Parkinson’s
Rebecca Bird reports on the emerging role of whole genome sequencing in young onset Parkinson’s disease management.
Whole genome sequencing is a method used to read and interpret the complete DNA sequence of a person's genetic material, known as their genome. To sequence a genome, scientists obtain a sample of DNA, typically from blood, saliva or tissue samples. They then use special equipment and chemical processes to read the DNA sequence, which is essentially the order of the building blocks that make up the DNA molecule. The sequence data is then assembled using powerful computer algorithms to generate a complete genome sequence. The results can provide insights into a person’s physical characteristics, behaviour, drug response and susceptibility to disease. Gaynor Edwards, founder of Spotlight YOPD, believes that whole genome sequencing may play a significant role in predicting and diagnosing young onset Parkinson’s disease. “You're not going to find a cure unless you've got the cause, and you're not going to find the cause unless you've got the research,” she told Neuro Rehab Times.
The potential of stem cells to unlock new treatment options for brain injury survivors is being realised on several fronts, as NR Times reports. Researchers in Australia this week announced that they had begun collecting umbilical cord blood cells from preterm babies; with the aim of using them to reduce their increased risk of brain injury and disability. Theirs is the latest study seeking to unlock the full potential of stem cells in brain injury treatment. And, although at an early stage, it looks to have overcome an initial hurdle, with a 72 per cent success rate in what is a highly challenging cell collection procedure. This research focuses on the cord blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta of newborn babies after birth. It is rich in stem cells which can be used to help protect, repair and grow cells in the body.
The fight against Parkinson’s Disease is at the centre of a new book ‘Ending Parkinson’s Disease: A Prescription for Action’.
Co-authored by Ray Dorsey, professor of neurology and director of the center for human therapeutics at the University of Rochester Medical Center; Todd Sherer, chief executive officer of the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; Michael Okun, chair and professor of neurology at the University of Florida and Bastiaan Bloem, professor of neurology and director of centre of expertise for Parkinson and movement disorders at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, the book is a call to action to prevent Parkinson’s and improve care and treatment. It also argues that Parkinson's is a man-made condition. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative disorder that impacts movement. There are treatments to relieve symptoms but there is no cure. EndingPD.org says PD is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world and that between 1990 to 2015 the number of people diagnosed with PD doubled from 2.6 million to 6.3 million worldwide. Dr Dorsey says: “We have been far too quiet about the disability and death that brain diseases are causing. HIV activists adopted a motto of ‘Silence=Death’. For Parkinson’s and many brain diseases ‘Silence=Suffering’, needless and preventable suffering.
CUE1 has emerged in recent years as a new tool in the fight against Parkinson's, the world's fastest growing neurological condition. The wearable, non-invasive device is designed to improve motor performance and alleviate freezing of gait. NR Times spoke to Lucy Jung, co-founder and CEO of the company behind it, Charco Neurotech, to find out more. Lucy Jung, co-founder [...]
Covid-19, cost of living and the road to new treatments.
NR Times reports on the Australian-born rehab programme PD Warrior's impact in the UK.
The remote monitoring system also delivers significant benefits to patients
The pioneering remote monitoring platform will be available to demo at the PDNSA Conference
Mellisa McConaghy is one of Australia’s leading neuro physiotherapists, who noticed that there was a lack of effective exercise and rehab programmes for those with Parkinson’s. In 2013, McConaghy launched PD Warrior which “uses the principles of neuroplasticity and retraining the brain exercises that help slow down the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms.” Here NR Times [...]
"The research is really fascinating. The biology is interesting. It's such an exciting time for Parkinson's research."
