ORLANDO, FL (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Parkinson’s — it’s the most common motor disorder and second most frequently diagnosed neurodegenerative disease, second only to Alzheimer’s. Almost ten million people are living with it and although there are drugs to treat the disease, many people become resistant to them over the years. Now, a new patch is being tested that could help. Parkinson’s Patch
Uncontrollable tremors and rigidity… they are the tell-tale signs of Parkinson’s.
“I knew it stole your ability to walk, balance, speaking. And Parkinson’s hits you in so many different ways,” says Parkinson’s patient Steve Holland.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida college of medicine have developed new technology that may help control tremors.
Kiminobu Sugaya, PhD, neuroscientist at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine explains, “The Parkinson’s patient, they’re losing the dopamine neurons in the deep in the brain.”
The technology helps to stop the loss of those neurons through specially designed ceramics wrapped in a rubber blanket. Infrared light travels through the ceramic and activates the neurons. Mice treated with the infrared ceramics had an increase in the number of brain cells in the area associated with Parkinson’s disease and in turn the mice had better control of their balance and movement.
“We are not gonna say that this is going to regenerate the neurons, but that this one preventing the loss of the neurons even further” says Prof. Sugaya.
And the therapy would be delivered through a patch that sits on your head — no surgery needed.
One of the benefits of using the ceramic blanket is that it can be used anywhere, without the need for a power supply and the side effects of drugs. It can also be used to speed up wound healing up to 25%, which makes it a possible lifesaving technology suited for combat situations or people living in remote areas.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TITLE: STOP THE SHAKING WITH PARKINSON’S PATCH
REPORT: MB #5410
BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement. It results from the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a region of the brain that controls movement. Although Parkinson’s disease predominantly affects older adults, it can also occur in younger individuals. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics)
DIAGNOSING: Symptoms of Parkinson’s include, but are not limited to: a tremor, slowed movement, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, speech changes, and/or writing changes. Doctors can diagnose Parkinson’s disease with blood tests, MRIs or CT scans, a neurological exam, or checking your medical history. Causes of Parkinson’s can be family history or genes, environmental triggers, the presence of Lewy bodies, and/or Alpha-synuclein found within Lewy bodies.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376062)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: The University of Central Florida has developed a patch to treat Parkinson’s disease. Frederick Carrick, PhD, professor of neurology, and Kiminobu Sugaya, PhD
Neuroscientist, led the development. “Carrick explained that the researchers used mice models that simulate Parkinson’s disease in humans. The team found that the models treated with the ceramics had much better control of their balance and movement. Excitingly, even normal healthy mice that were treated with the ceramics improved their balance and movement. Carrick stated that their investigation showed the treatment increased the number of brain cells in the areas of the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease. They also were able to increase the number of brain cells in normal healthy mice.”
(Source: https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-wound-healing-technology-also-shows-promise-for-parkinsons-patients/)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Eric Eraso Christin Senior
Eric.eraso@ucf.edu christin.senior@ucf.edu
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
