Researchers who study Parkinson’s disease have long known that dopamine-producing cells in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra are central to the reason why people develop this degenerative illness. When dopamine-producing cells die, their death affects the body’s ability to control movement. But some people also have other symptoms, including a decline … Read more
At the Montreal Neurological Institute, neuroscientist Thomas Durcan studies the mechanisms within the human brain that can be exploited to protect it from the impact of Parkinson’s disease. This work focuses on a protein called Parkin, which removes damaged components from cells, as well as a partner enzyme that appears to guide this protein’s activities. … Read more
Parkinson Canada, the definitive voice of the Parkinson community in Canada for over 50 years, is pleased to announce that the Parkinson Canada SuperWalk 2018 will take place September 8 through 16 in communities across Canada. Over 10,000 participants and 4,000 fundraising walkers will come together to raise over $2.4 million. SuperWalk has raised over … Read more
Did you know that May is officially Leave a Legacy month? Leave a Legacy is a national, community-based, public-awareness campaign of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). This campaign encourages Canadians from all walks of life to consider leaving a gift in their Will, or another type of planned giving vehicle, to a charitable … Read more
Impact on caregivers and health professionals increases as disease progresses Parkinson Canada, the definitive voice of the Parkinson community in Canada for over 50 years, recently conducted a survey through Ipsos Public Affairs, to better understand the challenges faced by three stakeholder groups: Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease Those who personally provide care to someone … Read more
July 13th-15th, 2018 in Parry Sound, ON When the duo started the ride in 2011, Peter and David said the hope was to raise $100,000 and never did they expect to reach a cumulative total of over $1 million. This gave Pedaling for Parkinson’s the distinction of being the first community fundraising event in Canada … Read more
The idea of creating a mathematical model to predict who will develop Parkinson’s disease struck Dr. Michael Schlossmacher as he read Brilliant Blunders, a book about the significance of the mistakes five great scientists made. “The book is about understanding how errors are made, in part by quantifying risks,” says Schlossmacher, a neurologist and professor … Read more
For many people with Parkinson’s disease who undergo deep brain stimulation, the treatment can appear nothing short of miraculous. The procedure involves surgically implanting a transmitter within the brain, to allow the application of electrical impulses that reduce or eliminate tremors and restore motor control. Achieving good results, though, calls for a great deal of … Read more