Donations Help in Development of More Effective Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
Jun 23 2010
By Ryan Acosta, Staff Writer
Michael J. Fox will be forever known for his role in the 1985 epic science fiction film Back to the Future. No one back then would imagine that the boyish-faced actor who played Marty McFly would be eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease six years after the film grazed the box office. It was not until 1998 that he would let the public know about his condition. Since then Fox has become one of the most recognizable faces of Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Diagnosed when he was just 30 years old, Michael J. Fox is not the typical PD patient. Young people like Mr. Fox may develop Parkinson’s, but the vast majority of those who suffer from the disease are the elderly. According to the CDC the average age of PD sufferers is 60 years old.
Prevalence of PD
About 500,000 people in the United States have PD. Like other age-related diseases, the incidence of PD is rising. As of the latest estimates, 50,000 individuals are being diagnosed with PD each year. It is now the 14th leading cause of death of in the United States.
Common Signs and Symptoms
PD is a disorder that causes degeneration of neurons, which control communication between the brain and all other parts of the body. People with PD usually suffer from impaired motor and speech function.
The early signs and symptoms of PD are as follows:
- Stooped posture
- Painful shoulder
- Limping or dragging of one leg
- Numbness of the limbs or neck
- Resting tremor
- Sensation of internal trembling
- Softness of the voice.
In the advanced stages of the disease, patients may suffer from involuntary trembling of the limbs, muscular stiffness, difficulty in maintaining balance, postural instability, and soft or slurred speech.
The Need for More PD Research
The exact cause of PD is not yet known. As such, there is no cure for PD yet. Current treatments of the disease are aimed at alleviating symptoms. Many PD medicines address to abate involuntary tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement.
There is no form of treatment yet that may slow or prevent PD from progressing. Many studies are now aiming their radars to discover means to curtail the advancement of PD.
Some researchers are currently focusing on gene therapy. One particular study is exploring ways to develop virus-propelled genes that can be used to produce enzymes that can protect neurons from further damage.
Scientists are also exploring the potentials of stem-cell therapy as PD treatment. One particular study headed by Dr. Cesario V. Borlongan has shown that a human nueral stem cell transplanted into a rat PD model has allowed the animal to live normally.
Yet more research should be performed. While there are many scientists out there who are willing to dedicate their lives for PD research, promising studies may suffer postponement due to insufficient resources. Additional funding for PD research is really needed.
We at Campaign for Aging Research are committed in helping researchers develop viable therapies for age-related diseases like Parkinson’s Disease. Your donation to our organization is one very essential help in providing more funds for PD research.
References:
Centers for Disease Control. National Vital Statistics Reports. Volume 57, Number 14. April 17, 2009. Deaths: Final Data for 2006. 2006. http://www.cdc.gov/NCHS/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_14.pdf
Feng, L.R. and Maguire-Zeiss, K.A. Gene Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease: Rationale and Current Status. CNS Drugs 24.3 (2010): 177–92.
Hoyert, D.L., Heron M., Murphy, S.L., and Kung, H.C. Health E-Stats. Deaths: Final Data for 2003. US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. 2006. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats
/finaldeaths03/finaldeaths03.htm.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Parkinson’s Disease Backgrounder. October 18, 2004. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/
parkinsons_disease_backgrounder.htm.
Yasuhara, T., Noriyuki, M., Hara, K., Yu, G., Xu, L., Maki, M., Kim, S.U., and Borlongan, C.V. Transplantation of Human Neural Stem Cells Exerts Neuroprotection in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. The Journal of Neuroscience. 26.48 (2006):12497-12511.
Posted under: Parkinson's.
