New tools in genetics are providing researchers with insights into diseases never before obtainable. For Parkinson’s disease (PD), research promises to reveal specific genes and mutations that contribute to the risk of developing PD as well as mechanisms by which these genes act. Along these lines, the Parkinson’s Foundation has launched PD GENEration, a flagship initiative that offers at-no cost genetic testing and genetic counseling for people with PD. Participating and contributing one’s genetic data, DNA, and blood can help scientists advance their understanding of the disease, improve research and care, accelerate enrollment in clinical trials, and aid in the development of better treatments.

The PD GENEration initiative is another step in the development of personalized medicine. Participants receive results of their genetic testing as it pertains to PD, which may allow them to better manage their disease in the future.

In this podcast Dr. Martha Nance, medical director of the Struthers Parkinson’s Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, talks about some of the genes related to PD that are under investigation, how they work, and what their effects are, both biologically and in terms of how they may influence the course of the disease.

Released: January 28, 2020

Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be as disabling as the problems one may experience with their movement. While some non-motor symptoms are commonly related to PD, others do not always have a clear connection. In this collaborative presentation, the ambiguous topics of fatigue, neuropathy, and gastrointestinal issues and how they may relate to medications, Parkinson’s disease, and/or aging will be discussed. Evidenced-based treatments for these non-motor symptoms are addressed as well.

Presenters

Steven Swank, PharmD, BCACP, University of Kansas Medical Center
Ellen Walter, APRN-CNP, Cleveland Clinic
Kelly Weinschreider, Aware in Care Ambassador

Why should I participate in a genetics research study if I already know I have Parkinson’s disease (PD)? In our latest Neuro Talk, Parkinson's Foundation Chief Scientific Officer James Beck, PhD, answers your top questions about the cutting-edge genetics research study, PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease. This national initiative offers genetic testing for clinically relevant Parkinson's-related genes and genetic counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s.

Among the treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD), the most common are medications, which can work well up to a point. But when motor symptoms are not adequately controlled with drugs, deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be an option. Using electrodes placed in the brain, an implantable pulse generator (IPG) placed in the chest or abdomen, and a wire that connects the two, this system targets electrical currents to precise structures within the brain to block the abnormal nerve signals that cause tremor and other motor symptoms.

Originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997 to treat PD tremor, DBS approval was extended to treating advanced PD symptoms in 2002, and in 2016, to earlier stages of the disease when drugs wear off too quickly or other motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness, or slowness of movement become disabling. However, DBS is not a cure for PD, does not prevent its progression, and is, in fact, brain surgery. In this podcast, Dr. Nader Pouratian, Professor of Neurosurgery and director of the Neurosurgical Movement Disorders Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, discusses how DBS works, what benefits it can and cannot provide, who may be good candidates for it, possible complications, and what’s ahead.

Released: January 14, 2020

Even after years of managing Parkinson’s disease (PD), symptoms may become more challenging to control. Parkinson's Foundation Chief Scientific Officer James Beck, PhD, walks us through how symptoms may change over time and when surgical therapies, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), may become a better option for those living with Parkinson’s.

When we think of medicine from a Western perspective, we often think of treatments including things such as drugs, surgical operations, or rehabilitation therapies like physical, occupational, or speech therapy. While these treatments may be coordinated by a neurology or movement disorders office, most often they are not.

However, in many Eastern cultures, medicine exists as integrated systems. For example, there is traditional Chinese medicine that considers a vital energy (“ch’i”) circulating in channels throughout the body, with disease seen as disharmony of the complementary aspects of yin and yang. This is addressed with the use of herbs, acupuncture, massage, exercise, dietary therapy, and other techniques aimed at restoring a healthy balance. Similarly, Indian Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic healing system based on the concept that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance among the mind, body, and spirit.

However, most if not all of the herbs, supplements, and other compounds that are sold in the West for use in traditional Ayurveda or Chinese medicine and alternative/complementary medicine in general are not tested by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to be determined as safe, and they may not even contain what they are purported to be. In this episode, Dr. Benzi Kluger, Professor and neuropalliative care specialist at the University of Rochester, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, discusses complementary/alternative medicine from a Western perspective, with an eye on what may be safe to try, as well as some cautions.

Released: December 31, 2019

Almost 90% of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are covered by Medicare. As a disease that impacts both motor and non-motor symptoms, Parkinson’s can affect all aspects of a person’s life. Whether you are approaching 65 or already there, navigating Medicare and understanding what it means for managing your Parkinson’s disease can be overwhelming.

Learn about Medicare and your coverage options, what is “typically” paid for by Medicare and what to think about budgeting for, how to enroll, where you can find additional resources and more.

For a person with Parkinson’s, understand where Medicare may matter most including coverage for visits with your doctors, PD related medications, physical therapy and other rehabilitation services, in-home care, durable medical equipment, PD related surgeries and more.

Led by Lance Wilson, Social Worker at Jefferson Health Comprehensive Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center and Tricia Sandiego, Senior Advisor at AARP, this webinar offers educational resources, tools and advice to help guide your journey and support you in living the best life with PD.

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Marijuana and Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a hot topic. In our newest Neuro Talk, Parkinson’s Foundation Chief Scientific Officer James Beck, PhD, explains what the PD community should know about marijuana.

What are the risks of marijuana for a person with PD? Can it help with symptoms? What is the Parkinson’s Foundation doing to learn more? Find out in this four-minute video.

Our bodies contain more than just our own human cells. We normally live in harmony with a vast array of microorganisms occupying specific spaces, or niches, on and within us. These bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa form the human microbiome. The ones in the gut, mainly within the colon (large intestine), normally maintain a health balance and keep “bad” microbes from overpopulating that area of the digestive system. The normal gut organisms, consisting of around 1,000 different species of bacteria as well as other microbes, outnumber all the human cells in our bodies.

The gut microbiome acts locally and systemically, meaning it interacts with other parts of the body. Locally in the gut, the microbiome digests foods, helps to regulate the immune system, and produces vitamins that our bodies need for metabolism, nerve function, and blood clotting but that they cannot produce on their own.

There is mounting evidence that the gut microbiome also interacts with the nervous system, including the brain, in health and disease. Its effects also reach beyond the gut. Evidence points to a role for it in the faulty regulation of the immune system, leading to such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and allergies.

In this episode, Ai Huey Tan of the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia discusses what is known about the role of the gut microbiome as it affects Parkinson’s disease and its treatment and what researchers are continuing to investigate.

Released: December 17, 2019

At the Parkinson's Foundation, one of the ways we make life better for people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is through research. Every day, your generous donations help us fund cutting-edge PD research initiatives and support scientists working on the causes and treatments for Parkinson’s that could one day lead to a breakthrough.

In this Neuro Talk, our Chief Scientific Officer, James Beck, PhD, walks us through the research we’re supporting right now and how your support goes a long way at the Parkinson's Foundation.