Making Hope Possible: American Parkinson Disease Association Supports Researchers With $2.6 Million in New Funding

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

Exciting New Parkinsonโ€™s Disease Research is Underway On September 5, 2024, APDA announced 20 new Parkinsonโ€™s disease (PD) research...see more grants, for a total of $ 2.6 million in funding for the year ahead. Our grant recipients are working tirelessly to understand the complexities of Parkinsonโ€™s disease (PD) and to develop new treatments and eventually, a […]

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The Heart of The Matter: Cardiovascular Effects of Parkinsonโ€™s Disease

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

It has long been understood that Parkinsonโ€™s disease (PD) does not just cause movement, or motor, symptoms, but also...see more causes a litany of non-motor symptoms with effects throughout the body. One of the organ systems that is affected is the cardiac system, encompassing the heart, as well as the major and minor blood vessels.

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What is a DaTscan and should I get one?

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

DaTscan: A test to help in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s What is a DaTscan and how is it performed?...see more In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an imaging test to help diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD) called DaTscan (dopamine transporter scan). In this test, a radioactive tracer, Ioflupane (123I), also known as DaTscan, is injected […]

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Gene therapy for Parkinsonโ€™s disease

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

What is gene therapy and can it help people with Parkinsonโ€™s? You may have read about efforts to use...see more gene therapy as a treatment for Parkinsonโ€™s disease (PD). Itโ€™s an exciting prospect and studies are underway, with some positive results so far. Understanding these studies and therapies requires some background information about what genes are […]

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Lewy Bodies, Dementia, and Parkinson’s โ€“ What Does it all Mean?

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

Understanding Cognitive Challenges in Parkinsonโ€™s Disease: PDD vs. DLB Cognitive challenges are a very common non-motor symptom of Parkinsonโ€™s...see more disease (PD). When the cognitive challenges are severe enough to interfere with daily activity, they are known as Parkinsonโ€™s disease dementia (PDD). You may have heard of another condition called Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Although […]

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What Worsens Parkinsonโ€™s Disease’s Motor Symptoms?

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

Understanding what factors may worsen Parkinsonโ€™s symptoms Many people with Parkinsonโ€™s disease (PD) experience variation in their motor symptoms...see more (e.g. tremor, stiffness, slowness, trouble walking, balance difficulties) throughout the day and from one day and the next. This variability is often related to medication dosing, and you and your doctor may focus on adjusting the […]

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What We Know About Parkinsonโ€™s Disease in Women

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

Differences of Parkinsonโ€™s Disease in Women Parkinsonโ€™s disease (PD) impacts millions of people around the world, and it does...see more not discriminate based on gender. But while PD affects men and women with some similarities, the manifestation, progression, and even treatment responses can differ significantly between genders, in addition to important discrepancies related to healthcare access […]

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Uniting and Supporting the Black Parkinsonโ€™s Disease Community

Posted on by Rebecca Gilbert, MD, Ph.D.

Meet Denise and Bernard Coley, Leaders in the Black Parkinsonโ€™s Community Youโ€™ve seen us put a spotlight on APDA-funded...see more researchers as well as interesting and inspiring people living with PD, and today we are excited to introduce you to Denise and Bernard Coley โ€“ two special people who are extraordinary advocates for the PD community […]

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