Management
The most important thing is to bring people with Parkinson's into our world and for the public to have a real understanding of it, as they're beginning to have with autism - Helen Mirren
image by: ACRM-Rehabilitation
HWN Suggests
‘It’s hugely complex’: the scientists working to defeat Parkinson’s
Existing drugs aim to manage patients’ symptoms, rather than slow down or stop the condition’s progression. But scientists have made progress in understanding the neurodegenerative disorder. The hope now is that game changing therapies are finally on the horizon.
“Parkinson’s is a hugely complex condition and there’s probably no single cure,” says Katherine Fletcher, a research communications manager at Parkinson’s UK. “It’s the progressive loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. If you want to slow or stop the condition, you somehow need to protect those cells or maybe even regrow those cells in the brain. That is the ultimate goal.”
Featured
Parkinson’s disease: we don’t have a cure yet but treatments have come a long way
We like to think of the management of Parkinson’s as a table that rests on four legs. There are drugs that replace the missing dopamine or mimic its effects; there is deep brain surgery; lots of different kinds of care; and then there is the importance of keeping patients and their families well informed and engaged.
Radical new therapy for Parkinson’s will use stem cell transplants
Lab-grown nerve cells will replace those destroyed by disease – scientists hope treatment may be available in five years.
Articles of Interest
Parkinson's disease and dance: 'It keeps me alive'
There is growing appetite for dance among the 145,000 people in the UK with the degenerative neurological disease.
A Critical Reappraisal of the Worst Drugs in Parkinson’s Disease
Patients may not be aware that some common drugs used for conditions such as headache or gastrointestinal dysmotility may also block dopamine, and concomitantly worsen Parkinson’s disease, or alternatively result in parkinsonism. These drugs include Prochlorperazine (Compazine), Promethazine (Phenergan), and Metoclopramide (Reglan). They should be avoided.
Approved Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
There is no cure for Parkinsons’s disease. However, there is a range of approved treatments available to control the symptoms of the disease.
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
Dopamine Drugs Are Turning Parkinson's Patients Into Picassos
Some Parkinson's patients are taking up painting.
Exercise Can Be a Boon to People With Parkinson’s Disease
The earlier people begin exercising after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the higher the intensity of exercise they achieve, the better they are,” Marilyn Moffat, a physical therapist on the faculty of New York University...
For Some Parkinson’s Patients, Boxing Can Be Therapy
No-contact boxing is a great full-body workout for anyone, but some experts say people with neurological disorders just might benefit most.
Having Parkinson's since I was 13 has made me an expert in self-care
Although my neurologist prescribes medication, I’m the one who makes sure I take it, eats healthily and stays physically active.
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.
NHS smartwatch for Parkinson’s patients hailed as ‘lifechanging’
Kinetigraph sends data to doctors so that physiotherapy and prescriptions can be adjusted to meet needs.
Nicotine, the Wonder Drug?
This notorious stimulant may enhance learning and help treat Parkinson's, schizophrenia and other neurological diseases.
Parkinson’s disease: treatment is best started early
Although there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, researchers continue to work on finding a cure for the disease or treatment that slows progression. There are exciting developments on the horizon, including early disease detection based on changes in body odour.
Parkinson’s disease: we don’t have a cure yet but treatments have come a long way
We like to think of the management of Parkinson’s as a table that rests on four legs. There are drugs that replace the missing dopamine or mimic its effects; there is deep brain surgery; lots of different kinds of care; and then there is the importance of keeping patients and their families well informed and engaged.
Self-Management Education for Persons with Parkinson's Disease and Their Care Partners: A Quasi-Experimental Case-Control Study in Clinical Practice
Symptomatic medical therapy is initially successful but a fluctuating drug response, dyskinesias, and other treatment complications often develop over time.
Treatment Gives New Hope for Parkinson’s
Deep brain stimulation can reduce tremors significantly, allowing people to regain their lives.
We Can Now Stop Hallucinations in Parkinson's
Half of people with Parkinson’s experience delusions and paranoia. The ultimate irony: Meds for these symptoms exacerbate the disease. But a new drug may offer a solution.
Resources
6 Medication-Free Ways to Feel Better with Parkinson's Disease
Medication aside, there are many ways people living with Parkinson’s disease can improve their health and well-being, preserve physical function, ease symptoms and enhance quality of life. Chief among these are getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated and getting an adequate amount of sleep.
