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I wonder how many women had ovarian cancer like me Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Varpness, Sandra" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 11:01 AM Subject: Re: Mayo finds connection between anxiety, estrogen and Parkinson's disease > Wow, did we know about this ovary thing????? > > -----Original Message----- > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John Cottingham > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 6:57 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Mayo finds connection between anxiety, estrogen and Parkinson's > disease > > > The source of this article is Minnesota Public Radio: > http://tinyurl.com/apppb > > Mayo finds connection between anxiety, estrogen and Parkinson's disease > by Erin Galbally, Minnesota Public Radio > April 13, 2005 > > > Mayo neurologist James Bower led the study linking Parkinson's and > anxiety. > He also worked closely on the study that revealed a connection between the > disorder and ovary removal. Bower says in both cases the findings will be > useful for scientists who continue to try to crack the disease. (Photo > courtesy of the Mayo Clinic) > > The Mayo Clinic released two studies Wednesday that begin to identify > possible causes of Parkinson's disease. In one, researchers found elevated > anxiety levels increased the likelihood of developing the disease. In the > second, researchers found women who have both ovaries removed also face an > increased risk of developing the neurological problem. The findings were > presented in Miami at the American Academy of Neurology. > > > Rochester, Minn. - Parkinson's disease is a relatively rare disorder. It > attacks neurons in the brain controlling muscle movement. Those who suffer > from Parkinson's have trouble walking and often constantly shake. For the > past 10 years, Mayo neurologist James Bower has been studying the disease. > Bower says he's been looking for links between certain personality types > and Parkinson's. > > "There have been studies in the past that have suggested that a less > adventurous, less novelty seeking personality as well as certain > psychiatric conditions especially anxiety and depression, that both of > these might be linked to the later development of Parkinson's disease," > Bower explains. > > Mayo researchers led by Bower looked deeper for a possible link. They > tracked down a group of about 4,000 who took a popular personality test > back in the 1960s. Researchers then determined that just over a hundred > developed Parkinson's. Among those who did, a majority had received high > scores for anxiety and pessimism. After crunching the numbers, Bower says > it became apparent that those suffering from extreme anxiety might have as > much as a 60-percent greater chance of developing the disease. > > "We did find this association but now we need to figure out what it > means," > says Bower. "One explanation is that anxiety is actually a cause for > Parkinson's disease. But there's also an alternative explanation and that > it's not anxiety actually causing the illness but that maybe there's > another risk factor like a gene that leads to both anxiety and Parkinson's > later on. So we have to differentiate the two." > > Bower stresses that extreme anxiety is much more intense than normal > worrying. And he says more research needs to be conducted to determine if > anti-anxiety medication could make a difference when it comes to the > likelihood of developing Parkinson's. > > In another study researchers determined that women who have both ovaries > removed double their chances of developing Parkinson's. The loss of > natural > estrogen seems to be responsible. Bower says there's a similar link > between > the hormone and osteoporosis. > > "What this study does is it tells us that not does natural estrogen seem > to > help the bones it also seems to help the brain in terms of Parkinson's > disease," says Bower. > > He says in many instances women have their ovaries removed as the result > of > some sort of medical emergency. But Bower says in cases where removal can > safely be avoided it might a wise alternative to consider. > > "They're getting a hysterectomy for some other reason and the discussion > with the surgeon is while I'm doing your hysterectomy and taking out your > uterus, should I also take out your ovaries? And then if you don't have > ovarian cancer, it would be a less significant indication and that where > there's more of a play of discussing the risk benefit ratio," he explains. > > Bower expects research will continue. He says the findings should be > especially useful to other scientists who share a determination to > untangle > Parkinson's many remaining mysteries. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > PRIVACY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the > sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain business > confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, > disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If this e-mail was not intended > for you, please notify the sender by reply e-mail that you received this > in error. Destroy all copies of the original message and attachments. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn