22-12-2011 14:04 In the spring and fall of 2011, BIDMC brought a modified form of the fitness craze ZUMBA to Parkinson's patients and their family members. Co-developer of the Zumba Gold Program, Josie Gardiner, inspired participants to step and sway to a driving Latin beat. The results were, well, moving! The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center will be running a winter Zumba Gold class beginning in January 2012. Visit bidmc.org/pdcenter to learn more.

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Zumba for Parkinson's Disease patients - Video

CLEVELAND, Feb. 14, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to study the interactions between genomics and Parkinson's disease, Cleveland Clinic has joined the ongoing efforts of 23andMe, a leading personal genetics company, to recruit Parkinson's patients to participate in research by contributing their DNA to a research database and completing online surveys about their health.

Currently, little is known about how genes relate to Parkinson's disease, the effectiveness of treatments, or the natural course of the disease. The goal of this collaborative research effort – which also has support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson's Institute – is to discover how genes and the environment influence Parkinson's disease.

"We are aware of the limitations of today's treatments, so we are always thinking about what we can do to advance the care of this incurable disease," said Andre Machado, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Cleveland Clinic's Center for Neurological Restoration. "This collaboration will help us to learn more about the genomics of Parkinson's disease and how it may impact individualized care in the future."

The project is part of Cleveland Clinic's personalized healthcare initiative, which aims to drive discoveries that allow medical professionals to better predict risk for disease and response to therapies, with the ultimate goal to improve patient care.

"We are offering this opportunity to our patients because as part of our 'Patients First' mission, we feel it is an important collaboration that could lead to improvements in our ability to predict and treat Parkinson's disease," said Kathryn Teng, M.D., Director of the Center for Personalized Healthcare at Cleveland Clinic. "Donating saliva, blood or tissue for research is a form of 'Patient Philanthropy.' It empowers our patients to participate in medical research and discoveries that can improve healthcare for themselves and others."

Patients who volunteer for the study will be asked to provide a saliva sample for DNA analysis and agree to participate in online surveys about their experience with Parkinson's. 23andMe hopes to enroll 10,000 participants total; Cleveland Clinic expects to enroll about 1,000 patients toward this goal.

"The quality of the research will depend heavily on sample size. Patient enrollment and participation is critical to the success of the project," said Ryan Walsh, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Program at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.

Patients who take part in the study will be enrolled in 23andMe's Parkinson's Disease Research Community, which will allow them to engage online with other Parkinson's patients and provides full access to 23andMe's Personal Genome Service.

23andMe first assembled its Parkinson's disease research initiative in June 2009. Within an 18-month period, 23andMe assembled and analyzed genetic data from more than 3,400 Parkinson's patients and successfully replicated the top 20 previously known genetic associations with Parkinson's disease in addition to determining new genetic associations for Parkinson's. Those findings were published in PLOS Genetics in June 2011. That study identified two novel loci, rs6812193 near SCARB2 and rs11868035 near SREBF1/RA11 and replicated those loci in an independent data cohort from the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS) database.

"We are very excited to be partnering with Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Machado. Integrating their clinical care with our online research model creates the opportunity for a new paradigm of medical research, that will ultimately benefit individuals with Parkinson's Disease," said Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe.  "Participants enrolled through the Cleveland Clinic will join the more than 6,500 individuals with Parkinson's disease already in our research community – the largest cohort of Parkinson's patients in the world."

Participation is free and voluntary. Those who take part in the study will be identified by a unique code, not by their names, in order to protect their privacy. Participants can choose to receive a report summarizing the genes identified in their DNA, though these findings will not be placed in their medical record.

"Patients volunteering for the study are unlikely to benefit directly, but they can have a sizable role in improving care for future patients. That's what this partnership is all about for us," said Hubert Fernandez, M.D., Section Head, Movement Disorders at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Neurological Restoration.

To facilitate participation in the registry, Cleveland Clinic has detailed information and dedicated computer portals set up at locations where Parkinson's patients are most likely to be visiting, including main campus in Cleveland and the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Two additional locations, Cleveland Clinic's Lakewood Hospital (Lakewood, Ohio) and Cleveland Clinic Florida (Weston, Fla.), will be enrolling patients as well. Patients can also email Cleveland Clinic at parkinsons@ccf.org or 23andMe at pd-help@23andme.com for more details or to sign up.

For more information about the research study, visit https://www.23andme.com/pd/.

About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals and 18 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 167,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/.  Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.

