The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of high dosages of Coenzyme Q10 in slowing clinical decline in people who have early Parkinson disease.
Read more! Adding Surgery to Meds May Improve Life With Parkinson's4/29/2010 12:00:00 AM (CST)
Deep brain stimulation is risky but can be beneficial, researchers say
Hide Article Adding Surgery to Meds May Improve Life With Parkinson's4/29/2010 12:00:00 AM (CST)
Adding Surgery to Meds May Improve Life With Parkinson's
THURSDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Parkinson's disease patients do better if they undergo deep brain stimulation surgery in addition to treatment with medication, new research suggests.
One year after having the procedure, patients who underwent the surgery reported better quality of life and improved ability to get around and engage in routine daily activities compared to those who were treated with medication alone, according to the study published in the April 29 online edition of The Lancet Neurology.
The study authors noted that while the surgery can provide significant benefits for patients, there also is a risk of serious complications.
In deep brain stimulation, electrical impulses are sent into the brain to adjust areas that control movement, according to background information in a news release about the research.
In the new study, Dr. Adrian Williams of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and colleagues in the United Kingdom randomly assigned 366 Parkinson's disease patients to either receive drug treatment or drug treatment plus surgery. One year later, the patients took surveys about how well they were doing.
"Surgery is likely to remain an important treatment option for patients with [Parkinson's disease], especially if the way in which deep brain stimulation exerts its therapeutic benefits is better understood, if its use can be optimized by better electrode placement and settings, and if patients who would have the greatest benefit can be better identified," the authors concluded.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on deep brain stimulation.
SOURCE: The Lancet Neurology, news release, April 28, 2010
Hide Article
Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Placebo Controlled Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy Study of NP002 in Subjects With Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease With Dyskinesias Due to Levodopa Therapy (NP002-09-001)
The study is designed to answer the question: will nicotine at doses that do not cause serious side effects, show feasibility in treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease?
Read more! A Primer on Parkinson's Disease2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM (MST)
Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
Hide Article A Primer on Parkinson's Disease2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM (MST)
A Primer on Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease, a chronic progressive illness, is one of the medical mysteries of the 21st century. The disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Some people with Parkinson's become severely disabled, but others have only minor problems.
Scientists know this much: The disease develops when nerve cells (neurons) in an area of the brain that controls movement begin to die. The death of these cells creates a shortage of a brain-signaling chemical called dopamine. Dopamine acts as a kind of messenger, sending out signals from the brain to the muscles. As these messengers fade away, muscle movement suffers. When about 80 percent of the brain's dopamine is gone, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear.
What researchers don't understand is what causes the nerve cells to die.
Subtle symptoms
No test is currently available to confirm Parkinson's disease, which doctors usually diagnose after ruling out other ailments. The condition usually develops after age 65. Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
"It usually takes a neurologist to tell the difference and uncover some of the more specific signs of Parkinson's disease, such as the development of a tremor, small handwriting and a lowering of the voice," says Abraham Lieberman, M.D., from the Parkinson Research Foundation.
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Although Parkinson's affects each person differently, most patients have a slow progression of the disease over 15 to 20 years. When symptoms grow severe, doctors usually prescribe levodopa (L-dopa), which helps replace dopamine in the brain. Other drugs that affect dopamine also are available. In severe cases, a type of brain surgery called pallidotomy may be done to ease symptoms. Doctors also encourage patients to exercise to strengthen their muscles.
"The disease is treatable and most, but not all, patients can lead a reasonably good life with treatment," Dr. Lieberman says.
The facts on Parkinson's disease
It usually shows up after age 65, but 15 percent of those diagnosed are younger than 50.
It is slightly more common in men than in women.
It is usually diagnosed after other diseases have been ruled out because there is no test to confirm it.
It has no cure at this time.
It affects patients to varying degrees.
