This is a terrific review of a bunch of Parkinson’s-related research. One Danish study found that “people with PD were 1.73 times likelier than controls to have been infected with influenza at least a decade prior.” And two studies “reinforce[d] a tried-and-true method of staving” off PD — exercise.
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In October, the Parkinson Association of Northern California (PANC) hosted a session on the prodrome of Parkinson’s disease (PD). A “prodrome” is when we can see some symptoms of early Parkinson’s disease (PD) but not enough to warrant a diagnosis. Another term for prodrome is “preclinical.” The session focused on the prodromal stage’s symptoms and genes that may predict a future PD diagnosis. The speaker was movement disorder specialist Dr. Kathleen Poston, with Stanford. The session was part of the PANC’s 2021 Annual Education Conference.
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In this recent Movement Disorder Society hour-long podcast, well-known movement disorder specialist Dr. Stanley Fahn discusses the “most impactful paper” in movement disorders in the 20th century: the 1967 research article by George Kotzias, et al, about levodopa therapy. Dr. Fahn addresses the origins of levodopa therapy for PD in the 1960s and how that generated an explosion of interest and research in dopamine’s role in movement disorders.
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The Parkinson and Movement Disorder (PMD) Alliance held a webinar in October where the speaker described different types of pain in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and how to manage these types of pain. Pain is an often overlooked non-motor symptom. Although pain is not the first symptom that describes PD, about 75% of people with PD have some degree of pain. The speaker was movement disorder specialist Dr. Johan Samanta. We at Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach attended the webinar and are sharing our notes.
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Our Palo Alto Parkinson’s Support Group meetings have resumed, albeit virtually. Since there are so many PD-related webinars happening, our guest speakers focus on cutting edge research going on at Stanford. At next Wednesday’s November 10th, 2:30-4pm, virtual support group meeting, the guest speaker will be Birgitt Schüle, MD, a researcher with Stanford Pathology.
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