About 23andMe
23andMe, Inc. is a leading personal genetics company dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. The company's Personal Genome Service® enables individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and inherited traits. The vision for 23andMe is to personalize healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research. 23andMe, Inc., was founded in 2006, and the company is advised by a group of renowned experts in the fields of human genetics, bioinformatics and computer science. More information is available at http://www.23andme.com.

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Cleveland Clinic Joins 23andMe in the Search for Genetic Clues to Parkinson's Disease

By a GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Cleveland Clinic today said that it will recruit Parkinson's disease patients for 23andMe and the consumer genetics firm's ongoing research efforts in that area.

The patients will be recruited to contribute their DNA to 23andMe's research database and complete online surveys regarding their health. Participants will be enrolled in 23andMe's Parkinson's Disease Research Community, enabling them to engage with other Parkinson's patients while getting full access to 23andMe's Personal Genome Service.

Cleveland Clinic said the project is part of its own personalized healthcare initiative, which seeks to better predict risk for disease and response to therapies.

"We are offering this opportunity to our patients because as part of our 'Patients First' mission, we feel it is an important collaboration that could lead to improvements in our ability to predict and treat Parkinson's disease," Kathryn Teng, director of the Center for Personalized Healthcare at Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement.

23andMe began a research collaboration in March 2009 with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center aimed at enrolling 10,000 people to be part of its Parkinson's Disease Research Community.

That collaboration led to a study published last year in PLoS Genetics that identified two new loci contributing to Parkinson's disease risk. The genome-wide association study involved 3,426 individuals with Parkinson's disease enrolled over an 18-month period.

23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki said that the firm already has more than 6,500 individuals with Parkinson's disease in its research community, which she said is the largest cohort of Parkinson's disease patients in the world. Cleveland Clinic said that it expects to add about 1,000 patients to the program.

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Cleveland Clinic to Recruit Parkinson's Patients for 23andMe

09-01-2012 16:18 This video shows Michael J. Fox with his disease, Parkinson. It also demonstrates how Parkinson Disease effects are sad.

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Micheal J. Fox Parkinson Disease - Video

13-12-2011 22:03 This is another patient treated with Dr Omar Gonzalez method at Integra Medical Center

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Parkinson's disease patient at Integra Medical Center - Video

07-12-2011 12:52 Learn more about clinical trials for treatment of Parkinson's with stem cells at Royal Medical Clinic in Henderson, Nevada. http://www.empowereddoctor.com

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Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Disease - Video

04-08-2011 10:44 Parkinson Testimonial

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Werth Parkinson Centre, Daniella - Treatment - Video

05-09-2011 11:39 Information About Parkinson's Disease From A Parkinson's Disease Patient

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Parkinson's Disease And My Experience - Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLwY-GCfGgw

[2 Royal
Buy from Amazon US redirect.viglink.com?key=f341fd9454fc162be8b38d504acbd4e1 out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2FASIN%2FB007ILI394%2Fhealth%5Fhope%2D20 Product Description [2 Royal This is for 2 bottles of Royal Jelly 1000mg 360s. [[Function It has been reported as a possible immunomodulatory agent. It has also been reported to stimulate the growth of glial cells and neural stem cells in the brain, which may relate to claims for its use as a longer-term cognitive enhancer and as a beneficial agent in cases of Parkinson #39;s Disease.]] — [[Ingredients: Pure Natural Royal Jelly 1000mg]] — [[Other Ingredients: gelatin, soy lecithin, glycerin and yellow beeswax]] — [[Directions: For adults, take one (1) softgel one to three times daily, preferably with a meal. If you have never taken bee products, start with a small serving per day and increase gradually in order to assess whether you are allergic.]] — [[Store Retail Price: 131.98 per bottle]] Disclaimer: Hope is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon, Inc. or its affiliates.From:mikaela gomesViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:58More inScience Technology

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[2 Royal - Video

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7IHD4wOkOE

[5 Royal
Buy from Amazon US redirect.viglink.com?key=f341fd9454fc162be8b38d504acbd4e1 out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2FASIN%2FB007ILIRJA%2Fhealth%5Fhope%2D20 Product Description [5 Royal This is for 5 bottles of Royal Jelly 1000mg 360s. [[Function It has been reported as a possible immunomodulatory agent. It has also been reported to stimulate the growth of glial cells and neural stem cells in the brain, which may relate to claims for its use as a longer-term cognitive enhancer and as a beneficial agent in cases of Parkinson #39;s Disease.]] — [[Ingredients: Pure Natural Royal Jelly 1000mg]] — [[Other Ingredients: gelatin, soy lecithin, glycerin and yellow beeswax]] — [[Directions: For adults, take one (1) softgel one to three times daily, preferably with a meal. If you have never taken bee products, start with a small serving per day and increase gradually in order to assess whether you are allergic.]] — [[Store Retail Price: 131.98 per bottle]] Disclaimer: Hope is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon, Inc. or its affiliates.From:virgen crispViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:56More inScience Technology

