Dopamine Improves Creativity in Parkinson’s. By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 24, 2012 New research suggests administration of dopamine can uncover latent creative talents among some individuals with Parkinson’s disease. European scientists discovered Parkinson’s disease patients can suddenly become creative when they take dopamine therapy, producing pictures, sculptures, novels and poetry. However, the extreme focus on the new interests may limit performance of normal daily tasks and social activities. In the study, Italian researchers studied 36 patients with Parkinson’s disease — 18 with increased artistic production and 18 without — and compared them with 36 healthy controls without Parkinson’s. “Patients were included in the artistic group if they started working on creative projects for two or more hours a day after starting taking dopamine” explains lead author Dr Margherita Canesi.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. New Blood Test for Parkinson's Studied. Test Has High Degree of Accuracy; Parkinson’s Experts Cautiously Optimistic Why do I need to register or sign in for WebMD to save? We will provide you with a dropdown of all your saved articles when you are registered and signed in. Feb. 22, 2012 -- An experimental blood test for Parkinson's disease is more than 90% accurate in diagnosing the progressive disorder that affects movement and balance, according to its developers. The test requires a single drop of blood, says Robert Nagele, PhD, a professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.
It looks for specific proteins that are produced by the body in response to Parkinson's disease, he tells WebMD. Nagele is also the founder of Durin Technologies, the test developer. No blood test is yet commercially available for Parkinson's, which affects 5 million people worldwide. Continue reading below... The news was met with cautious optimism by two experts. About Parkinson's. Monkeys' Parkinson's woes eased via stem cells.
KYOTO – Researchers have succeeded in improving the treatment of Parkinson’s disease by using human embryonic stem cells to create nerve cells that produce dopamine and then transplanting the cells into monkeys’ brains. Four monkeys with Parkinson’s disease — and previously unable to walk due to their symptoms — improved substantially after the human nerve cells were transplanted into their brains, reducing the shaking in their limbs and leading to some regaining the ability to walk, the research team, including Kyoto University professor Jun Takahashi, said Tuesday. It is the first time pluripotent human embryonic stem cells have been successfully transplanted to improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in monkeys, according to the team. Parkinson’s disease is linked to drops in the production of dopamine — a neurotransmitter in the brain. While there are drugs to treat the progressive neurological illness, there is currently no treatment to stop dopamine levels from falling.
Weight Lifting May Improve Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms Over Time @ The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. One-Time Monthly In Tribute Team Fox Tweet HOME › Our Role & Impact › FoxFeed Blog The latest reporting and analysis on breakthroughs in Parkinson's research and issues that matter most to you. National Institutes of Health Receives $3 Billion Spending Boost March 22, 2018 The spending deal was released last night and the bill must be passed by this Friday, March 23. New $6 Million Program Looks at Causes of Parkinson's The Michael J. Ask the MD: Parkinson's Diagnosis and Biomarkers In the latest "Ask the MD" video, Dr. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) Tells PD Advocates: 'What You Do Matters' March 21, 2018 Senator Booker gave a keynote speech to nearly 300 advocates in Washington, D.C. for the 2018 Parkinson's Policy Forum.
Collaboration Most Ambitious Initiative toward a Cure March 20, 2018 The Lancet Neurology calls the AMP PD program the "most ambitious initiative so far to find a cure for Parkinson's. " Pharma Company Buys Up MJFF-funded Biotech and Motor Symptom Therapy March 19, 2018 March 14, 2018 Dr. Weight Training Improves Parkinson’s Symptoms. Twice-Weekly Resistance Training Sessions Can Improve Tremors, Slowness, and Rigidity Why do I need to register or sign in for WebMD to save? We will provide you with a dropdown of all your saved articles when you are registered and signed in. Feb 16, 2012 -- Weight training twice a week may reduce the stiffness, slowness, and tremors often seen in people with Parkinson’s disease, a new study shows. A progressive neurologic disease, Parkinson’s affects up to 1 million people in the U.S. The findings are to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in New Orleans.
In the study, 48 people with Parkinson’s disease participated in a weight-training program or another program aimed at improving flexibility, balance, and strength. Everyone saw benefits after six months, but these benefits lasted two years among those in the weight-training group. Continue reading below... It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen. Cleveland Clinic Joins 23andMe, Michael J. Fox Foundation in Search for Genetic Clues to PD. Cleveland Clinic Joins 23andme In The Search For Genetic Clues To Parkinson’s Disease. February 14, 2012 In an effort to study the interactions between genomics and Parkinson’s disease, Cleveland Clinic has joined the ongoing efforts of 23andMe, a leading personal genetics company, to recruit Parkinson’s patients to participate in research by contributing their DNA to a research database and completing online surveys about their health.
Currently, little is known about how genes relate to Parkinson’s disease, the effectiveness of treatments, or the natural course of the disease. The goal of this collaborative research effort – which also has support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson's Institute – is to discover how genes and the environment influence Parkinson's disease. “We are aware of the limitations of today’s treatments, so we are always thinking about what we can do to advance the care of this incurable disease,” said Andre Machado, MD, PhD, Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Neurological Restoration. Tai chi could benefit Parkinson’s disease patients. By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD A new study found that a six-month program of Tai Chi exercises helped people with various stages of Parkinson's disease improve stability, their ability to walk and reduced the frequency of falls.
The study, published this week in the compared a six-month tailored Tai Chi program to resistance training and stretching to see which was most effective at improving functional movement, walking and balance for Parkinson's patients. Parkinson's is a neurological disorder caused by a loss of neurons that produce dopamine , a chemical involved with muscle function and movement coordination. That can result in tremors, stiffness, poor coordination and more difficulty doing daily activities.
It can also lead to a higher risk of falls, which can cause serious injuries. Tai Chi, a discipline that incorporates slow, deliberate movements, plus breathing, has health benefits that include reducing stress and improving balance and posture. Dr. Parkinson's Disease: Study of Live Human Neurons Reveals the Disease's Genetic Origins, New Drug Targets. Summary: -- UB researchers have discovered how mutations in parkin disrupt proper function of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that controls body movement. -- They found that parkin mutations disrupt the precise actions of dopamine and produce more free radicals, which in turn destroy the dopamine neurons, leading to Parkinson's disease. -- This is the first study to use live human neurons to investigate what role parkin plays in Parkinson's disease; this dramatic advance was made possible by the use of induced pluripotent stem cells. -- Funding was provided by the Michael J.
Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research; the National Institutes of Health; SUNY REACH, a research network of SUNY academic medical centers; and NYSTEM, New York State's stem cell initiative. BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Parkinson's disease researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered how mutations in the parkin gene cause the disease, which afflicts at least 500,000 Americans and for which there is no cure. Genetic Parkinson's disease brain cells made in lab. 8 February 2012Last updated at 07:57 By Michelle Roberts Health reporter, BBC News Abnormal accumulations of protein develop inside nerve cells in Parkinson's disease Scientists in the US have successfully made human brain cells in the lab that are an exact replica of genetically caused Parkinson's disease. The breakthrough means they can now see exactly how mutations in the parkin gene cause the disease in an estimated one in 10 patients with Parkinson's. And it offers a realistic model to test new treatments on - a hurdle that has blighted research efforts until now.
The team told Nature Communications their work was a "game-changer". Lab-grown "This is the first time that human dopamine neurons have ever been generated from Parkinson's disease patients with parkin mutations," said Dr Jian Feng who led the investigations. "Before this, we didn't even think about being able to study the disease in human neurons. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote End QuoteDr Jian Feng.