The sixth annual North Shore Walk for Parkinsons Disease will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20. The 3-mile walk starts at the First Church Congregational, 40 Monument Ave. in Swampscott. Registration is $25 and starts at 10 a.m.; the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Free T-shirts will be given to the first 100 walkers.

The North Shore Walk for Parkinsons Disease was started by the Wistran family of Swampscott in honor of Dr. Daniel Wistran, who has been battling Parkinsons disease since 1997.

All donations support the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinsons disease within the decade. Five million people worldwide are living with Parkinsons disease a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder. In the United States, 60,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year alone. There is no known cure for Parkinsons disease.

For more information, call 781-307-5804 or email northshorewalk@gmail.com. Donations may be made online at teamfox.org/goto/northshorewalk.

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Walk for Parkinson’s Disease to be held in Swampscott

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI A National Institutes of Health researcher who has uncovered genetic causes of Parkinsons disease today became the first to receive an honor named after Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel.

Dr. Andrew Singleton was honored with the Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Parkinsons Disease Research during a research symposium at Van Andel Institute.

Jay Van Andel, who died of the effects of Parkinsons in 2004, would have been pleased with the first recipient of the award named after him, said his son, David Van Andel, VAI chairman and chief executive officer.

Dr. Andrew Singleton is the type of scientist he would have envisioned honoring bold, pioneering and working to make a difference in human lives, David Van Andel said.

Singletons accomplishments include the discovery of a duplication and triplication of a gene that causes a severe, early-onset form of Parkinsons.

Scientists already knew that a few extremely rare mutant forms of the protein were bad, but Dr. Singleton showed us that too much of the normal protein also has ramifications, Van Andel said.

Singleton also led a group of researchers that identified mutations in a gene as a cause of familial Parkinsons disease.

His discoveries opened new fields of Parkinsons research, Van Andel said. Singletons lab has research programs investigating genetic diversity and the consequences of genetic alterations.

VAI today began a two-day symposium bringing together experts in Parkinsons disease research to showcase the latest developments.

This is truly a gathering of some of the worlds greatest minds in Parkinsons disease research, said Dr. Patrik Brundin, the chair of the Jay Van Andel Translational Parkinsons Disease Research Laboratory. The research shared at the conference will become the building blocks for therapies that may be commonplace a decade from now.

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Parkinson's researcher at NIH is first honored with award named for Jay Van Andel

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Parkinsons Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome Drug Under Review for Heart Failure Risk

Sept. 19, 2012 — The FDA is investigating a possible risk of heart failure linked to Mirapex, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome.

Officials say recent studies suggest a potential raised risk of heart failure with the use of Mirapex, but further review of research is needed.

The FDAs safety alert stops short of an official warning announcement for the drug. The agency has not concluded that Mirapex raises the risk of heart failure.

Instead, the FDA says it is working with Mirapexs manufacturer to clarify the risk of heart failure and will update the public when more information is available.

Meanwhile, officials say people taking Mirapex should continue to take the drug as prescribed and contact their health care provider with any questions or concerns.

The alert comes after the FDA pooled results from clinical trials, and analysis suggests heart failure was more common among people taking Mirapex than those taking a placebo.

They also evaluated two population studies that suggested a higher risk of new cases of heart failure among Mirapex users. However, officials say limitations of the studies make it difficult for them to determine whether the risk was related to Mirapex or other factors.

The FDA is continuing to review safety data on Mirapex.

Officials recommend people taking the drug contact a health care professional if they experience any symptoms of heart failure while taking Mirapex, such as:

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Parkinson's Drug Mirapex Under Safety Review

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DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6lkdr4/global) has announced the addition of the “Global Parkinson’s Disease Drug Pipeline Capsule – 2012 Update” report to their offering.

Fore Pharma’s latest report ‘Global Parkinson’s Disease Drug Pipeline Capsule – 2012 Update’ provides most up-to-date information on key Research and Development activities (R&D) in the global Parkinson’s Disease market. It covers active Parkinson’s Disease pipeline molecules in various stages of clinical trials, preclinical research, and drug discovery.

