochester scientists investigating the link between PCBs, pesticides and Parkinson's disease demonstrated new and intricate reactions that occur in certain brain cells, making them more vulnerable to injury after exposures.

9 Feb 2005

Inserting corrective genes into the brain to fight Parkinson's disease

An international team of scientists has used gene therapy in two separate studies to renew brain cells and restore normal movements in monkeys and rats with a drug-induced form of Parkinson's disease.

8 Feb 2005

Research confirms how early-life events shape later physiology

Underscoring the value of good prenatal care, new research suggests that early infection may create a cognitive vulnerability that appears later during stress on the immune system.

8 Feb 2005

Catheter ablation to treat supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is not detrimental to patients

This data refutes previous evidence which suggested a high incidence of injury to a patient's cardiac nerves, possibly resulting in accelerated heart rates following the procedure.

31 Jan 2005

Startling results from new biomedical research will smooth path to the market place

Researchers have discovered how to convert liver cells of mice into pancreatic cells using a single injection. This may eventually lead to a cure for diabetes. Dr. James Mittra, one of the organisers of an international conference in Edinburgh on the Evolution of the Life Science Industries asks, “How does the pharmaceutical industry respond to this kind of work? They are primarily interested in treatments, not cures. Do they see this kind of research as a threat?”

27 Jan 2005

Breakthrough in identifying causes and treatment for degenerative neurological diseases

A new, high resolution x-ray scanning technique that can look inside a single brain tissue cell, is a major step forward in identifying the role of iron and other metals in degenerative neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

24 Jan 2005

Two minutes of magnetic stimulation can change your brain for an hour

A couple of minutes is all it takes to ‘knock out’ bits of your brain for an hour, according to a new study by a University College London (UCL) team.

19 Jan 2005

Catheter ablation safe for patients

A recent study published in Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology (PACE) determined that the use of catheter ablation to treat supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is not detrimental to patients.

19 Jan 2005

Single gene mutation as the cause of around one in 25 cases of Parkinson’s disease worldwide

The studies suggest that the mutation, in a recently discovered gene called LRRK2, causes around 5% of inherited Parkinson’s cases and around 2% of isolated cases. Screening for the new mutation is likely to become a component of genetic testing for Parkinson’s disease in the near future.

17 Jan 2005

Botox may help people with movement disorders

The long-term effects of botulinum toxin type A (Botox) in patients with severe movement disorders confirm the safety of the toxin's use in controlled dosages, according to a recent study at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

17 Jan 2005

Significant advance in understanding the human genome

An Oregon Health & Science University-led development of a technique for identifying control elements that drive the expression of genes in brain cells could unleash the disease-fighting potential of the much-hailed human genome.

28 Dec 2004

Paclitaxel may benefit Alzheimer's and Parkinson's movement disorders

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals have announced that a preclinical study published in today's early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights the positive effects of Paxceed on movement disorders commonly seen in diseases known as taupathies, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

27 Dec 2004

Researchers can now inexpensively program the chemical synthesis of entire genes on a single microchip

Devices the size of a pager now have greater capabilities than computers that once occupied an entire room. Similar advances are being made in the emerging field of synthetic biology at the University of Houston, now allowing researchers to inexpensively program the chemical synthesis of entire genes on a single microchip.

23 Dec 2004

Botox may be a possible treatment for sufferers of Tourette's syndrome

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston are using botulinum toxin type A (Botox) to treat the neurological disorder, which can cause involuntary motor and vocal tics.

21 Dec 2004

Theory that could help to cure diseases including cancer

An Open University science student has astonished the world of medicine with a theory that could help to cure diseases including cancer.

21 Dec 2004

Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Latest Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Novel mutation in the recently identified LRRK2 gene causes parkinsonism

Diagnosis of prions in patients should utilize novel strategy, conformation-dependent immunoassay

First comprehensive examination of strenuous physical activity and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease

Paradox suggests reasons why COX-2 inhibitors hurt and help

Chronic nicotine exposure worsens some Alzheimer’s-related brain abnormalities

How polychlorinated biphenyls open brain cells to Parkinson's assault

Inserting corrective genes into the brain to fight Parkinson's disease

Research confirms how early-life events shape later physiology

Catheter ablation to treat supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is not detrimental to patients

Startling results from new biomedical research will smooth path to the market place

Breakthrough in identifying causes and treatment for degenerative neurological diseases

Two minutes of magnetic stimulation can change your brain for an hour

Catheter ablation safe for patients

Single gene mutation as the cause of around one in 25 cases of Parkinson’s disease worldwide

Botox may help people with movement disorders

Significant advance in understanding the human genome

Paclitaxel may benefit Alzheimer's and Parkinson's movement disorders

Researchers can now inexpensively program the chemical synthesis of entire genes on a single microchip

Botox may be a possible treatment for sufferers of Tourette's syndrome

Theory that could help to cure diseases including cancer

eBook: Advancing neurodegenerative research with iPSC-derived microglia models eBook

Scalable, Smart, and Accessible: The Future of Lab Automation

Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: A Conversation with WHO’s Dr. Allotey

The evolution of OCT for retinal imaging and disease intervention

Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Latest Parkinson's Disease News and Research

eBook: Advancing neurodegenerative research with iPSC-derived microglia models eBook

Scalable, Smart, and Accessible: The Future of Lab Automation

Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: A Conversation with WHO’s Dr. Allotey

The evolution of OCT for retinal imaging and disease intervention

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