How carbidopa/levodopa is used to treat Parkinson’s disease symptoms Loss of neurons in the brain that use dopamine to communicate is one of the hallmark features of Parkinson’s disease (PD), causing slowness, stiffness, tremor, and balance problems. Replacing the brain’s dopamine is therefore one of the key treatment strategies to help improve the motor symptoms […]
How many people have Parkinson’s disease? You may have heard the statistic that there are approximately one million people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) living in the US. That means approximately 1 out of every 336 people are living with PD. That number has increased in past decades and will continue to increase. With a new […]
Exciting New Parkinson’s Disease Research is Underway On September 5, 2024, APDA announced 20 new Parkinson’s disease (PD) research 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 Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to develop new treatments and eventually, a […]
It has long been understood that Parkinson’s disease (PD) does not just cause movement, or motor, symptoms, but also 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.
DaTscan: A test to help in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s What is a DaTscan and how is it performed? 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 […]
What is gene therapy and can it help people with Parkinson’s? You may have read about efforts to use gene therapy as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). It’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 […]
Dr. Gilbert gives an update on stem cell therapies for the treatment of Parkinson’s, including profiling a few notable clinical trials underway in 2024
Understanding Cognitive Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease: PDD vs. DLB Cognitive challenges are a very common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). When the cognitive challenges are severe enough to interfere with daily activity, they are known as Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). You may have heard of another condition called Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Although […]
Dr. Gilbert gives in-depth answers to common questions that many ask with regards to carbidopa/levodopa treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
Understanding what factors may worsen Parkinson’s symptoms Many people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience variation in their motor symptoms (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 […]