This report helps executives track competitors pipeline molecules. The information presented in this report can be used for identifying partners, evaluating opportunities, formulating business development strategies, executing in-licensing and out-licensing deals.

The report provides information on pipeline molecules by company and mechanism of action across the R&D stages. It also provides information on pipeline molecules developed in leading geographies (North America and Europe). Licensing activities are thoroughly captured in this report.

Key Features of the Report:

– Parkinson’s Disease: Overview

– Parkinson’s Disease Pipeline Overview

– Parkinson’s Disease Phase 3 Clinical Trial Pipeline Insights

– Parkinson’s Disease Phase 2 Clinical Trial Pipeline Insights

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Research and Markets: Global Parkinson's Disease Drug Pipeline Capsule – 2012 Update

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By Liz Farmer

A scholarship supported by University of Texas football legend Earl Campbell and his son Tyler Campbell could make it easier for students affected by multiple sclerosis to finish college.

Earl Campbell, NFL Hall of Fame running back and Heisman Trophy winner, announced Tuesday that he and his son have raised $60,000 for the nonprofit National Multiple Sclerosis Society to provide scholarships for college students who have MS or who have a parent with MS. The society reports it has awarded $187,000 in scholarships to 22 Texas students this year.

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that interrupts information flow between the body and the brain with symptoms including limb numbness, paralysis and vision loss. Campbell’s son was diagnosed with MS while at San Diego State University.

The Campbells raised part of the scholarship funds through sales of “The Unstoppable Earl Campbell,” a Warner Bros. piece of art signed by Earl Campbell that depicts him in UT gear running a football past cartoon characters including Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam.

“I feel very happy that my son and our family has done something to give back,” Earl Campbell said. Some money came from benefits such as the Flavors of Austin, which featured local food and drinks. Tyler Campbell said raising money for scholarships is great but he’s not satisfied.

“We have to put this disease to rest,” he said.

Scholarship recipient Justin Williams is studying for a degree in neurobiology at UT and said he wants to treat people such as his grandmother and father, who both have MS. “My dad’s doctor made me truly believe a doctor could change someone’s life,” Williams said. “I can’t thank Earl and Tyler enough.”

Bridgette Kieffer, who also got a scholarship, said her mother was diagnosed with MS a few months before she was born. Kieffer said she is pursuing a degree in sociology and English.

“I knew that (college) may not be a possibility because of the cost of medical bills,” Kieffer said. “The scholarship has given my family hope and showed us that there’s more to life.”

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Former Longhorn Earl Campbell gives donation to National Multiple Sclerosis Society

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Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV) Tammy Lynard of Filer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis seven years ago.

She says her brain sends messages that her muscles don’t always get. She tires easily and the heat bothers her. Lynard takes a shot every day, but she wants to help find a cure for MS.

Lynard says, “It was kind of a shock when you first hear about it. You try to get as much information as possible. You see the neurologist, they get you on therapies, hopefully as soon as possible. Hopefully the therapies help you live a better life.”

Like any other medical condition, MS can affect different people to different degrees. Lynard says one out of every 300 people in idaho have multiple sclerosis.

Lynard says, “The MS Society is great with information, they tell you how to get involved, what to do. I heard about the Walk that first year, and I met a lot of people. I found out there’s a lot of people in this area that have the disease. In fact, we’re one of the highest in the nation.”

You can sign up for Saturday’s “Walk MS” in Twin Falls online at walkmsidaho.org , or you can call 1 (800) FIGHT MS, and select option two.

Walk MS will be held this Saturday at the Twin Falls Visitor Center near the Perrine Bridge. Registration starts this Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at ten o’clock.

Walk MS is free to participate in, but the organizers encourage you to raise some money to benefit the cause.

Sept. 19, 2012.

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Local Woman Joins Battle Against Multiple Sclerosis

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