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[5 Royal - Video

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwpR1IfeIrw

[12 Bottles Herbal Supplements
Buy from Amazon US redirect.viglink.com?key=f341fd9454fc162be8b38d504acbd4e1 out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eamazon%2Ecom%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2FASIN%2FB007ILYBE0%2Fhealth%5Fhope%2D20 Product Description [12 Bottles This is for 12 bottles of Royal Jelly 1000mg 360s. [[Function It has been reported as a possible immunomodulatory agent. It has also been reported to stimulate the growth of glial cells and neural stem cells in the brain, which may relate to claims for its use as a longer-term cognitive enhancer and as a beneficial agent in cases of Parkinson #39;s Disease.]] — [[Ingredients: Pure Natural Royal Jelly 1000mg]] — [[Other Ingredients: gelatin, soy lecithin, glycerin and yellow beeswax]] — [[Directions: For adults, take one (1) softgel one to three times daily, preferably with a meal. If you have never taken bee products, start with a small serving per day and increase gradually in order to assess whether you are allergic.]] — [[Store Retail Price: 131.98 per bottle]] Disclaimer: Hope is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon, Inc. or its affiliates.From:beatriz phamViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:56More inEducation

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[12 Bottles Herbal Supplements - Video

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Steve Ludzik woke up one day and realized he’d traveled this road before.

When I was in grade six, there was a kid who would wait for me after school and slap me around, Ludzik recalls. I was just a skinny, little kid, and one night I came home with a black eye after he beat me up.

In today’s America, there are protocols for handling bullies. In 1960s Canada, there was only one way to solve the problem.

My mom was an angel, and when she found out what was going on, she got right on the phone and said she would straighten it out, Ludzik said. My dad said, ‘Put that phone down!’

My dad told me that when I get out of school tomorrow, get the drop on this kid and hit him, and then keep hitting him.

Like all bullies, the guy was a coward. I grabbed him the next day and throttled him. I never had another problem, and that kid never bothered anyone after that.

That’s how we were raised. Take care of it yourself and don’t get pushed around.

The 51-year-old Ludzik had been thinking about that time in his life early this year. It was eating away at his conscience. He felt what he was doing was wrong.

I looked at my own kids and I knew what I had to do, Ludzik said by phone from Niagara Falls a couple of days ago. I said, ‘I’m not going to get kicked around by Parkinson’s disease.’ Not anymore.

That’s when Ludzik announced to the world that he was ill.

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Ludzik won't be bullied by Parkinson's disease

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John Thatcher

Report by James Franklin , Reporter Saturday, September 8, 2012 1:00 PM

A MAN with Parkinsons disease has organised a day of truck-pulling, raffle prizes and musical entertainment to raise money for finding a cure for the illness.

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John Thatcher was diagnosed with the condition three years ago, and Saturdays event will provide vital funds for Movers and Shakers, the Cure Parkinsons charity devoted to finding a cure for the disease.

A truck-pull will kick off proceedings at 3pm at the Lighthouse Inn in Highbridge Road, Burnham and will continue at the Oaktree Arena off Bristol Road, Highbridge at 7.30pm.

The evening event will feature comedian Buster and performers Teri Roberts, Ping and I and Soul Rhymaz.

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Dr. Ralph Dittman

Steamboat Springs A part-time Steamboat Springs resident who has lived with Parkinsons disease for 14 years is seeking people who would be interested in participating in a support group.

What were doing is taking a head count to see how many people are interested, Dr. Ralph Dittman said. If they are interested, they need to raise their hands now.

Dittman, who splits his time between Steamboat and Houston, was a surgeon before Parkinsons came into his life at age 51.

The disease causes certain cells in the brain to become inactive, causing loss of motor functions and some neurologic functions. Notable Parkinsons sufferers include Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox.

The disease did not allow Dittman to be a surgeon anymore, so for the past eight years, he has been working in the laboratory and has become a renowned stem cell researcher and has published several novels.

