BeeJay Acker-Hitta looked at Kiela, her 10-year-old daughter, uncertain of how to tell her she had Friedreichs ataxia, a disease that would overcome her body and eventually end her life.

Mom, do I have it? Kiela asked.

Yes, you do, answered her mother.

What does that mean? Kiela asked.

Tears streamed down Kielas face as she attempted to understand what the diagnosis meant for her future.

Twelve years later Kiela and Acker-Hitta have participated in countless fundraisers to raise awareness for the deadly disease, which has no treatments or cure. Kiela will be escorted by her uncle to the Ride Ataxia, a cycling fundraiser in Davis on May 5.

Friedreichs ataxia is a life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular genetic disorder that affects 1 out of 50,000 people in the United States. Symptoms include loss of coordination, fatigue, vision impairment, curvature of the spine, diabetes and heart conditions.

The mental capabilities of people with FA remain intact, although the progressive loss of coordination and muscle strength leads to motor incapacitation and the full-time use of a wheelchair.

Kiela started showing symptoms at age 6. She had cardiomyopathy, often referred to as heart muscle disease, which usually leads to heart failure. She started using a walker by the fifth grade and was wheelchair bound by middle school. After more than four years of testing at UC San Francisco, Acker-Hitta took her daughter to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Sacramento. After a muscle biopsy, a spinal tap and blood tests, Acker-Hitta received a phone call.

It was the worst day of my life.

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Searching for a cure

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FRIDAY

Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP. The tour will offer all adults health tests that will measure 10 key indicators, such as cholesterol and blood pressure. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Walgreens, 1351 W. Capitol Ave., West Sacramento. Free. (916) 371-3801.

SATURDAY

Ride Ataxia Norcal bike-riding fundraiser for Friedreich’s Ataxia cure. 7:30-10 a.m. registration; 15- to 68-mile bike rides start 8:30, 9, 9:30, and 10 a.m.; Veterans Memorial Center, 203 East 14th St., Davis. $30-$35. $10 more day of event. (484) 879-6160.

Bark for Life of West Sacramento. Walk event with dogs and their owners to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Dave’s Pumpkin Patch, 3010 Burrows Ave., West Sacramento. $10 per dog advance ($25 per day of event). (916) 212-9247.

SUNDAY

Yin Yoga Workshop with Robin Mordecai. The Yoga Seed Collective, 1400 E St., Suite B, Sacramento. $20-$40. (916) 978-1367.

WEDNESDAY

Blood pressure screenings held every Wednesday. 10 a.m.-noon. lobby of Sutter Davis Hospital, 2000 Sutter Place. Free. (530) 756-6440.

NEXT THURSDAY

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EXTON, Pa., May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –ViroPharma Incorporated (VPHM) today announced that Charles Rowland, vice president and chief financial officer of ViroPharma, will present at the Deutsche Bank 37th Annual Healthcare Conference at 2:50 P.M. ET on Monday, May 7, 2012. The conference is being held at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston.

ViroPharma also announced that Vincent Milano, president and chief executive officer will present at the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch 2012 Healthcare Conference at 8:40 A.M. PT (11:40 AM ET) on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The conference is being held at the Encore at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

ViroPharma’s presentations will be webcast live for investors through http://www.viropharma.com and available for a period of 14 days following the conferences.

About ViroPharma Incorporated

ViroPharma Incorporated is an international biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing novel solutions for physician specialists to address unmet medical needs of patients living with diseases that have few if any clinical therapeutic options. ViroPharma is developing a portfolio of therapeutics for rare and Orphan diseases including C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, Friedreich’s Ataxia, and adrenal insufficiency; and recurrent C. difficile infection (CDI). Our goal is to provide rewarding careers to employees, to create new standards of care in the way serious diseases are treated, and to build international partnerships with the patients, advocates, and health care professionals we serve. ViroPharma’s commercial products address diseases including hereditary angioedema (HAE), seizures and C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD); for full U.S. prescribing information on our products, please download the package inserts at http://www.viropharma.com/Products.aspx; the prescribing information for other countries can be found at http://www.viropharma.com.

ViroPharma routinely posts information, including press releases, which may be important to investors in the investor relations and media sections of our company’s web site, http://www.viropharma.com. The company encourages investors to consult these sections for more information on ViroPharma and our business.

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VAIL, CO--(Marketwire -05/02/12)- Health enthusiasts from around the country will gather to network with marathon legends, cycling champions, renowned medical researchers and the nation's leading health and fitness experts at Living at Your Peak (www.livingatyourpeak.org), the Rocky Mountain region's premier wellness experience. The inaugural summit, to be held September 13-15, 2012, in Vail, Colo., is the nation's only gathering designed to help health-conscious individuals and influencers discover how to live longer, better and impact the wellbeing of their world.

