The body functions of man and animals are controlled by electric and chemical signals between the cells in our nervous system. Contacts between cells are called synapses, and special substances, called neurotransmitters, send the signals. Arvid Carlsson discovered a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the brain and described its role in our ability to move. This … Read more

Within our cells, RNA molecules are one of the essential building blocks of life. They carry the instructions from DNA to create proteins, and proteins direct cell function. At the University of British Columbia, Jordan Follett, a postdoctoral fellow and neuroscientist, is studying the retromer complex, a sorting complex that may communicate where RNA should … Read more

Western University doctoral student Anita Abeyesekera is applying her speech-language pathology and speech science background to open up a new approach to the study of hypophonia, the diminishment of the speaking voice that is often a characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. Her work focuses on understanding the experience people have of hearing their voices as being … Read more

Margot’s Story Twenty years ago, John Parkhurst and his wife, Margot Bartlett, moved to their cottage in Tiny, Ontario. That was six years after Margot, a former nurse, was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.   “My doctor says I am the poster child for Parkinson,” she says, with all the treatments, drug trials and medications her … Read more

At the University of Toronto, Dr. Lorraine Kalia, a neurologist and neuroscientist, is investigating the role that a protein called alpha-synuclein plays in a familial type of Parkinson’s disease caused by a mutation in the LRRK2 gene. Although large clumps of alpha-synuclein have been incriminated in the death of dopamine-producing brain cells, Kalia is investigating smaller … Read more

Before researchers can test drugs or other therapies intended to treat or cure Parkinson’s disease on people, they must first be sure the medication or treatment is both safe and effective. To do that, they need models of the disease. At McGill University, Dr. Philippe Huot, a neurologist and an assistant professor, is developing one such … Read more

On April 24, 2018, Parkinson Canada hosted a breakfast reception on Parliament Hill. The breakfast was sponsored by Rob Oliphant, MP for Don Valley West, and friend of Parkinson Canada. The breakfast was well attended by MPs and Senators who are not only interested in Parkinson’s, but also those who have been touched by the … Read more

Driving is an essential part of many of our activities of daily living. It is how most of us get to work, school and various appointments; it’s how we travel to and from household and social activities. For many, receiving their driver’s license marked a rite of passage to becoming an adult. Driving gives us … Read more