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  April 2008 • Clinical Trial Information for the Parkinson's Community 
www.pdtrials.org

In This Issue

New Clinical Trials

Occupational Therapists Use Wii for Parkinson's Study

Different Mutations in Single Gene Suggest Parkinson's is Primarily an Inherited Genetic Disorder

Elevated Urate Levels May Slow the Progression of Parkinson's Disease

Sleep Disorder May Precede Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson Transplants Survive At Least 16 Years

14th Annual Parkinson's Unity Walk Scheduled for April 26, 2008

Tell Us Your Story

Help Inform Others About Clinical Trials!



Resources

Do You Have Questions About Clinical Research? Order A Free Clinical Trial Informational Brochure 



Greetings!
Thank you for signing up to receive the PDtrials Bulletin. This regular email newsletter provides you with information on Parkinson's disease (PD) clinical trials that are actively looking for participants, as well as news on Parkinson's research and treatments. 
PDtrials is a collaborative initiative of Parkinson's organizations and is dedicated to increasing awareness and education about Parkinson's clinical trials. Please contact us if you would like more information about this effort.


New Clinical Trials
Identification of Possible Changes in the Blood of People with Early PD - 
The purpose of this study is to see if there are any changes in the blood cells of people with PD. Blood will be collected from people who have PD and from those who do not have PD to serve as a control. If there are unique markers in the blood of people with PD, it may be possible to develop a blood test to diagnose PD. This study is enrolling a total of 100 people with PD and without PD in Illinois and Wisconsin. Learn more


Development of a Computerized Test to Assess Cognitive Status in People with PD - 
The goal of this study is to validate the ANAM-PD computerized cognitive test as a tool to detect cognitive changes in people with PD. This study is enrolling a total of 100 people with PD and without PD in Connecticut. Learn more


Occupational Therapy for Persons with PD - 
This small study will evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term occupational therapy program for persons with PD. Occupational therapy uses meaningful functional and creative activities to promote recovery of lost abilities and to delay decline in one's ability to perform everyday activities. Participants in the study will receive 10 free one-hour OT sessions over four weeks, as well as two or three free two-hour assessments. This study is enrolling 40 participants in Maine. Learn more


View All Clinical Trials  www.pdtrials.org

Occupational Therapists Use Wii for Parkinson's Study

It's Ingrid Bell's turn at bat. She steps up to the plate, awaiting the pitch. A 70-mph fastball soars toward her. She swings and connects with the ball. Foul ball! Everyone cheers for her anyway. This baseball game's not taking place on a field, and there's no real bat or ball to be seen. Mrs. Bell is playing the Nintendo Wii as part of her occupational therapy. She is among 30 PD patients participating in a Medical College of Georgia study to determine if occupational therapy enhances the treatment of the disease.Read more

Different Mutations in Single Gene Suggest Parkinson's is Primarily an Inherited Genetic Disorder
Two new international studies by researchers at the Mayo Clinic site in Florida are rounding out the notion that PD is largely caused by inherited genetic mutations that pass through scores of related generations over hundreds, if not thousands of years. These genetic influences, which can be small but additive, or large and causative, overturn common beliefs that the neurodegenerative disease mostly occurs in a random fashion or is due to undetermined environmental factors.Read more

Elevated Urate Levels May Slow the Progression of Parkinson's Disease
Naturally elevated levels of the antioxidant urate may slow the progression of PD in men. Researchers from the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MGH-MIND) and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) examined data from an earlier study and found that, among recently diagnosed Parkinson's patients, those with the highest urate levels had a significantly slower rate of disease progression during the two-year study period. The report appears in the April 2008 Archives of Neurology and may lead to urate-based therapies for the disorder.Read more

Sleep Disorder May Precede Parkinson's Disease
Individuals who exhibit behaviors related to the loss of normal eye movements associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are at increased risk of PD and mild dementia, a Mayo Clinic researcher reported at the 60th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. The findings come from a series of studies conducted by Dr. Bradley Boeve and colleagues involving 765 residents of Olmstead County who were between the ages of 70 and 89.Read more

Parkinson Transplants Survive At Least 16 Years
Transplanted cells to help patients with PD can survive in the brain for over one and half decades. However, some of the transplanted cells developed Parkinson-like features which is very surprising. These are the main findings of a study on grafting of new neurons to the brain in patients with PD. The study, headed by a team of researchers from Lund University in collaboration with London scientists, has been published in a recent issue of Nature Medicine.Read more

14th Annual Parkinson's Unity Walk Scheduled for April 26, 2008
On April 26, 2008, the PD community will once again assemble in New York's Central Park for the Parkinson's Unity Walk (PUW). In 2007, the two-mile walk had a record 10,000 participants and raised over $1.7 million. The 2008 walk proceeds, as in past years, will support research programs at several national Parkinson's organizations, including the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF). The walk serves as an inspirational event, bringing together families and friends affected by PD.Read more
Tell Us Your Story
At times, we receive correspondence from people living with Parkinson's about their clinical trial experience. If you have participated in a trial that you found through PDtrials we'd love to hear from you. Sharing your experience provides us with insight that only you can offer and helps ensure that PDtrials.org is a valuable resource to the PD community. Please email us at [log in to unmask] to tell your story.


Help Inform Others About Clinical Trials!
Do you find the information in this email bulletin and on PDtrials.org to be a helpful resource? If so, won't you take a moment and send this email bulletin to others?
Just click on the "Send" button located on the top left of this page and enter the email addresses of friends, family, support group members, and others who you think would like to learn more about clinical studies.

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