"Living at Your Peak is designed to promote life-long health and fitness through customized experiences in an intimate setting," said Jamie Stone, Living at Your Peak event champion and a board member of the Vail Symposium, a nonprofit organization responsible for Living at Your Peak. "With exclusive access to proven experts and peak performers in the fields of fitness, nutrition, cognitive and emotional health, medicine and cutting-edge research, our guests will gain valuable insight into the changes they can make in their daily lives that will affect their future health."

Jenna Wolfe, co-anchor of NBC News' Sunday TODAY show, will emcee the event, which is intended for individuals who are interested in learning how to maximize their health, as well as corporate, non-profit and government leaders. The summit offers guests unparalleled access to accomplished world champions; internationally recognized trainers, coaches, researchers and doctors; top chefs, nutritionists and world-class restaurants; and peer networking opportunities.

Among others, confirmed presenters include:

Additional presenters will be announced as the event nears. Visit http://www.livingatyourpeak.org for details.

Living at Your Peak sessions will offer interactive components to engage guests beyond a traditional presentation environment. Session themes include:

Guests will complete a pre-attendance survey to create an individualized agenda and establish physical and mental goals to be addressed through specific programming. A personal concierge will manage guests' event needs, including session scheduling and weekend activities planning. Follow-up coaching, an interactive online community and a winter series will empower guests to take home their Living at Your Peak experience and positively impact their personal networks.

"We want Colorado to be the healthiest state in the nation because healthy living is a strong driver of economic and tourism well-being," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. "Conferences like the Vail Symposium's Living at Your Peak can move us in that direction through their commitment to physical, intellectual and emotional health and well being."

Living at Your Peak registration is $1,000 until June 30 and $1,200 beginning July 1, and includes priority access to event sessions, event coordination with a personal concierge, exclusive access to VIP events and gourmet meals prepared by Vail's internationally renowned chefs. Spouse passes are $300 and individual session fees start at $50 per session.

The summit is organized by the Vail Symposium, a grassroots, non-profit organization providing thought-provoking, diverse and affordable educational programs to the Vail Valley community. Event sponsors include The Vitality Center at Vail Mountain Lodge, the Town of Vail, Antlers at Vail Condominiums and Conference Center, the Colorado Hospital Association, Lifetime Fitness, Colorado Access, the Biegler Foundation and Wendy and Paul Raether.

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Living at Your Peak Promises Unparalleled Access to Leading Health, Fitness and Longevity Experts

More Babies Born to Painkiller-Addicted Moms

The number of babies born addicted to opiates, the class of drugs that includes heroin, methadone, and some prescription painkillers, has nearly tripled in the past decade. In fact, a baby is born every hour with signs of opiate drug withdrawal, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Neonatal abstinence syndrome, or becoming addicted to drugs in utero, causes withdrawal once the baby is out of the womb. Symptoms include seizures and tremors, respiratory distress, vomiting, and an inability to eat without becoming sick. It's unclear what kind of long-term health effects kids born to opiate-addicted moms suffer; some studies suggest they grow up with a higher risk of developmental problems. The costs associated with treating these newborns, however, is more concrete, reaching $720 million in 2009. Most are covered by the publicly financed Medicaid program. "This study is part of a bigger call to the fact that opiates are becoming a big problem in this country," study author Stephen Patrick, a fellow in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the University of Michigan, told Reuters. Opiate-addicted infants "are far more inconsolable than other babies. They appear uncomfortable, sometimes they breathe a little faster... they're scratching their faces."

Can Your Mental Health Affect Your Longevity?

There's truth to the adage that you're only as old as you feel. "Physical well-being and subjective well-being are two sides of the same coin," says Howard Friedman, author of The Longevity Project, a research-based look at who lives the longest and why. "Mental health affects physical health, and physical health affects mental health."

Research paints a compelling argument. Adults with serious mental illness like schizophrenia die about 25 years earlier than the general population, according to a 2007 report from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. They're 3.4 times more likely to die of heart disease or diabetes, 3.8 times more likely to die in an accident, 5 times more likely to die of respiratory ailments, and 6.6 times more likely to die of pneumonia or flu, found the team led by Joseph Parks, director of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health.

Why? They often get little exercise, leading to obesity and hiking the odds of diabetes and heart disease. They're also more likely than others to smoke and have alcohol and drug-abuse problems. It's common for their medical needs to slip through the cracks, too, because they often cannot adequately advocate for their own health.

