STORY HIGHLIGHTS (CNN) -- Robin Williams was sober but was struggling with depression, anxiety and the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he died, his widow said Thursday. The diagnosis of the progressive illness was "an additional fear and burden in his life," a person familiar with Williams' family told CNN on Thursday. Williams was found dead in his Northern California home Monday from what investigators suspect was a suicide by hanging. While fans and friends have looked for answers to why the 63-year-old comedy icon would take his own life, his wife, Susan Schneider, issued a written statement about Williams' health that he had kept a secret. "Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched," Schneider said. "His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles. Comedic actor Robin Williams dies Comedic actor Robin Williams dies Comedic actor Robin Williams dies Comedic actor Robin Williams dies Continued here: Wife: Robin Williams had Parkinson's … Continue reading →

The Michael J Fox Foundation is using big data techniques in an attempt to cure Parkinson's disease, in collaboration with chip manufacturer Intel. The two organisations will join forces in a research study using a new big data analytics platform designed to detect patterns in data collected from wearable sensors on Parkinson's sufferers. "Nearly 200 years after Parkinson's disease was first described by Dr James Parkinson in 1817, we are still subjectively measuring Parkinson's disease largely the same way doctors did then," said Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of The Michael J Fox Foundation. "Data science and wearable computing hold the potential to transform our ability to capture and objectively measure patients' actual experience of disease, with unprecedented implications for Parkinson's drug development, diagnosis and treatment," he added. "The variability in Parkinson's symptoms creates unique challenges in monitoring progression of the disease," said Diane Bryant, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Data Center Group. "Emerging technologies can not only create a new paradigm for measurement of Parkinson's, but as more data is made available to the medical community, it may also point to currently unidentified features of the disease that could lead to new areas of research," she said. … Continue reading →

Robin Williams wife Susan Schneider released a statement Thursday revealing that the late actor had recently been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, prior to taking his life earlier this week. Those who suffer with Parkinsons disease produce too little dopamine in parts of the brain. The deficiency of dopamine leads to problems with movement, including rigid muscles and tremors. Parkinsons disease and major depression sometimes coexist and, when they do, they can make one another worse. People with both conditions, for example, tend to be more plagued with anxiety than either, alone. And people with both conditions can have even more trouble with movement than those with either, alone. The ability to concentrate may decline precipitously. Interestingly (and, perhaps, tragically) a medication called ropinirole, which stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain, not only helps many people with early stage Parkinsons disease, but also helps some people with depression, when more traditional medications (like Prozac or Cymbalta) havent done an adequate job. If Williams had had the time to be adequately treated for his Parkinsons disease, it might have also helped his symptoms of depression. Psychologically, of course, being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, while already battling a history of substance dependence and … Continue reading →

NEW YORK Intel is collaborating with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to use big data analytics in research and treatment for Parkinson's disease. A multi-phase study used the specially created analytics platform to detect patterns in participant data collected from wearable technologies used to monitor symptoms. In conjunction with New Yorks Mount Sinai Hospital and Tel Aviv Medical Center, Intel and MJFF used an undisclosed smartwatch tethered to a smartphone to track physiological symptoms such as tremors from 16 Parkinson's patients and nine control volunteers. Participants wore the devices during two clinic visits and at home continuously over four days as an alternative to traditional tracking methods. Data was then correlated with clinical observations and patient diaries to gauge the devices accuracy and develop algorithms to measure disease progression. Weve gathered 300 events per second, or 1 GB of data per patient per day. Thats as much data per month as the entire Library of Congress, said Diane Bryant, senior vice president and general manager of Intels Data Center Group, at a web conference. She believes big data will play a significant role in all industries but especially healthcare. "The life impacting opportunity created by harnessing and mining the … Continue reading →