Highlights from the Movement Disorder Society Virtual Congress 2021 Posted on October 5, 2021 by Phil Franchina Every year the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) holds a conference and every year APDA is there, learning about the newest research and sharing our resources with the wider Parkinson’s disease (PD) community. The MDS Congress is the preeminent gathering of medical professionals from around the world who are dedicated to PD […] Read More
APDA funding is critical to new research in understanding Levodopa-induced dyskinesias Posted on September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 by Phil Franchina In an exciting new study, researchers at the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY) and the CUNY School of Medicine, led by Dr. Andreas Kottmann, studied levodopa induced dyskinesias (LIDs) and demonstrated that inhibiting a protein called sonic hedgehog (Shh) decreased LIDs in animal models of PD. The study appears today in Communications […] Read More
“ASK THE DOCTOR” with Dr. Rebecca Gilbert Posted on September 20, 2021September 22, 2021 by Phil Franchina “ASK THE DOCTOR” with Dr. Rebecca Gilbert Q. I was diagnosed with PD a few months ago by my primary care physician, and I have my first appointment with a movement disorder specialist this week. Can you suggest ways to prepare for this visit? A. I would do three things to help make your visit […] Read More
FEEL GOOD AND FIND COMMUNITY WITH APDA EXERCISE CLASSES! Posted on September 20, 2021September 28, 2021 by Phil Franchina FEEL GOOD AND FIND COMMUNITY WITH APDA EXERCISE CLASSES! With APDA exercise classes like yoga, tai chi, boxing, and more, there’s a way for everyone with PD to feel their best and lessen the impact of the disease — and in addition to the physical benefits, exercise can help people with PD get involved and […] Read More
LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS: ONE VETERAN’S STORY Posted on September 20, 2021September 22, 2021 by Phil Franchina LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS: ONE VETERAN’S STORY “I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and free fell at 150 mph. I zip-lined at the Grand Canyon. I went paragliding off a 1,800-foot mountaintop and flew for over 20 minutes. I have walked over 5,220 miles.” These are just a few of the amazing things Bob […] Read More
LEVODOPA AND THE FUTURE OF PARKINSON’S RESEARCH Posted on September 20, 2021September 28, 2021 by Phil Franchina LEVODOPA AND THE FUTURE OF PARKINSON’S RESEARCH Tremors, issues with balance, and slowness are just some of the trademark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is caused by a loss of critical neurons in the brain that use dopamine to communicate. That’s where levodopa comes in — as a way to replenish that dopamine and […] Read More
PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD: WHAT’S NEXT? Posted on September 20, 2021September 28, 2021 by Phil Franchina PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD: WHAT’S NEXT? Vaccination rates against COVID-19 are on the rise and reaching promising levels across the nation. A return to “normal” is something we’ve all been looking forward to, and we hope to continue to head in that direction even as variants emerge and give us pause. As more […] Read More
Pushing for Progress: American Parkinson Disease Association Funding To Accelerate Scientists’ Pursuit for Answers Posted on August 31, 2021August 31, 2021 by Phil Franchina Pushing for Progress: American Parkinson Disease Association Funding To Accelerate Scientists’ Pursuit for Answers From biomarker development to the use of sono-optogenetics, $1.85 million in innovative research to be funded for 2021– 2022 year NEW YORK, NY, September 1, 2021 – The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has just awarded $1.85 million to support cutting-edge […] Read More
“ASK THE DOCTOR” with Dr. Rebecca Gilbert Posted on June 18, 2021July 29, 2021 by Phil Franchina “ASK THE DOCTOR” with Dr. Rebecca Gilbert Q. My husband experiences big differences in the time it takes for a dose of carbidopa/levodopa to work. It may take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours! That makes it very difficult to know when to take the medication when we are going out. A. This problem […] Read More
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT APDA? Posted on June 18, 2021July 29, 2021 by Phil Franchina WHAT’S HAPPENING AT APDA? Dr. Gilbert Hosts: Genetics and PD With Dr. Clemens Scherzer Genetic mutations, genetic testing, genetic research — it’s fascinating stuff! Dr. Clemens Scherzer recently sat down with Dr. Rebecca Gilbert for an episode of Dr. Gilbert Hosts to discuss genetics and PD ― but don’t worry if you missed it! You […] Read More