But evidence of the mind-body connection transcends serious mental illness and the unhealthy habits that often go along with it. Take negative emotions, for example. While they may not cause a disease, they appear to accelerate its progression, says Laura Carstensen, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and author of A Long Bright Future. Research suggests that HIV infections progress faster in gay men who are closeted than those who live openly. That's likely because the brain translates that fear of rejection and isolation into physical stress, which can weaken the immune system. "We're only beginning to understand the potential mechanisms that could be involved," she says. "But it's clear that people who are more positive are more likely to survive, and to survive longer." [Read more: Can Your Mental Health Affect Your Longevity?]

Acid Reflux ReliefWithout a Pill

Feeling the burn? That painful sensation in your chest or throatacid reflux, or what doctors call GERDisn't intractable. Lifestyle and dietary tweaks can bring relief, experts say. "Simple [changes] can make a big difference," says gastroenterologist Jorge Rodriguez, author of the new book The Acid Reflux Solution (Ten Speed Press, $21.99). That's promising, since researchers warn that heartburn drugs may do more harm than good, increasing the risk of infection with an intestinal bacteria or even the likelihood of contracting pneumonia.

Here are nine easy ways to alleviate heartburn without swallowing a pill:

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Health Buzz: More Babies Born to Opiate-Addicted Moms

World expert on ageing Alexandre Kalache: 'We are going to age differently. We are starting to see role models who are active, demanding, who will want to work longer or will want more leisure or will want to take part in society and expect that people will listen to their voices. Its exciting because its a new stage of human development.'

Alexandre Kalache is a world expert on ageing. With average life expectancy now above 80, he discusses what Australia should do to prepare for the longevity revolution.

ALEXANDRE Kalache's departure from his job as the World Health Organisation's Director of Ageing in 2007 was a moment of bitter irony. In October of that year he turned 62, and despite being fit and energetic with years of good work still ahead of him, he was forced by the organisation to retire.

It is policies such as this that, paradoxically, represent the central theme of Kalache's life work: that the retirement structure used by most developed countries was conceived in the 19th century and has ceased to be relevant in the 21st century. It is time for societies to adapt to what he calls the "longevity revolution".

When Kalache was born in 1945, life expectancy in his native Brazil was 43; now the average Brazilian can expect to live to 75. Kalache describes this leap in life expectancy in such a short time (mirrored in developed countries including Australia) as "the greatest societal achievement of the 20th century - something to celebrate".

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But he also warns that "it threatens to become the greatest challenge for the 21st century if we don't have the right policies''.

The numbers explain the challenge: by 2050, the number of people aged over 60 will double to more than 2 billion, or 22 per cent of the global population. With life expectancy in more than 20 developed countries already above 80, the economic and social impact on societies of an increasingly healthy ageing populace are obvious. For example, in Australia the cost of aged care is expected to double by 2050.

Politically, it also brings opportunities for governments to target the so-called "grey vote" - evidenced in the Gillard government's much-trumpeted aged-care announcement on April 20.

For his part, retirement has been a productive time for Kalache. His various positions include being president of the International Longevity Centre in Brazil, a senior adviser on global ageing at the New York Academy of Medicine, and a Resident Thinker on Ageing for the government of South Australia, where he is currently visiting.

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The new age of old age

Retire at 65? Theyd sooner die.

Thousands of New Yorkers are working decades past Social Security eligibility, into their 80s and even their 90s, keeping their minds sharp and their bodies moving.

A bookkeeper who commutes four hours a day into Manhattan, a grandma who keeps pace with diplomats at the United Nations, an octogenarian who runs around after 7-year-olds all day.

They represent the new longevity awesome over 80 living healthier and working longer than their peers of previous generations.

While people older than 75 make up just 1% of the nations workforce, that age group accounts for the most dramatic rise in employment a 158% uptick since 1990, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

Of 11.6 million people older than 75 in 1990, about 4% or 487,000 were employed. By 2011, there were nearly 18 million people older than 75, and 7%, or 1.2 million superseniors, were working.

In New York, there are more than 9,000 people older than 80 on the job, a slight increase from 20 years earlier. And 734 of them were 90 or older, census data show.

When you look at the past two decades, there has been a change in the paradigm of retirement, said AARPs New York spokesman Luci DeHaan.

It was assumed people would retire at 65, move to another climate, take a step back and enjoy their life. What you are seeing now is people living healthy longer and choosing to stay in their communities and work. They want to stay involved.

