Parkinson’s disease (PD) presents somewhat differently in the VA’s healthcare system than in many community medical facilities.
New Solutions for an Old Problem: Extending Dopamine Effectiveness in Parkinson’s Disease
Deep brain stimulation works well for some Parkinson’s disease patients for some period of time, but the long-term benefits might not be as promising, according to a new VA study. That brings clinicians back to their problem of decades: How to extend dopamine benefits to avoid “off” episodes. New pharmaceuticals might offer the answers.
Amantadine Label Changing Because of Corneal Edema Concerns
Amantadine is a prescription medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease, especially for reducing levodopa-induced dyskinesia and managing tremors. The drug works by increasing dopamine release and acting as an NMDA receptor antagonist.
More Testing Needed for Visual Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease patients often struggle with visual dysfunction, a common non-motor symptom. That is evidenced by deficits in color vision (CV) and binocular vision (BV).
Ultrasound Guided by MRI Effective Therapy for Parkinson’s Symptoms
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy, a noninvasive, incision-free and radiation-free therapeutic technology that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy specific tissue, guided by real-time MRI for precision, is increasingly used for managing symptoms in patients with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Intermittent Hypercapnia Could Help Clear Unwanted Brain Protein in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Intermittent hypercapnia, a condition of abnormally elevated carbon-dioxide levels in the blood, could replicate the clearing of unwanted brain protein that occurs during sleep, which could benefit patients with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study.
Study Proposed New Parkinson’s Subtype Included Mild Cognitive Impairment
New research has suggested that subtyping Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) into clinically and pathologically homogeneous groups could improve clinical trials and enable personalized treatments.
Virtual Psychotherapy Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease
The routine assessment and management of depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an essential component of evidence-based interdisciplinary care, according to a new study which found that virtual delivery worked well.
Veteran Study Identifies Very Strong Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Parkinson’s Disease
For veterans with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was exceedingly higher than those without. The good news, however, is that the risk can be greatly reduced if they used continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Ways to Improve Management of Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson’s Disease
Treatments for orthostatic hypotension, a common, disabling symptom of Parkinson’s disease, can affect many therapeutic targets, so healthcare providers must coordinate care and optimize the sequence of treatment for those patients, particularly those with coexisting comorbidities, according to a recent review article.
PTSD Might Be Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factor
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a new study of veterans.
Debilitating Motor Fluctuations End Up Affecting All Parkinson’s Disease Patients
As Parkinson’s disease advances, freezing of gait (FoG) becomes an increasingly debilitating mobility disturbance, according to a new study.
Psilocybin Shows Promise for Improving Mood Dysfunction in Parkinson’s
Could a naturally occurring psychedelic compound be the remedy for mood dysfunction, which is highly prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
PTSD Might Be Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factor
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to be a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a new study of veterans.
Hearing Loss Linked to Parkinson’s Disease; Hearing Aids Help Offset Risk
A complex and progressive neurological disorder, Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been diagnosed in more than a million Americans and disproportionately impacts veterans.
Identification of PTSD as a Parkinson’s Disease Risk Factor Could Allow Targeting of Preventive Treatment
VA researchers investigating risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD) have identified a strong link between the progressive brain disease and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Differentiating Reversible Dementia from AD, PD and TBI
Structural imaging markers hold promise for developing accurate, noninvasive, and accessible solutions to differentiate Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) reversable conditions and those caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Olfactory Function Loss in GW Veterans Linked to Cognitive Deficits
A disorder related to military service in the 1991 Gulf War (GW), Gulf War illness (GWI)/Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI) includes symptoms such as fatigue, pain and cognitive dysfunction.
Herpes Zoster Infection Doesn’t Increase Parkinson’s Risk
Some researchers have postulated for years that systemic infections are associated with development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recent studies on the relationship between herpes zoster (HZ) and PD have been conflicting, however.
Enlarged Prostate Drug Has Potential as Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
A class of medication used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, or non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, shows potential as a treatment to delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study.
Gut Microbiome May Hold Potential Early Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population age 65 and older and an estimated 110, 000 U.S. veterans.
TCE Exposure Linked to Parkinson’s Disease In Servicemembers Stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, from Mid-1970s-Mid-1980s
For veterans exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and other volatile organic compounds four decades ago, the risk of Parkinson’s disease is 70% higher than for veterans without those exposures, a new study suggests.
Decline in Cerebral Cortical Thickness Linked to PD Cognitive Decline
What effect does reduced cerebral cortical thickness have in Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Fewer Parkinson’s Motor Issues 11 Years After Deep Brain Stimulation
More than a decade after deep brain stimulation (DBS), early-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients appeared to have fewer motor complications than those treated only with medications, according to a new study.
Cognitive Impairment Can Affect Parkinson’s Gait Rehab
What is the effect of baseline cognition on gait outcomes after a treadmill training program for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients?
