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\"A star science journalist with Parkinson's reveals the inner workings of this perplexing disease. Seven million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's--with sixty thousand new cases diagnosed each year in the U.S. alone--and it remains an enigma, with doctors, researchers, and patients hunting for a cure. In Brain Storms, award-winning journalist Jon Palfreman tells their story, a story that takes on urgency when he is diagnosed with the debilitating illness. Palfreman chronicles how scientists have labored to crack the mystery of what was once called \"the shaking palsy,\" from the earliest clinical descriptions to the cutting edge of molecular neuroscience. He charts the victories and setbacks of a massive international effort to best the disease, referred to as one of the best windows into the brain itself. Brain Storms is also a profoundly personal investigation into Palfreman's own struggles and those of others living with Parkinson's. From a professional ballet dancer who \"tricks\" her body to move freely again, to a \"frozen\" patient who cannot walk but astounds doctors when he is able to ride a bicycle, Palfreman shines a light on the varied and ingenious ways patients cope with having their bodies steadily taken away from them. The race is on to discover a means to stop or reverse neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Brain Storms is the long-overdue, riveting detective story of that race, and a passionate, insightful account into the lives of those affected\"--Provided by publisher.

In Parkinson’s disease (PD) there is a selective degeneration of neuromelanin-containing neurons, especially substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. In humans, neuromelanin accumulates with age, the latter being the main risk factor for PD. The contribution of neuromelanin to PD pathogenesis remains unknown because, unlike humans, common laboratory animals lack neuromelanin. Synthesis of peripheral melanins is mediated by tyrosinase, an enzyme also present at low levels in the brain. Here we report that overexpression of human tyrosinase in rat substantia nigra results in age-dependent production of human-like neuromelanin within nigral dopaminergic neurons, up to levels reached in elderly humans. In these animals, intracellular neuromelanin accumulation above a specific threshold is associated to an age-dependent PD phenotype, including hypokinesia, Lewy body-like formation and nigrostriatal neurodegeneration. Enhancing lysosomal proteostasis reduces intracellular neuromelanin and prevents neurodegeneration in tyrosinase-overexpressing animals. Our results suggest that intracellular neuromelanin levels may set the threshold for the initiation of PD. It is unclear if neuromelanin plays a role in Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis since common laboratory animals lack this pigment. Authors show here that overexpression of human tyrosinase in the substantia nigra of rats resulted in an age-dependent production of human-like neuromelanin within nigral dopaminergic neurons and is associated with a Parkinson’s disease phenotype when allowed to accumulate above a specific threshold.

Background Neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. One of the major challenges of this disease is chronic fatigue, which is considered one of the most common and debilitating non-motor symptoms. Increased fatigue in these patients reduces their self-efficacy, which directly correlates with decreased quality of life (QOL) and worsening motor and non-motor symptoms. Given the profound impact of PD on patients’ daily lives, adopting effective approaches to improve their QOL is essential. The continuous care model (CCM), designed as an indigenous approach based on Iran’s cultural and social characteristics, can serve as an effective strategy for managing complications associated with PD. Methods This study is a clinical trial aimed at evaluating the effect of the CCM on fatigue, self-efficacy, and QOL in patients with PD in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 80 patients will be selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Data will be collected using standardized questionnaires at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after, and 1 month later. In the intervention group, the CCM will be implemented over a nine-week period in four stages: familiarization, sensitization, control, and evaluation. The control group will receive only routine pharmacological care. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), followed by repeated measures ANCOVA to compare changes in outcomes across three time points between groups, controlling for covariates. Normality and homogeneity of variances will be assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Levene’s tests, respectively. Discussion Various approaches have been proposed to manage fatigue, enhance self-efficacy, and improve QOL in patients with PD; however, many of these strategies face challenges, including the lack of a comprehensive approach. The CCM focuses on the care of patients with chronic conditions, emphasizing education and empowerment for both patients and their families. By placing the patient at the center of care, this holistic approach plays a crucial role in the management of chronic diseases. Trial registration. It is registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the registration number IRCT20190712044181N7.

\"We decided to write this book to provide a useful guide to two groups of people. Firstly, for those diagnosed with Parkinson's who are looking for a safe form of exercise that could work for them. ... a number of clients ... tell us how their increased flexibility and strength as well as their improved balance and walking have helped them to remain independent. Secondly, we hope this book will also be enjoyed by Pilates instructors who are wondering how they can best help a client who comes in with a diagnosis of Parkinson's.\" -- Introduction [ix].

In this 2-year trial involving patients with Parkinson's disease and early motor complications, subthalamic stimulation plus medical therapy resulted in better quality of life and motor function than medical therapy alone. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects dopaminergic neurotransmission, resulting in bradykinesia, rigidity, and rest tremor. After an initial honeymoon period, during which there is a sustained response to dopaminergic treatment, beneficial effects are hampered by levodopa-induced motor complications, 1 progressively compromising quality of life. 2 – 4 Because levodopa-responsive parkinsonian symptoms are improved by high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, 5 , 6 neurostimulation has become an established treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease with medically intractable fluctuations and dyskinesia 7 – 10 and has shown long-term efficacy. 11 – 13 It is typically used after the disease has been present for 11 to 13 years, 7 – . . .

Gait disorders represent a therapeutic challenge in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study investigated the efficacy of 4-week action observation training (AOT) on disease severity, freezing of gait and motor abilities in PD, and evaluated treatment-related brain functional changes. 25 PD patients with freezing of gait were randomized into two groups: AOT (action observation combined with practicing the observed actions) and “Landscape” (same physical training combined with landscape-videos observation). At baseline and 4-week, patients underwent clinical evaluation and fMRI. Clinical assessment was repeated at 8-week. At 4-week, both groups showed reduced freezing of gait severity, improved walking speed and quality of life. Moreover, AOT was associated with reduced motor disability and improved balance. AOT group showed a sustained positive effect on motor disability, walking speed, balance and quality of life at 8-week, with a trend toward a persisting reduced freezing of gait severity. At 4-week vs. baseline, AOT group showed increased recruitment of fronto-parietal areas during fMRI tasks, while the Landscape group showed a reduced fMRI activity of the left postcentral and inferior parietal gyri and right rolandic operculum and supramarginal gyrus. In AOT group, functional brain changes were associated with clinical improvements at 4-week and predicted clinical evolution at 8-week. AOT has a more lasting effect in improving motor function, gait and quality of life in PD patients relative to physical therapy alone. AOT-related performance gains are associated with an increased recruitment of motor regions and fronto-parietal mirror neuron and attentional control areas.

A colorful and absorbing portrait of James Parkinson -- after whom Parkinson's disease is named -- and the turbulent, intellectually vibrant world of Georgian London. Author Cherry Lewis examines Parkinson's three seemingly disparate passions: medicine, politics, and fossils. As a political radical, Parkinson was interrogated over a plot to kill King George III, putting himself in danger of being exiled. He helped Edward Jenner set up smallpox vaccination stations across London, saving countless lives. He also wrote the first scientific study of fossils in English, jump-starting a craze for fossil hunting in Britain. Parkinson was truly one of the intellectual pioneers of 'the age of wonder, ' forgotten to history -- until now. -- Adapted from book jacket.

Iron deposition in the substantia nigra has been implicated in Parkinson’s disease. Chelation with deferiprone reduced brain iron content but led to worse scores on scales of the movement disorder at 36 weeks.