Dittman thinks there are people in the community who could benefit greatly from a Parkinsons support group, especially those who take care of people suffering from the disease.

Theyre the people that take the real brunt of this thing, Dittman said. Theyre the ones that really need the help.

He said that to form the group, he needs to find at least 20 people who want to participate.

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Interest being gauged for Parkinson's support group in Steamboat

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CHELSEA, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Civitas Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held pharmaceutical company developing transformative therapeutics using the ARCUS(TM) respiratory delivery platform, announced today the initiation of a Phase 2a clinical trial in Parkinsons disease patients evaluating CVT-301, an inhaled formulation of levodopa (L-dopa), for the rapid relief from motor fluctuations. CVT-301 provides immediate onset of a large and precise dose of L-dopa.

Consistent with our commitment to rapidly develop important new therapies for patients, we demonstrated pharmacokinetic proof-of-concept for CVT-301 in less than 12 months from launching Civitas and are now initiating this Phase 2a study in Parkinsons patients, said Dr. Martin Freed, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Civitas. Leveraging the ARCUS platform along with the 40 years of existing L-dopa clinical experience we hope to provide Parkinsons patients with a new therapy enabling improved management of their motor fluctuations.

The Phase 2a study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, single dose, cross-over design that will characterize the safety and tolerability of CVT-301 and evaluate pharmacodynamic effects and L-dopa pharmacokinetics in patients with Parkinsons disease with motor fluctuations (off episodes). This Phase 2a study is designed to establish the dose for future clinical trials with CVT-301. Patients will receive oral Sinemet, inhaled placebo and CVT-301 which will be followed by serial evaluations of L-dopa pharmacokinetics, motor response and safety at each visit. Twenty-four (24) patients will be enrolled.

This Phase 2a study of CVT-301 is funded in part by a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research.

About CVT-301

Civitas lead program, CVT-301, is an inhaled formulation of L-dopa for the immediate relief from debilitating motor fluctuations associated with Parkinsons disease. For symptomatic relief, oral L-dopa is administered to maintain dopamine levels in the brain above the therapeutic threshold; yet the efficacy of oral L-dopa is significantly compromised by delayed absorption and excessive variability in the circulating plasma drug concentrations inherent to the oral delivery route. CVT-301 is an ARCUS(TM) therapeutic that incorporates L-dopa and is optimized to deliver a precise dose to the deep lung for rapid and predictable L-dopa absorption. The ARCUS(TM) platform is uniquely able to deliver the necessary L-dopa dose with the required precision. CVT-301 is being developed as an adjunct to standard oral L-dopa therapy to enable patients to manage motor fluctuations caused in part by the inter-dose variability of oral L-dopa. In preclinical models, CVT-301 has demonstrated rapid, durable symptomatic relief, even when compared to larger doses of oral L-dopa.

The Phase 1 clinical study is complete, and pharmacokinetic proof-of-concept was demonstrated. Therapeutic plasma levels of L-dopa were achieved within five minutes of inhalation dosing with unprecedented precision. Dose proportional pharmacokinetics were seen across all doses tested. In addition, all doses tested of CVT-301 were safe and well tolerated.

About Parkinsons Disease

Over one million people in the US suffer from Parkinsons disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the diminished production of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, resulting in progressive impairment of motor function including tremors, rigidity and difficulty in moving. Even when treated with the current standard of care, the majority of Parkinsons patients continue to experience motor fluctuations. These motor fluctuations reduce patients ability to lead productive, independent lives and are recognized by patients, care givers and healthcare professionals as one of the most troubling and debilitating issues associated with the disease.

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Civitas Therapeutics Initiates Phase 2a Clinical Study of CVT-301, an Inhaled L-dopa for Parkinson’s Disease

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(PR NewsChannel) / June 13, 2012 / NEWTON, Pa.

“Thumbs Up!: Staying Positive with Parkinson’s Disease” by Kevin M. Peyton

In Thumbs Up!: Staying Positive with Parkinsons Disease (ISBN 146377947X), Kevin M. Peyton gives an easy-to-read account of how his positive outlook has allowed him to live with Parkinsons disease for nearly 20 years. His account is not a celebrity memoir or a biography of a wealthy patient recording a litany of experimental treatments. Rather, it is the voice of a regular guy with an irregular disease who credits his longevity to staying optimistic, no matter what the circumstances.