Nir Barzilai, a geneticist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx who studies centenarians and their children, has found longevity genes in people with at least one parent or sibling who have lived past 80.

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In NYC, 80 is the new 50

Posted Apr. 29, 2012, 9:23 am Susan Cloke / Mirror Columnist

Courtesy the Breslow family

You may have seen Dr. Lester Breslow, a man in his 90s, taking his regular walk on the Boardwalk in Santa Monica. Breslow, a physician who pioneered the field of public health, was following his own advice for a long life.

Do not smoke. Drink in moderation. Sleep seven to eight hours. Exercise at least moderately. Eat regular meals. Maintain a moderate weight. Eat breakfast.

These rules, Breslows 7 Healthy Habits, became the foundation for many government programs designed to promote good health and longevity. What may seem common knowledge to us now is, in large part, common knowledge because of Breslows work.

The 7 Healthy Habits for longevity were based on data from the Alameda County Study. The demographics of Alameda County were reflective of national demographics and that made it a good site for the study.

In 1965, almost 7,000 residents of Alameda County, Calif., were randomly selected and asked to participate in a survey regarding their health habits. Did they smoke? How much did they drink? How much exercise did they get? What did they eat? When did they eat? How much did they sleep?

The first survey was used to create a baseline. Follow up surveys, coded for anonymity, collected data over a 20-year period and were used to correlate health habits with disease incidence and longevity.

The methodology used in the study provided a mathematical proof that lifestyle, good health, and longevity are linked. His work expanded the definition of public health and explored the inter-relationship of the community, the environment, and the individual.

Breslow had intended to practice psychiatry but he was having doubts about his choice. His mentor at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Alex Blumstein, became a life long friend and encouraged him to go into the field of public health.

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Hometown Hero: Dr. Lester Breslow (1915-2012)

More than 3,000 volunteers are needed in a groundbreaking clinical study on Parkinsons disease.

IT WAS announced on BBC radio recently that the worlds biggest study into the cause of Parkinsons disease will take place soon. It will be headed by Dr Donald Grosset, a neurologist at Glasgow University in Scotland.

According to the BBC report, Parkinsons disease affects almost 130,000 people in Britain. Parkinsons disease is a debilitating condition. Its symptoms include tremors, mood changes, difficulties in movement, loss of smell and speech problems.

Dr Grosset hopes the milestone research will be able to find better ways of diagnosing and treating the disease. Parkinsons UK is investing more than 1.6mil (RM8mil) in the Tracking Parkinsons study with the long-term aim of boosting the chances of finding a cure.

The 3,000 volunteers include those who have been recently diagnosed with the disease, those who were aged under 50 at diagnosis, and their siblings.

The purpose of the research is to identify markers in the blood which could be used to create a simple diagnostic test for the disease, something which currently does not exist.

Parkinsons medical experts say early diagnosis is crucial for doctors to be able to prescribe the right drugs for people with the condition.

The BBC adds that the responses to various treatments of those taking part in the study will be closely monitored for up to five years.

The project will eventually be linked up to 40 research centres across Britain. Dr Grosset says the cure for Parkinsons disease is a global challenge.

All the samples gathered from our thousands of volunteers will be available for analysis by researchers the world over, he adds.

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Tried to pretend nothing was wrong … Sonia Rykiel.

Sonia Rykiel has revealed she has Parkinson’s disease, after finding it impossible to keep secret any longer.

The French fashion designer’s health has been called into question over recent months, with claims she has been looking frail.

She made the announcement about her health in a new book called N’oubliez pas que je joue (Don’t forget it’s a game). The tome is co-written by Judith Perrignon and in it Rykiel talks about the disease.

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“Unfashion” … Malin Akerman wears a Sonia Rykiel dress from the designer’s autumn 2011 collection.

“I don’t want to show my pain. I resisted, I hesitated, I tried to be invisible, to pretend that nothing was wrong. It’s impossible, it’s not like me,” she says in the book.

The 81-year-old designer discovered she had Parkinson’s 15 years ago. She has opened up about it now because she can no longer disguise the signs, such as shaking.

The star has been using a cane for a while now, although those she works with suggested she was never pictured with it.

Rykiel discussed her love of fashion in the latest edition of French Elle. She thinks women get too caught up in trends, when really they need to think about what suits their figures when getting dressed.