What to look for
These are the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease:
Tremor (shaking) of a limb, often a hand, when at rest
Rigidity or stiffness of limbs
Slow movement
Stooped posture
Difficulty with balance
Other symptoms:
Small, cramped handwriting
Stiff or reduced facial expression
Shuffling walk
Muffled or soft speech
Depression
Source: National Parkinson Foundation
To learn more
National Parkinson Foundation
American Parkinson Disease Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Parkinson Research Foundation
Hide Article
Double-blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized, Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Clinical Benefit of Rasagiline as an Add on Therapy to Stable Dose of Dopamine Agonists in the Treatment of Early Parkinson's Disease (TVP-1012/PM103)
Read more! A Primer on Parkinson's Disease2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM (MST)
Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
Hide Article A Primer on Parkinson's Disease2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM (MST)
A Primer on Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease, a chronic progressive illness, is one of the medical mysteries of the 21st century. The disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Some people with Parkinson's become severely disabled, but others have only minor problems.
Scientists know this much: The disease develops when nerve cells (neurons) in an area of the brain that controls movement begin to die. The death of these cells creates a shortage of a brain-signaling chemical called dopamine. Dopamine acts as a kind of messenger, sending out signals from the brain to the muscles. As these messengers fade away, muscle movement suffers. When about 80 percent of the brain's dopamine is gone, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear.
What researchers don't understand is what causes the nerve cells to die.
Subtle symptoms
No test is currently available to confirm Parkinson's disease, which doctors usually diagnose after ruling out other ailments. The condition usually develops after age 65. Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
"It usually takes a neurologist to tell the difference and uncover some of the more specific signs of Parkinson's disease, such as the development of a tremor, small handwriting and a lowering of the voice," says Abraham Lieberman, M.D., from the Parkinson Research Foundation.
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Although Parkinson's affects each person differently, most patients have a slow progression of the disease over 15 to 20 years. When symptoms grow severe, doctors usually prescribe levodopa (L-dopa), which helps replace dopamine in the brain. Other drugs that affect dopamine also are available. In severe cases, a type of brain surgery called pallidotomy may be done to ease symptoms. Doctors also encourage patients to exercise to strengthen their muscles.
"The disease is treatable and most, but not all, patients can lead a reasonably good life with treatment," Dr. Lieberman says.
The facts on Parkinson's disease
It usually shows up after age 65, but 15 percent of those diagnosed are younger than 50.
It is slightly more common in men than in women.
It is usually diagnosed after other diseases have been ruled out because there is no test to confirm it.
It has no cure at this time.
It affects patients to varying degrees.
What to look for
These are the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease:
Tremor (shaking) of a limb, often a hand, when at rest
Rigidity or stiffness of limbs
Slow movement
Stooped posture
Difficulty with balance
Other symptoms:
Small, cramped handwriting
Stiff or reduced facial expression
Shuffling walk
Muffled or soft speech
Depression
Source: National Parkinson Foundation
To learn more
National Parkinson Foundation
American Parkinson Disease Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Parkinson Research Foundation
Hide Article
A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Trimethobenzamide (Tigan®) in the Control of Nausea and Vomiting During Initiation and Continued Treatment With Subcutaneous Apomorphine (Apokyn®) in Apomorphine-naïve Subjects With Parkinson's Disease Suffering From Acute Intermittent "Off" Episodes, With Phased Withdrawal of Subjects From Tigan® to Placebo (Y-47-52844-003)
The purposes of the study are to determine:
i. To assess the efficacy of Tigan® (trimethobenzamide) in preventing nausea and vomiting when initiating therapy with Apokyn® (apomorphine); ii. To determine the optimal duration for continuation of Tigan® following initiation of Apokyn® therapy; iii. To assess the safety of Tigan® in combination with Apokyn®; iv. To characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of apomorphine in subjects treated concomitantly with and without Tigan®
Read more! A Primer on Parkinson's Disease2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM (MST)
Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
Hide Article A Primer on Parkinson's Disease2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM (MST)
A Primer on Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease, a chronic progressive illness, is one of the medical mysteries of the 21st century. The disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Some people with Parkinson's become severely disabled, but others have only minor problems.