Peyton hopes his book will inspire others with Parkinsons disease as well as those with other debilitating diseases. He believes it will help individuals who have loved ones affected by chronic diseases understand what they are experiencing. Despite being a book about hospitalization, tragic diagnoses and chronic pain management, Peytons upbeat attitude never falters. It is a rare book about illness that will leave readers with a smile on their faces and even a few laughs along the way.

The author doesnt have a medical license, a psychology degree, wealth or fame. What he does offer is some inspirational tips to overcoming what countless so-called experts have otherwise written off as a chronic, debilitating condition. Despite the many negative impacts the neurological illness has on his life, he does his best to focus on the positive every day. As he notes in his book, one of the philosophies he has learned in his life is a bit of wisdom he picked up from entertainer Michael J. Fox who also faces life with Parkinsons disease. Reportedly, the actor tells his children every day, Choose to have a great day, an adage that Peyton has worked into his daily life with his sons.

If you practice your faith, you always have hope. If you can identify the people that are inspirational to you, it will help you stay positive because you watch and learn from some of their experiences, says Peyton. Finally, if you can find a way to laugh, especially at yourself, then a great deal of stress is released.

Thumbs Up! is a moving book and guide to facing the adversity of illness with bravery and humor.

Thumbs Up!: Staying Positive with Parkinsons Disease is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author: Kevin M. Peyton was educated at Catholic schools in Philadelphia and earned a bachelors in mathematics from the Catholic University of America. For years, he worked for Electronic Data Systems, a company once owned by former presidential candidate Ross Perot. The first-time author lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Annie and their two sons, Conor and Ryan.

MEDIA CONTACT Kevin M. Peyton E-mail: kevin.peyton@yahoo.com Phone: (267) 897-0424 Website: http://www.createspace.com/3660497

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Man shows how positive attitude allows him to survive Parkinson’s disease

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PARIS European researchers said they are developing a wearable monitoring system that automatically regulates the delivery of medication to Parkinson's patients.

The EU-funded REMPARK (Personal Health Device for the Remote and Autonomous Management of Parkinsons Disease) project aims to develop a Personal Health System, featuring closed loop detection, with response and treatment capabilities, for the improved management of Parkinsons disease patients.

The REMPARK system is composed of two elements. The first element is a bracelet equipped with a sensor for measuring tremor in patients, and an inertial system worn at the waist on a belt made of biocompatible material. The second part, the size of a mobile phone, is equipped with sensors and can process and wirelessly transmit the data collected.

The next step will consist in including a central server where all the data from patients will be stored, processed and analyzed to assess how each patient is evolving. Researchers suggest it will support supervising medical teams in their decision process.

Led by CETpD, the research project gathers Teknon Medical Centre, Telefnica R&D, the European Parkinsons Disease Association, research centers and companies based in Germany, Portugal, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Sweden and Belgium.

The REMPARK project, which will run until 2015, has an overall budget of 4.73 million ($5.2 million).

------------------------ If you found this article to be of interest, visit Medical Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of clean technologies. And, to register to our weekly newsletter, click here.

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Wearable monitoring system for Parkinson's patients

Drinking too much coffee can give the average Joe the jitters, but scientists say caffeine may have the opposite effect on people with Parkinson's disease.

The Canadian study found that drinking between two and four cups of coffee a day can help control tremors, opening the door to new treatment options for the progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects more than 10,000 Kiwis.

Symptoms can include tremors, stiffness of muscles, depression, disturbance of normal sleep, fatigue and lack of sense of smell.

Parkinson's New Zealand chief executive Deirdre O'Sullivan said she was excited by the research but expressed caution at the small scale of the study.

The effect of caffeine on the healthy human brain was widely known but she had not heard any research into its effects regarding Parkinson's, she said.

Coffee could also lead to negative effects, so she said it was probably not wise for those suffering from the disease to dramatically increase their intake until more research had been done.

The study was one of the first in humans to show that caffeine can help with movement impairment in people who had the disease, said study author Ronald Postuma, of McGill University in Montreal.

Previous studies have found that people who drink caffeine are less likely to develop Parkinson's.

Sixty-one sufferers - whose symptoms included daytime sleepiness and some motor symptoms - were given either a caffeine supplement or placebo pill.

Members of the caffeine group were given 100 milligrams of caffeine twice a day for three weeks, then 200 milligrams twice a day for three weeks, which is the equivalent of between two and four cups of coffee a day.