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ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Insights into the effects of Neupro (rotigotine transdermal system) on common non-motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease (PD) were presented today at the 64th AAN Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

A post-hoc analysis of data from five, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials investigated the effect of rotigotine transdermal system on neuropsychiatric features and fatigue in patients with PD. Improvements were observed with rotigotine transdermal system versus placebo in items assessing apathy, anhedonia, anxiety, anxiety/depression, depression and fatigue. In addition, a post hoc analysis of data from the RECOVER* study investigated the effect of rotigotine transdermal system on pain in patients with PD, and in some patients with pain, improvements were observed with rotigotine transdermal system versus placebo.

Post hoc analyses of large amounts of data like these provide valuable insights into the potential impact of rotigotine on the everyday lives of people with Parkinsons, and signal a need for further study in this area, said Professor Robert Hauser, Director, Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Results presented below should be viewed in the context of the post-hoc analyses. In addition the p-values reported are exploratory and prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Summary of PD data presented at AAN 2012

ABSTRACT TITLE: Rotigotine transdermal system improves neuropsychiatric features (apathy, anhedonia, anxiety, and depression) and fatigue in patients with Parkinsons disease: A post-hoc analysis of five double-blind placebo-controlled studies

Post-hoc analysis of five placebo-controlled studies of rotigotine transdermal system in patients with early-PD (SP512, SP513), advanced-PD (PREFER, CLEOPATRA-PD), and PD with unsatisfactory control of early-morning motor symptoms (RECOVER) was conducted*. Individual items assessing apathy, anhedonia, anxiety, anxiety/depression, depression and fatigue were identified from the scales used in these studies – the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the 39-item Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), the 8-item Parkinsons disease questionnaire (PDQ-8) and the 5-item EuroQol Group questionnaire (EQ-5D).

ABSTRACT TITLE: Rotigotine transdermal system improves pain in patients with Parkinsons disease: A post-hoc analysis of patients reporting pain in the RECOVER study

RECOVER* (Randomized Evaluation of the 24-hour Coverage: Efficacy of Rotigotine) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=287) that demonstrated significant improvements in early-morning motor function and nocturnal sleep disturbance with rotigotine transdermal system.* Secondary efficacy measures in the RECOVER study were the Nocturnal, Akinesia, Dystonia and Cramps Score (NADCS) and exploratory outcome measures included the Likert Pain Scale.

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DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c9kszn/parkinsons_diseas) has announced the addition of GlobalData ‘s new report “Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics – Global Drug Forecasts and Treatment Analysis to 2020″ to their offering.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Therapeutics Market is Forecast to Show Slow Growth to 2020

In 2011, the global Parkinson’s Disease (PD) therapeutics market, which includes the key markets of the US, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, China, India and Russia was estimated to be worth $2,992m. During the period 2002-2011, the global PD therapeutics market grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. GlobalData analysis shows that the market size was primarily driven by two key parameters: the increase in PD prevalence due to the increase in the aging population in the 11 key markets and the increasing cost of therapy.

In 2011, the market registered a decline in the market valuations due to the entry of generics for Mirapex (pramipexole) and higher preference for generic ropinirole. The market declined from $3,499m in 2010 to $2,992m in 2011. The US was leading PD therapeutics market, with an estimated value of $1,046m in 2011 and a market share of 35%. Japan was the second biggest market, with an estimated value of $542m and an 18.1% market share, followed by Germany with a market share of 15.6%.

The global PD therapeutics market is primarily served by levodopa, dopamine agonists, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO-BI) and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors. The market is dominated by branded products such as Boehringer Ingelheim’s Mirapex/Mirapexin / Sifrol / Mirapex ER / Mirapexin ER (pramipexole), GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Requip/Requip XL (ropinirole), Orion / Novartis’ Stalevo/Comtan (carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone) and Teva/Lundbeck’s Azilect/Agilect (rasagiline). In addition, a large number of generics are also available in this market.

Key Topics Covered:

1 List of Tables and Figures

2 Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics – Disease Overview

3 Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics – Market Characterization

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ScienceDaily (Apr. 25, 2012) University of California, San Diego scientists have used powerful computational tools and laboratory tests to discover new support for a once-marginalized theory about the underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease.

The new results conflict with an older theory that insoluble intracellular fibrils called amyloids cause Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Instead, the new findings provide a step-by-step explanation of how a “protein-run-amok” aggregates within the membranes of neurons and punctures holes in them to cause the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

The discovery, published in the March 2012 issue of the FEBS Journal, describes how -synuclein (a-syn), can turn against us, particularly as we age. Modeling results explain how -syn monomers penetrate cell membranes, become coiled and aggregate in a matter of nanoseconds into dangerous ring structures that spell trouble for neurons.

