Parkinson's Disease
The moment I understood this - that my Parkinson's was the one thing I wasn't going to change - I started looking at the things I could change, like the way research is funded - Michael J. Fox
image by: Brecht Bug
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After a Parkinson's Diagnosis, Finding an Outlet
Spend some time alone on an island and you’ll quickly become keenly aware of that kind of harmonious relationship that exists throughout all of life and between all living things. One element affects another, and each benefits from the other as well.
Take for example the leaves of the palm tree and the wind. Without the wind caressing the leaves with its touch the leaves would never dance, and without the outstretched arms of the leaves to grasp at the breeze the wind would have no voice. The symphony of life is music to be enjoyed and it plays daily and for free all around us. But its how it all works in harmony that mesmerizes me. I’ve been keenly…
Resources
Fox Trial Finder
Fox Trial Finder was created by the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help increase the flow of willing participants — both people with Parkinson’s and control participants who do not have Parkinson’s — into the clinical trials that need them, accelerating the Parkinson’s drug development process.
Whether or Not You Have Parkinson’s, You Can be Part of The Cure
An estimated 6 million people worldwide live with Parkinson’s, and millions of families are impacted by the disease. But though Parkinson’s has no cure, you help work towards finding one. Learn more about PD and find out how you can help.
A Guide to Parkinson's Disease
The cause of Parkinson’s is largely unknown. Sometimes Parkinson’s disease is genetic with 15-20% of patients having a history of disease in their families. Sometimes it is environmental.
A secret experiment revealed: In a medical first, doctors treat Parkinson’s with a novel brain cell transplant
Amonth before the scheduled surgery, the four researchers were ready to chaperone the brain cells on their 190-mile journey. They never anticipated they were in for “The Amazing Race”-meets-“ER.”
Patient Voices: Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease, which affects more than 10 million people worldwide, is a neurological disorder that occurs as a result of the death of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. The loss of dopamine production in the brain can lead to tremors, balance problems, stiff facial expressions and muffled speech, among other things. How does Parkinson’s disease affect the body? The mind? How does having a progressive disease affect families? Listen to the stories of seven men and women with Parkinson’s disease.
Does Your Appendix Have Anything To Do With Parkinson's Disease?
In the party that is your body, your appendix can seem like a wallflower. After all, you may not really notice your appendix until it gets inflamed. Then, it can get promptly removed. Otherwise what else does a dangling out-pouching from your large intestine really do? Well, a study just published in Science Translational Medicine suggests the appendix may have more than meets the eye. Could microscopic findings in the appendix have something to do with the cause of Parkinson's Disease?
Dopamine Drugs Are Turning Parkinson's Patients Into Picassos
Some Parkinson's patients are taking up painting.
Gut microbes may play a role in Parkinson's disease
A mouse study suggests the brain disease may have ties to the gut.
Have You Lost Your Mind?
Of the seventy-nine million boomers, fourteen million are expected to develop Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. (Alzheimer’s is the most common, followed by stroke, and the festively named dementia with Lewy bodies. Parkinson’s comes next.) That’s about eighteen per cent, and the only reason the number isn’t higher is that many people suffering from dementia die of something else first.
Parkinson's, the disease Muhammad Ali lived with for decades, explained
When Ali was diagnosed, the disease was very poorly understood. Back then, researchers didn't know that genes play a role, especially in people who start to experience symptoms before the age of 50 — like Ali, who was 42. Today, scientists believe Parkinson's is caused by some mixture of genetic predisposition and triggers from the environment. But it remains a largely mysterious and vexing condition affecting an estimated 7 to 10 million people worldwide.
Parkinson’s: A Progressive, Incurable Disease
The exact cause is not known. As with many disorders, experts suspect a combination of genes and environment, meaning that people with a particular genetic makeup may be predisposed to the disease if they are exposed to certain environmental factors.
The First Female Celebrity to Embrace Parkinson's
The 1950s was not a time for open discussion of serious diseases—whether by celebrities or ordinary citizens.
What Caused Muhammad Ali’s Parkinson’s Disease?
Boxing and pesticide exposure both elevate the risk of the disease, but we’ll likely never know whether one was to blame.
Why Parkinson's Disease Is So Scary: No Cause, No Cure. But It's Not A Killer
The disease is known to cause depression in as many 60% of patients — it’s the “most overlooked symptom” of having Parkinson’s, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
Dancing Helps People With Parkinson's Disease
Could daily tango classes help people with Parkinson’s Disease? A recent article, posted on BioRxiv, shows that in a small group of people, these daily lessons improved their motor symptoms. This paper is not yet peer-reviewed, but the positive effects of dancing for people with Parkinson’s Disease have been well-studied by many other researchers as well.
Her Incredible Sense Of Smell Is Helping Scientists Find New Ways To Diagnose Disease
For most of her life, Joy Milne had a superpower that she was totally oblivious to. She simply had no idea she possessed an utterly amazing, slightly terrifying biological gift that scientists would itch to study. In fact, Joy probably would have stayed oblivious if it hadn't been for her husband, Les Milne.