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Study finds coffee may calm Parkinson's disease

Public release date: 3-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dennis Tartaglia dtartaglia@tartagliacommunications.com 732-545-1848 Tartaglia Communications

Samuel M. Young, Jr., PhD, research group leader at the new Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI), has received his first grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). The grant will enable Dr. Young and colleagues to develop a technology that will help scientists working in drug development to research potential treatments that target LRRK2, a Parkinson's-related gene. Globally, five million people have Parkinson's disease.

"We are excited about receiving The Michael J. Fox Foundation grant, as these grants are competitive and MJFF is the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research," said Dr. Young, who directs MPFI's Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Function research group. "We believe that the tools we develop will prove important in advancing Parkinson's research."

Translational researchers working in Parkinson's disease have been hindered in studying the function of the LRRK2 gene in pre-clinical models of Parkinson's. This has been due to difficulty in expressing this gene with commonly used neuroscience research tools known as recombinant viral vectors. Dr. Young will develop tools that will allow researchers to get around this problem.

Mutations in the gene for leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are among the most common genetic links to Parkinson's disease yet discovered. LRRK2 has garnered much excitement among drug makers due to its reported protein kinase activity, which appears to be enhanced by Parkinson's disease-causing mutations.

"We are delighted that The Michael J. Fox Foundation has awarded Dr. Young with a grant to lead this critical project," said David Fitzpatrick, PhD, CEO and Scientific Director of MPFI. "This grant recognizes Dr. Young's specialized expertise, as well as our Institute's leadership role in neural circuit research."

Recombinant viral vectors are used by scientists to deliver genetic material into cells. Viruses have evolved specialized molecular mechanisms to efficiently transport their genomes inside the cells they infect. To create the vector, viruses are bioengineered to strip their viral genome or most of their viral genome, which renders them harmless. This enables them to carry transgene expression cassettes to express a gene of interest. The transgene expression cassette is a fragment of DNA that carries the regulatory elements necessary for cells to express specific genes within a cell or organism.

As the principal investigator of the project, Dr. Young will work with collaborators at other institutions to generate the optimal expression cassette to express LRRK2.

Dr. Young has specialized training that makes him the ideal investigator for this project. After training in virology and in recombinant viral vectors during his doctoral studies, Dr. Young switched fields and became a post-doctoral neuroscience researcher, learning electrophysiology techniques. He carried out a second post-doctoral position, gaining further experience with advanced electrophysiological techniques as well as calcium imaging. Using this unique training, which combines techniques in molecular, electrophysiological and biophysical methods, Dr. Young and his group at MPFI study the molecular mechanisms regulating synaptic function. Understanding these mechanisms is critical because the major causes of brain diseases are due to synaptic dysfunction.

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Michael J. Fox Foundation grant to Dr. Samuel Young will provide Parkinson's drug development tools

Washington, May 3 : Researchers are developing a preventive therapy to halt symptoms in Parkinson's patients.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by a gradual loss of neurons that produce dopamine. Mutations in the gene known as DJ-1 lead to accelerated loss of dopaminergic neurons and result in the onset of Parkinson's symptoms at a young age.

The ability to modify the activity of DJ-1 could change the progress of the disease, said Dr. Nirit Lev, a researcher at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and a movement disorders specialist at Rabin Medical Center.

Working in collaboration with Profs. Dani Offen and Eldad Melamed, Dr. Lev has now developed a peptide which mimics DJ-1's normal function, thereby protecting dopamine- producing neurons. What's more, the peptide can be easily delivered by daily injections or absorbed into the skin through an adhesive patch.

Based on a short protein derived from DJ-1 itself, the peptide has been shown to freeze neurodegeneration in its tracks, reducing problems with mobility and leading to greater protection of neurons and higher dopamine levels in the brain.

Dr. Lev said that this method could be developed as a preventative therapy.

As we age, we naturally lose dopamine-producing neurons. Parkinson's patients experience a rapid loss of these neurons from the onset of the disease, leading to much more drastic deficiencies in dopamine than the average person.

Preserving dopamine-producing neurons can mean the difference between living life as a Parkinson's patient or aging normally, said Dr. Lev.

The researchers set out to develop a therapy based on the protective effects of DJ-1, using a short peptide based on the healthy version of DJ-1 itself as a vehicle.

'We attached the DJ-1-related peptide to another peptide that would allow it to enter the cells, and be carried to the brain,' explained Dr. Lev.

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Soon, therapy to freeze Parkinson's in its tracks