JPD Blog Updates

Benjamin Stecher's Recent Posts

We share the recent posts that have been published in the Tomorrow Edition Extracts section of the JPD website. As an introduction, here is a note from our blog author Benjamin Stecher: "I started this journey with no background in biomedical science, let alone Parkinson's research. But I have been lucky enough to get to know a number of great thinkers who have guided me as I have tried to navigate these dark and mysterious worlds. I would like to pay special tribute to the following three individuals who have each shined a light for me at various points along the way and had an enormous impact on the way I think about this disease." To read the recent posts, click the links below.

Interview with Clinical Research Scientist Prof. Karen Raphael – Openly Available (published October 2019) | Discussion that highlights some common misconceptions about clinical trials

Interview With Research Scientist And Communicator Dr. Simon Stott – Openly Available (published September 2019) | Discussion about PD from research and communication perspectives

Interview with Neuromodulation Expert Dr. Alfonso Fasano – Openly Available (published August 2019) | Discussion covering brain machine interfaces and deep brain stimulation

The latest instalment of our quarterly Parkinson’s webinar series, organized in partnership with the Cure Parkinson's Trust and Parkinson’s Movement, took place on October 2, 2019 and it was a full house. The topic was Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s.

The eminent panel, once again chaired by Van Andel Institute’s Patrik Brundin, comprised clinical expertise from Ray Chaudhuri (Kings College, London, UK) and Robert Hauser (University of South Florida, USA), pre-clinical insights from Angela Cenci Nilsson (Lund University, Sweden), and patient views from Martin Taylor, founder of the Parkinson’s Research Interest Group on Facebook (UK).

The discussion focused on publications in the field, in particular the recent open access JPD paper "Clinical Trials Hilghights: Dyskinesia" by Kevin McFarthing, Neha Prakash, and Tanya Simuni. The recording of the online webinar is now available. Recordings of all previous webinars can be accessed here.

Check our website soon for details of the December webinar (date & topic TBC)

To watch the recording of the October webinar, click the visual

In the News

Press releases relating to recent JPD content

Fatigue in Parkinson’s Disease Is Associated with Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure

Fatigue is a common debilitating symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD). A novel research study has found that fatigue symptoms in PD are associated with small but persistent reductions in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) throughout the day. "The majority of people with PD consider fatigue, defined as diminished energy levels or increased perception of effort that is disproportionate to attempted activities, to be one of their three biggest symptomatic concerns. But despite its high prevalence and disabling nature, we know relatively little about its underlying causes," explained lead investigator Vikas Kotagal, MD, MS. "Understanding the biological basis for fatigue in PD is a key step towards designing effective treatments. This is an important goal for the field of PD clinical research."

Open Access Research Article:
Fatigue in Parkinson's Disease Associates with Lower Ambulatory Diastolic Blood Pressure

Read the full press release here

How and Why Does Parkinson’s Disease Affect Women and Men Differently?

There is growing evidence that Parkinson's disease (PD) affects women and men differently. In this insightful review, scientists present the most recent knowledge about these sex-related differences and highlight the significance of estrogens, which play an important role in the sex differences in PD. “It is becoming increasingly evident that PD differs in women and men,” explained lead author Fabio Blandini. “Recent research findings suggest that biological sex also impacts on disease risk factors and, potentially, on molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of PD.”

Open Access Revew Article:
Parkinson's Disease in Women and Men: What's the Difference?

Read the full press release here