Her Incredible Sense Of Smell Is Helping Scientists Find New Ways To Diagnose Disease
Joy realized that the other people in the room had the same greasy, musty smell that Les had — the smell that Joy had first noticed when Les was just 31. "And then I realized for some people it smelled stronger and for other people it didn't smell so strong," she says. Could it be, Joy wondered, that Parkinson's has a smell?
Karate Shows Promise for People With Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s patients reported better quality of life and overall well-being after practicing karate for 10 weeks.
Michael J. Fox Reflects On Life With Parkinson's In 'No Time Like The Future'
The Family Ties star was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease in 1991. He says that if he doesn't know if he can do something, he fakes it — a strategy that works 80 percent of the time.
Ozzy Osbourne has a type of Parkinson’s disease called Parkin: A neurologist explains
For many, hearing the word “Parkinson’s” conjures an image of tremors. But Parkinson’s disease, brought about by loss of nerve and other brain cells, is actually an incredibly complex movement disorder that can cause symptoms as wide-ranging as smell loss, thinking issues, depression and swallowing problems.
Parkinson's, the disease Muhammad Ali lived with for decades, explained
Today, scientists believe Parkinson's is caused by some mixture of genetic predisposition and triggers from the environment. But it remains a largely mysterious and vexing condition affecting an estimated 7 to 10 million people worldwide.
Parkinson’s: four unusual signs you may be at risk
Do you move around a lot during your sleep? Or have you lost your sense of smell? New insights into Parkinson’s disease suggest that these might be the early signs of changes in the brain that mean you are at greater risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s: four unusual signs you may be at risk
Do you move around a lot during your sleep? Or have you lost your sense of smell? New insights into Parkinson’s disease suggest that these might be the early signs of changes in the brain that mean you are at greater risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Rates of Parkinson’s disease are exploding. A common chemical may be to blame
Researchers believe a factor is a chemical used in drycleaning and household products such as shoe polishes and carpet cleaners in the US
Secret files suggest chemical giant feared weedkiller’s link to Parkinson’s disease
Documents seen by Guardian detail effort to refute scientific research into paraquat and derail nomination of key EPA adviser.
Taking Care: An Intimate Look at How Parkinson's Disease Has Changed 1 Family's Life
“Physically, taking care of someone with Parkinson’s is intense—you have to be on 24/7,” Tammy Copeman tells photographer Abby Kraftowitz, who has been documenting the Copemans’ lives since 2012. “I think it’s just a whole different level of love and loving your family.”
The Link Between Parkinson’s Disease and Toxic Chemicals
A new book calls the increasing prominence of Parkinson’s “a man-made pandemic.”
The Michael J. Fox Show, Life With Parkinson's
Write a show about a family man with an incurable neurodegenerative condition, and make it funny and not manipulative.
The Pesticide on Your Fruit May Lead to Parkinson's
Following a study that showed that the banned chemical DDT was linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, new research out this week shows that pesticides are associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease.
These farmers have Parkinson's disease – and claim a weedkiller is to blame
One pesticide popular with US farmers has been prominently linked to the disease: a weedkiller called paraquat.
This Photography Project Aims to Capture the Reality of Parkinson's
Marco Massa's 'Oltremare' is about rebuilding his relationship with his mother, who was diagnosed with the disease when he was a teenager.
What Caused Muhammad Ali’s Parkinson’s Disease?
Boxing and pesticide exposure both elevate the risk of the disease, but we’ll likely never know whether one was to blame.
What It Feels Like to Live With Parkinson’s
I haven’t experienced self-pity yet. I am still in phase one: trying to process the reality of my situation.
After a Parkinson's Diagnosis, Finding an Outlet
I found myself on this island shortly after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012. I think to some degree everyone who receives a PD diagnosis or any chronic disease for that matter, receives an island of his or her own as well. The differences from one island to the next tend to be how the individual chooses to use it. For some, their island is a place to turn away from everyone, to maroon themselves in anger and bitterness while others use it as an oasis for growth.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation
As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today.
Move4Parkinson’s
We have a vision of a world in which People with Parkinson’s (PwP’s) are empowered to achieve their best possible quality of life. With this in mind, Move4Parkinson’s provides information and support to PwP’s on how to improve quality of life through self-management.
NextStride
Get the effective, unobtrusive device that helps people with Parkinson’s to minimize, overcome, and prevent frustrating and debilitating freezing episodes. NexStride discreetly fastens to your cane, walker or walking poles. Its uniquely combined audio and visual cues let you break free of Parkinson's freezing, and start walking again.
Parkinson Canada
Parkinson Society Canada is the national voice of Canadians living with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease. Through regional partners and 240 chapters and support groups, we provide education, support, and advocacy on behalf of over 100,000 Canadians living with Parkinson’s every day. Funding innovative research helps expand knowledge on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s and will ultimately lead to a cure.
Parkinson Voice Project
To preserve the voices of individuals with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders through intensive voice therapy, follow up support, research, education, and community awareness.
Parkinson's Foundation
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, affecting about one million people in the United States and an estimated four million worldwide.
