PHILADELPHIA A trio of studies from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrate new approaches to understanding, treating and potentially staving off Parkinson's disease (PD). Studies show that factors such as estrogen exposure and statin use have an impact on the onset of Parkinson's disease. And a new look at telemedicine demonstrates feasibility in providing care for Parkinson's patients using remote video visits to expand access and center care around the needs of Parkinson's patients. These studies and more will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 66th Annual Meeting at Philadelphias Pennsylvania Convention Center from April 26 to May 3, 2014. "Researchers at Penn Medicine are looking at Parkinson's disease from all angles - ways to improve treatment methods for those currently battling the disease, understanding the root causes of disease, and identifying potential interventions to delay the onset of disease," said Matthew Stern, MD, professor of Neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of Penn's Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center. "We are persistent and eager to find better targets and treatments to help patients with Parkinson's disease, which affects up to 1 million Americans and … Continue reading →

Researchers at Aarhus University, Denmark, have drawn up the most detailed 'image of the enemy' to date of one of the body's most important players in the development of Parkinson's disease. This provides much greater understanding of the battle taking place when the disease occurs -- knowledge that is necessary if we are to understand and treat the disease. However, it also raises an existential question because part of the conclusion is that we do not live forever! Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurological disorders, with about 7000 people suffering from the disease in Denmark alone. There is no cure, and the symptoms continue to get worse. The disease occurs because different nerves in the brain die. These include the nerve cells that form dopamine, which is known as the brain's 'reward substance' and which also helps control our fine motor skills. A group of researchers from Aarhus University, the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and the University of Cambridge has just published two studies in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) and Angewandte Chemie. These studies provide the best insight to date into the behaviour of a particular protein state that plays an … Continue reading →