“The main point is that we think we can create drugs to give us an anti-Parkinson’s effect by slowing the formation and growth of these ring structures,” said Igor Tsigelny, lead author of the study and a research scientist at the San Diego Supercomputer Center and Department of Neurosciences, both at UC San Diego.

Familial Parkinson’s disease is caused in many cases by a limited number of protein mutations. One of the most toxic is A53T. Tsigelny’s team showed that the mutant form of -syn not only penetrates neuronal membranes faster than normal -syn, but the mutant protein also accelerates ring formation.

“The most dangerous assault on the neurons of Parkinson’s patients appears to be the relatively small -syn ring structures themselves,” said Tsigelny. “It was once heretical to suggest that these ring structures, rather than long fibrils found in neurons of people having Parkinson’s disease, were responsible for the symptoms of the disease; however, the ring theory is becoming more and more accepted for this neurodegenerative disease and others such as Alzheimer’s disease. Our results support this shift in thinking.”

The modeling results also are consistent with the electron microscopy images of neurons in Parkinson’s disease patients; the damaged neurons are riddled with ring structures.

Wasting no time, the modeling discoveries have spawned an intense hunt at UC San Diego for drug candidates that block ring formation in neuron membranes. The sophisticated modeling required involves a complex realm of science at the intersection of chemistry, physics, and statistical probabilities. A kaleidoscope of interacting forces in this realm makes -syn proteins bump and tremble like they’re in an earthquake, coil and uncoil, and join together in pairs or larger groups of inventive ballroom dancers.

The modeling is creating a much better understanding of the mysterious a-syn protein itself, according to Tsigelny. A few years ago it was shown to accumulate in the central nervous system of patients with Parkinson’s disease and a related disorder called dementia with Lewy bodies.

The new modeling study has revealed precisely how two -syn proteins insert their molecular toes into the membrane of a neuron, wiggle into it in only a few nanoseconds and immediately join together as a pair. The pair isn’t itself toxic; however, when more -syn proteins join the dance, a key threshold is eventually crossed; polymerization accelerates into a ring structure that perforates the membrane, damaging the cell.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (CHTP – News) announced today it is proud to serve as a platinum corporate sponsor of the Parkinson’s Unity Walk in New York City on April 28, 2012. In addition to sponsoring the walk, Chelsea employees will also participate in the event and raise funds for Parkinson’s research.

“As a sponsor of the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, Chelsea is helping to fund potentially life-saving research for this devastating disease,” commented Dr. Simon Pedder, president and CEO of Chelsea Therapeutics. “Chelsea is committed to helping those with a wide range of autonomic conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and Neurogenic OH. We are thrilled to be raising money to support seven of the nation’s largest Parkinson’s organizations and their premier fundraising event.”

The Parkinson’s Unity Walk (PUW), a grassroots organization, began in 1994 through the dedicated efforts of patients, families, support groups, and friends who were affected by Parkinson’s disease. Their main goal was to raise awareness and funds for research to find a cure for Parkinson’s. The Parkinson’s Unity Walk directs donated funds to increase research to find a cure. 100% of all donations made to the Parkinson’s Unity Walk are distributed among the major U.S. Parkinson’s disease foundations for Parkinson’s disease research including the American Parkinson Disease Association, the National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson’s Action Network, the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, The Parkinson Alliance and The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center. To join a team, make a donation or learn more about the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, please visit http://www.unitywalk.org.

About Chelsea Therapeutics

Chelsea Therapeutics (CHTP – News) is a biopharmaceutical development company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases, including central nervous system, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases. Founded in 2004 around its library of unique anti-inflammatory and autoimmune technology, Chelsea has further expanded its product development portfolio with early- and late-stage candidates that seek to leverage the company’s development expertise and accelerate the company’s drug commercialization efforts. For more information about the company, visit http://www.chelseatherapeutics.com.

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Chelsea Therapeutics is a Proud Sponsor of the Parkinson's Unity Walk

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NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Huntsville resident Jennifer Neathery will be hitting the streets of downtown Nashville Saturday for a 26.2 mile challenge to raise money and awareness about a disease she’s battled for seven year’s, Parkinson’s.

In an effort to promote Parkinson’s Awareness Month in the community, Neathery will be participating in the St. Jude Country Music Marathon to raise money for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. She says her motivation for embarking on the 26.2-mile challenge is to not only generate awareness, but to show that “no matter what your circumstances are, you can do anything you can your mind to.”

Neathery, an avid runner, was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease seven years ago at 32. Despite her disease’s hardships, Neathery decided to partake in the run to challenger herself and prove to others that Parkinson’s doesn’t mean “giving up being active and living a good life.”

