April 11th is World Parkinson's Day. Today, Parkinson's is considered one of the fastest growing neurological diseases. In fact, according to statistics, the number of patients worldwide has almost doubled. In the USA alone, over 6 million people became ill in 2016, and according to researchers, this number could rise to 17 million by 2040. In Germany, scientists estimate a total of over 200,000 patients, and the trend is rising. TheFrequency of the diseaseg increases with age, affecting women and men equally. Increasing life expectancy, better treatment options and rapid diagnosis are some of the reasons why patients' symptoms can often be controlled for many years. New studies give hope that not only a causal treatment could soon be available, but also that the quality of life of those affected could be significantly improved in the future through certain medications, exercises, etc.
World Parkinson's Day: Plant protection products as disease triggers?
The exact causes of the disease are still unknown today, new studies claim that pesticides may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. As part of a study in the USA, of whichNCBI reported, for example, rats exposed to, or even treated with, the pesticide Rotenone have been found to develop neurological changes in the brain. Studies carried out in China over the last 25 years also confirm this claim. Apparently the number of patients with Parkinson's disease increased significantly after the country became industrialized. Probably it couldon the pesticidesthat are used to treat fruits and vegetables.
Zebrafish offers hope for early therapy that effectively combats the symptoms
02 publishes TV app, guarantees an exciting TV experience
The time has finally come: O2 is launching a new TV app in May. Users will have the opportunity to choose between around 100 channels, many of which are HD quality, and watch up to 4 programs at the same time. This makes the new service perfect for families.
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh claims that theZebrafish approach to new therapiesthat could effectively treat the symptoms. As the disease progresses, the nerve cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine die. As a result, the processes of transmitting signals in the brain are disrupted and patients slowly lose control of their muscles. If the nerve cells die, the body cannot produce them again. In contrast, in zebrafish, important body processes are stimulated by the immune system, so that stem cells can take over the function of dead nerve cells and thus effectively replace them.
Another study of immunotherapy, in which patients are given an infusion of specific antibodies every month, is being conducted by researchers at the University of Houston. The first results currently give hope that this therapy could be available worldwide after 2020.
Virtual reality trains the muscles of Parkinson's patients
Another therapy that helps control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease was recently unveiled in Utah. As part of treadmill training, those affected can learn to overcome virtual obstacles such as stones, boxes, stairs, etc. The program is called Treadport, the virtual reality - CAVE and was tested for six weeks by subjects with Parkinson's. After the end of the test period, the test subjects had significantly better muscle control and were better able to overcome obstacles in their own home. In this way, the researchers hope to minimize the risk of patients stumbling.
Yoga exercises to combat depression and mood disorders
Scientists from Hong Kong recently published a new study in the journal JAMA Neurology. A study with 138 test subjects found thatYoga stretching exercisesHelp patients train their muscles and at the same time help combat depression and mood disorders. Participants had breathing exercises once a week for 60 minutes, and then stretching exercises for 20 minutes two to three times a week.