Scientists know this much: The disease develops when nerve cells (neurons) in an area of the brain that controls movement begin to die. The death of these cells creates a shortage of a brain-signaling chemical called dopamine. Dopamine acts as a kind of messenger, sending out signals from the brain to the muscles. As these messengers fade away, muscle movement suffers. When about 80 percent of the brain's dopamine is gone, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear.
What researchers don't understand is what causes the nerve cells to die.
Subtle symptoms
No test is currently available to confirm Parkinson's disease, which doctors usually diagnose after ruling out other ailments. The condition usually develops after age 65. Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.
"It usually takes a neurologist to tell the difference and uncover some of the more specific signs of Parkinson's disease, such as the development of a tremor, small handwriting and a lowering of the voice," says Abraham Lieberman, M.D., from the Parkinson Research Foundation.
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. Although Parkinson's affects each person differently, most patients have a slow progression of the disease over 15 to 20 years. When symptoms grow severe, doctors usually prescribe levodopa (L-dopa), which helps replace dopamine in the brain. Other drugs that affect dopamine also are available. In severe cases, a type of brain surgery called pallidotomy may be done to ease symptoms. Doctors also encourage patients to exercise to strengthen their muscles.
"The disease is treatable and most, but not all, patients can lead a reasonably good life with treatment," Dr. Lieberman says.
The facts on Parkinson's disease
It usually shows up after age 65, but 15 percent of those diagnosed are younger than 50.
It is slightly more common in men than in women.
It is usually diagnosed after other diseases have been ruled out because there is no test to confirm it.
It has no cure at this time.
It affects patients to varying degrees.
What to look for
These are the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease:
Tremor (shaking) of a limb, often a hand, when at rest
Rigidity or stiffness of limbs
Slow movement
Stooped posture
Difficulty with balance
Other symptoms:
Small, cramped handwriting
Stiff or reduced facial expression
Shuffling walk
Muffled or soft speech
Depression
Source: National Parkinson Foundation
To learn more
National Parkinson Foundation
American Parkinson Disease Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Parkinson Research Foundation
Hide Article
A Study To Evaluate The Safety And Efficacy Of IPX066 In Advanced Parkinson's Disease (IPX066-B09-02)
A randomized, double-blind, active-control, parallel-group 13-week comparison of IPX066 versus regular carbidopa-levodopa (CD-LD). Prior to randomization, subjects on a stable regular LD regimen will enter a 3-week Dose-Adjustment period for regular CD-LD, followed by a 6-week Dose-Conversion period to IPX066.
Read more! Adding Surgery to Meds May Improve Life With Parkinson's4/29/2010 12:00:00 AM (CST)
Deep brain stimulation is risky but can be beneficial, researchers say
Hide Article Adding Surgery to Meds May Improve Life With Parkinson's4/29/2010 12:00:00 AM (CST)
Adding Surgery to Meds May Improve Life With Parkinson's
THURSDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- Parkinson's disease patients do better if they undergo deep brain stimulation surgery in addition to treatment with medication, new research suggests.
One year after having the procedure, patients who underwent the surgery reported better quality of life and improved ability to get around and engage in routine daily activities compared to those who were treated with medication alone, according to the study published in the April 29 online edition of The Lancet Neurology.
The study authors noted that while the surgery can provide significant benefits for patients, there also is a risk of serious complications.
In deep brain stimulation, electrical impulses are sent into the brain to adjust areas that control movement, according to background information in a news release about the research.
In the new study, Dr. Adrian Williams of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and colleagues in the United Kingdom randomly assigned 366 Parkinson's disease patients to either receive drug treatment or drug treatment plus surgery. One year later, the patients took surveys about how well they were doing.
"Surgery is likely to remain an important treatment option for patients with [Parkinson's disease], especially if the way in which deep brain stimulation exerts its therapeutic benefits is better understood, if its use can be optimized by better electrode placement and settings, and if patients who would have the greatest benefit can be better identified," the authors concluded.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on deep brain stimulation.
SOURCE: The Lancet Neurology, news release, April 28, 2010
Hide Article
Epilepsy
We are seeking individuals with epilepsy to participate in research studies at St. Joseph's.