The runner’s goal is to raise $500 as she runs in the Nashville marathon on Saturday. She will be one of more than 35,000 participants in the race, which is a part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon series.

Robin Elliott, the executive director for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, says champions such as Neathery remind her of what the organization does and why.

“Because Parkinson’s affects nearly 1 million Americans and we need to find a cure,” he said. “We applaud her efforts to not only help PDF to fund the most promising research, but also to raise awareness in her community and around the U.S. about the impact of the disease.”

To learn more about Neathery’s fundraising efforts or to donate, contact the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation by calling 800-457-6676, visit pdf.org or email info@pdf.org.

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Huntsville runner with Parkinson's disease to run in marathon

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Thursday, Apr 26 2012, 4:34 pm

What is Parkinsons disease?

According to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation, Parkinsons is a chronic and progressive movement disorder that involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Major symptoms are tremor, rigidity, slowness and lack of balance. Some of the other symptoms are depression, emotional changes, pain, memory loss, problems swallowing and chewing, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, fatigue and weight loss.

More information

The monthly Parkinsons Support Group meets at the Neal Senior Center, 100 T.R. Harris Drive, Shelby, at 1:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. Contact Doug Murphy at 704-487-8822 and dmurphy2@carolina.rr.com.

The quarterly Parkinsons Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. May 22 at the Life Enrichment Center, 110 Life Enrichment Blvd., Shelby. The program will be about the importance of exercise. For more information, call 704-484-0405.

Online

Parkinsons Disease Foundation: http://www.pdf.org/, 1-800-457-6676

Parkinson Association of the Carolinas: http://www.parkinsonassociation.org, 1-866-903-7275

Mention Parkinsons and most people think of tremors, said Doug Murphy, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2009.

Continued here:
Parkinson's is 'a daily struggle'

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ARMONK, N.Y., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that researchers from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo are using IBM analytics technology to study more than 2,000 genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO)

As part of the initiative, Researchers will tap into IBM’s analytics technology to develop algorithms for big data containing genomic datasets to uncover critical factors that speed up disease progression in MS patients. Insights gained from the research will be shared with hundreds of doctors to better tailor individual treatments to slow brain injury, physical disability and cognitive impairments caused by MS.

Using IBM analytics technology, SUNY Buffalo researchers can for the first time explore clinical and patient data to find hidden trends among MS patients by looking at factors such as gender, geography, ethnicity, diet, exercise, sun exposure, and living and working conditions. The big data including medical records, lab results, MRI scans and patient surveys, arrives in various formats and sizes, requiring researchers to spend days making it manageable before they can analyze it.

Using an IBM Netezza analytics appliance with software from IBM business partner, Revolution Analytics, researchers can now analyze all the disparate data in a matter of minutes instead of days, regardless of what type or size it is. The technology automatically consumes and analyzes the data, and makes the results available for further analysis. As a result, researchers can now focus their time on analyzing trends instead of managing data.

MS is a chronic neurological disease for which there is no cure. The disease is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, infectious and autoimmune factors making treatment difficult. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are approximately 400,000 people in the US with MS, and 200 people are diagnosed every week. Worldwide, MS is estimated to affect more than 2.1 million people.

“Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating and complex disease whose cause is unknown. No two people share the exact same symptoms, and individual symptoms can worsen unexpectedly,” said Dr. Murali Ramanathan, Lead Researcher at SUNY Buffalo. “Identifying common trends across massive amounts of MS data is a monumental task that is much like trying to shoot a speeding bullet out of the sky with another bullet. IBM analytics helps our researchers fine tune their aim and match the speed of analysis with the rate of data coming into our systems. Our goal is to demystify why the disease progresses more rapidly in some patients and get those insights back to other researchers, so they can find new treatments.”

Since 2007, SUNY Buffalo researchers have been at the forefront of studying clinical and historical data from MS patients to identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the risk of developing the disease. These researchers are studying different age groups to see why the disease appears early in some children and why people who are diagnosed later in life tend to have a more aggressive course that affects their ability to walk. They are also looking at why MS is more common in northern latitudes and less common towards the equator, calling into question the role sunlight or lack thereof plays in the disease.

“Organizations that glean insights from big data and apply them to pervasive diseases like MS have the potential to greatly change the way patients receive treatment,” said Dan Pelino, general manager, healthcare and life sciences at IBM. “The work that SUNY Buffalo is doing is a prime example of how IBM clients are literally changing the world with big data analytics, from advancing medical research, to generating clean energy and giving consumers what they want before they know they want it.”

