Parkie Page

First: What is Parkinson's?

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease. Neuro – from the Greek neuro (or Latin “nervus”) meaning the brain and the nervous system. Degenerative … as in headin’ south.  Like Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome and, sadly, a bunch more, Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is neither curable nor reversible.  It is chronic and will grow more troublesome as I age. PD will follow me Into that Good Night.

Bummer.

However, I remain hopeful that it will not hasten my shuffle off this mortal coil nor impede the years I have left because of the work a multitude of gifted researchers toiling in the field.  Yes, there are setbacks, disappointments, dead ends … and oodles of commensurately broken dreams and dead lab animals… but there is always something learned, which means that there is always hope.

Hope.

So, Dear Reader, on this page — which will be updated regularly thanks to my Googling ways (I did spend a few years making documentaries after all) — you’ll find some of the latest news about clinical trials, trial balloons and advances in PD research.  While I firmly believe that all knowledge is power, any sentient being who is even moderately abreast of current events is depressed enough regardless of their health. So, the only news you’ll find here is that of the promising variety. I’ll wait for the knowledge gleaned by wrong turns in research to yield something positive before sharing it here.

Read on, Dear Reader, read on. If this be the food of hope, read on.  And join me and my fellow twitchers in our shaky, but promising and chipper, walk through life. Click here to read my Parkie Posts. 

Thank you.

Boosting brain’s waste disposal system may slow neurodegenerative diseases
Cellular Dynamics announces partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research to provide resources for developing new therapies
Cellular Dynamics, Michael J. Fox Foundation join on Parkinson’s research
Physical activity halves the risk of Parkinson’s disease
Researchers investigate phototherapy for Parkinson’s disease
Researchers identify out of control immune system linked to neurodegenerative diseases
Parkinson’s cell transplant shows good reinnervation at 24 years
Zambon introduces Xadago in UK to treat Parkinson’s disease
BREAKTHROUGH: Brain ‘cleaning’ revelation could combat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Living Cell Technologies’ NTCELL Demonstrates Continued Reversal of Parkinson’s Disease
Metabolite of multiple sclerosis drug could be safe, effective therapy for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease research spawns Novato stem-cell startup
Pitt researchers Ònd key to Parkinson’s disease neurodegeneration
Johns Hopkins researchers reveal novel protein and involvement in Parkinson’s disease
Penn students’ start-up XEED puts wearables to work against Parkinson’s disease
Signs You Might Have A “Leaky Brain” + What To Do About It
New model recreates early spread of Parkinson’s disease in the brain
Scientists create ‘Minibrains’ to research Parkinson’s disease
Indicators of Parkinson’s disease found in fat tissue
The essay from which our twitch gets its name.
Research provides new understanding of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and opens path to treatment
Parkinson’s Therapy Gets Fresh Look From Device Makers
UNMC Scientists Reach “Milestone” In Parkinson’s Disease Research
Non-invasive brain stimulation shows potential to treat Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is Partly an Autoimmune Disease, Study Finds
Immune response linked to Parkinson’s disease
Is Parkinson’s A Prion Disease?
A ‘Key Factor’ in development of Parkinson’s Disease Identified