Parkinson's Journey
From my persoanl experiences with PD, these are my stories - my journey. Stories of my own walk, some of others I have met along the way. Stories shared with you, with the purpose of (hopefully) being an encouragement and to bring hope to those walking a similar path and to assure you that... you are not alone.
Parkinson's NSW
To enhance the quality of life of all people living with Parkinson's.
Parkinson's UK
We're the UK's Parkinson's support and research charity. Because we're here, no one has to face Parkinson's alone. - See more at: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/what-we-do#sthash.6SE6Ap8M.dpuf
Parkinson’s Australia
Parkinson’s Australia’s purpose is : •To increase the capacity of its members to operate efficient and effective services •To influence governments at both state/territory and federal levels to provide a policy environment that is responsive to the needs of people living with Parkinson’s and their service providers.
Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community.
Parkinson’s Research Foundation
The Parkinson’s Research Foundation sponsors research at leading academic centers in the U.S. The centers are headed by the foremost leaders in Parkinson’s research and were chosen for the high quality of their research programs.
Shake It Up Australia Foundation
Together with our partners The Michael J. Fox Foundation; We are the largest non-government funders of Parkinson’s research across multiple institutes in Australia. It is only through international collaboration that we will find a cure for Parkinson’s.
The Cure Parkinson’s Trust
The Cure Parkinson’s Trust was founded in 2005 by four people with Parkinson's: Sir Richard Nichols, Air Vice Marshal Michael Dicken, Sir David Jones and Tom Isaacs. Their specific aim was to raise money to fund and facilitate research into finding a cure for Parkinson’s. They dared to believe that a cure could be found.
The Journey
Our adventures as we homeschool, travel, and explore our way through life... which was made more scenic by the additions of Asperger's, Early-Onset Parkinson's, and Gluten Intolerance.
About Parkinson's Disease
I established Parkinsons Recovery in 2004 to provide support, information and resources to families with a member currently experiencing the symptoms of Parkinsons.
American Parkinson Disease Association
The American Parkinson Disease Association was founded in 1961 to Ease the Burden - Find the Cure for Parkinson's disease. In that time APDA has raised and awarded more than $86 million to patient services and education and has been a funding partner in most of the major Parkinson’s disease scientific breakthroughs.
Davis Phinney Foundation
While it’s critical to find a cure for Parkinson’s, we feel strongly that people living with this disease also need information and tools to live well today. To support this mission, the Davis Phinney Foundation sponsors programs that provide the information, tools and inspiration that can be used to live well with Parkinson’s today.
Grand Challenges in Parkinson's Disease
Grand Challenges in Parkinson's Disease brings together the world's leading Parkinson's researchers to discuss promising treatments and novel therapies.
International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative cause of parkinsonism, a clinical syndrome characterized by lesions in the basal ganglia, predominantly in the substantia nigra. PD makes up approximately 80% of cases of parkinsonism.
It is What it Is
Zen and living with Paekinsons disease.
Journal of Parkinson's Disease
The Journal of Parkinson's Disease publishes original research in basic science, translational research and clinical medicine in Parkinson’s disease in cooperation with the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. It features a first class Editorial Board and provides rigorous peer review and rapid online publication.
Liftware
We are a group of scientists and engineers working to develop new technologies to provide proactive care for people with essential tremor and Parkinson's Disease. Seeing our own friends and family suffering has motivated us to create Lift Labs and focus on improving overall quality of life and independence.
Living, Well, with Parkinson's
Yoga for Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders.
Off and On: The Alaskan Parkinson’s Rag
Welcome to all with an interest in Parkinson's Disease. This blog was to be an information clearinghouse for the Anchorage Parkinson's Disease Support Group, where meeting schedules, agendas, speakers etc could be found. It's still that, but has also become a sort of therapeutic hobby. So I invite you to join in the discussion and experience a little therapy as well.
On Being a Christian With Parkinson's Disease
How a Christian faces life with a Disease.
Shake, Rattle and Roll
An insider's view of Parkinson's Disease and DBS.
Sitting Comfortably?
Avoiding the Subject: Reflections on life without Parkinson's Disease.
Studio Foxhoven
After spending 18 years as a kindergarten teacher, Terri Reinhart has since become an avid practitioner of a whole slew of crafts that range from broom-making to bookbinding. Her blog, Studio Foxhoven, exemplifies how life after a Parkinson’s diagnosis can still be rich and meaningful - Healthline
Walking My Path with Parkinson's
Sharing my life and times dealing with Parkinson's Disease and everything else.
23andMe
Help revolutionize the way Parkinson's disease is studied. Take an active role in groundbreaking research by mailing in your DNA sample and answering surveys online.
MedicineNet
Age is the largest risk factor for the development and progression of Parkinson's disease. Most people who develop Parkinson's disease are older than 60 years years of age.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
At present, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. Usually, affected individuals are given levodopa combined with carbidopa
Patient
PD mainly develops in people over the age of 50. It becomes more common with increasing age. About 5 in 1,000 people in their 60s, and about 40 in 1,000 people in their 80s have PD. It affects both men and women but is a little more common in men. Rarely, it develops in people under the age of 50.
ScienceDaily
Featured Research from universities, journals, and other organizations.
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