IBM Netezza appliances are optimized systems based on IBM BladeCenter technology that can analyze petabytes of data significantly faster than competing options, and at a much lower total cost of ownership. Unlike competing appliances, Netezza can be up and running in minutes instead of days or weeks.

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Leading Global Multiple Sclerosis Research Center Taps IBM Analytics to Improve Patient Care

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Grant Funded by American Brain Foundation and National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Newswise NEW ORLEANS – A Rochester, New York, researcher will receive a $263,622 grant to continue his study of injury to brain cell connections (synapses) in multiple sclerosis (MS) through the American Brain Foundation (formerly the American Academy of Neurology Foundation) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinician-Scientist Development Award.

Matthew Bellizzi, MD, a Fellow in experimental therapeutics and neuroimmunology at the University of Rochester was awarded the fellowship for his work investigating progressive degeneration of the brain in MS patients and in MS models.

The three year award is designed to encourage MS clinical research with the goal of providing better treatment, prevention or cure of the disease.

Clinical research is the fundamental transition stage between discovery and treatment.

Clinical research provides the scientific basis for all forms of care, addresses patient and caregiver needs and is the backbone for drug development and cost-effectiveness studies needed to improve lives. Fellowships provide recipients with up to three years of protected time, with salary that allows them to continue important research projects in their chosen interests.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts communication between the brain and other parts of the body. MS patients experience muscle weakness in their extremities and difficulty with coordination and balance, among other symptoms. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS vary from one person to another. There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis at this time, but there are therapies available that may slow the disease and improve quality of life.

The American Brain Foundation, the foundation of the American Academy of Neurology, supports vital research & education to discover causes, improved treatments, and cures for brain and other nervous system diseases. Learn more at http://www.CureBrainDisease.org or find us on Facebook.

The National MS Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. For more information about the National MS Society, visit http://www.nationalMSsociety.org.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimers disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinsons disease and epilepsy.

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University of Rochester Researcher Awarded $263,622 for Multiple Sclerosis Research

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There are a number of summertime sports and recreational events that I enjoy. I love to go on horseback rides, box, swim, and cycle to name just a few of the sports and recreational events that I enjoy.

I walk every day to help me train for one major event that allows me to make a statement. I walk every day to be ready for the multiple sclerosis walk here in Colorado Springs, Colo. This event allows me to show other people that have multiple sclerosis that they too can beat this disease. That is the reason I walk every day.

Here are some tips and benefits for people thinking about taking up walking for their health that have multiple sclerosis:

Tip number one

Stretching is the most important tip I have for anybody looking to get into walking for their health. I stretch for about 15 minutes before going on any walk, whether that is in my own neighborhood, or anywhere else in the state of Colorado.

I always make sure I stretch before I go on any walk, because of my multiple sclerosis. My multiple sclerosis causes a great deal of pain in my legs if I do not properly stretch before I go on a walk, and this is the reason I always stretch for 15 minutes before I go on a walk.

Tip number two

Warming up is another essential element for my walking. I start off every walk by walking slowly, and then build my way up to a more intense speed. This allows for my muscles to become ready for a good intense walk.

Tip number three

I always ensure that I have a water bottle with me when I go on my walks. This ensures that I’m able to stay hydrated especially since I tend to go for long walks in the summertime.

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Walking with Multiple Sclerosis: Tips to a Good Walk

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I first started to play tennis back in the summer of 2009, when I first heard the name and story of Sue Burke. Sue Burke is not just any tennis player though. Sue was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just like I was in 2006. The story of Sue Burke is what actually made me start to play sport of tennis.

Sue is a world class tennis coach who coached the American women’s team at one of the highest venues in the world. Sue was an American women’s Pan American Games coach in Argentina. The fact that she is still active in the sport though is the reason I decided to give tennis a try, and I fell in love with the sport.

This is the reason I will bring you my top ten benefits for playing tennis with multiple sclerosis.

Benefit number one

Tennis is not a sport that requires constant energy like football, basketball, and hockey. This means that I do get short periods of rest in between the speed and agility that playing tennis does require. This allows me to play a complete game on my good days.

Benefit number two

Do to my multiple sclerosis I had a period of time where I was fighting to regain my reflexes, and my reaction times. These are things that my doctor regularly checks up on when I go to my appointments. I have been able to regain both my reflexes and reaction time through the sport of tennis.

Benefit number three

Tennis much like swimming has been responsible for giving me back my balance. The stop and go motions of playing tennis is the reason I can move better today than I could six years ago, when I was first being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Benefit number four

Continue reading here:
Tennis: Game Point on Multiple Sclerosis

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