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It develops subtly and gradually—perhaps with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand, trouble getting out of a chair, soft or mumbled speech, losing track of thoughts, or feeling tired and irritable for no apparent reason. It occurs when the dopamine-producing cells in the brain begin to die for unknown reasons. Messages from the brain telling the body how and when to move are therefore delivered more slowly, leaving a person incapable of initiating and controlling movements in a normal way. It is called Parkinson’s disease (PD) for which there is, at present, no known cure and no treatment to slow its course. However, a new study suggests that a commonly used drug may actually reduce the risk of developing PD—a discovery that could one day bring an end to this devastating movement disorder. Dr. Beate Ritz, of the UCLA School of Public Health, and colleagues analyzed data from a nationwide Danish medical record system and a pharmacy database. They discovered that patients treated with calcium channel blockers were 27 percent less likely to be diagnosed with PD. Furthermore, the risk reduction was not dependent upon the intensity of the drug or the length of usage. First identified in the late 1960s, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are commonly used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). They work by slowing the rate at which calcium passes into the heart muscle and into the vessel walls, which relaxes the vessels and lets the blood flow more easily through them, thereby lowering blood pressure. Some CCBs have the added benefit of slowing your heart rate, which can further lower blood pressure, relieve chest pain (angina) and control an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Previously, L-type calcium channel blockers were shown to protect animals against cell loss and motor deficits after administration of MPTP, a neurotoxin that causes permanent PD symptoms by killing neurons in the brain. “These findings add to basic science and epidemiologic evidence that L-type calcium channel blockers may have a protective effect against the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease or the disease process,” said Dr. Connie Marras of Toronto Western Hospital. “This causal relationship remains to be proven, but the results are exciting given that the L-type calcium channel blockers are widely available, have a well-known and reasonable safety profile and are not prohibitively expensive.” PD is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, second only to Alzheimer’s disease in the number of people affected. Estimates suggest that approximately 750,000 Americans have PD, with as many as fifty thousand new cases each year. There are medications to ease the symptoms of PD, but treatment can be complex for several reasons. First, because PD is a progressive disease, meaning that it gets worse over time, the medications and doses that work well early on may be insufficient later on. Second, there are many different treatment options and finding the right combination can be time consuming. Third, the most effective drugs have troubling, long-term side effects and are difficult to control. Fourth, because of the age in onset, PD patients are likely to have other conditions associated with advancing age, and these conditions or their treatment may interfere with treatment for PD. And, in cases where drugs fail to control symptoms, there is brain surgery. Deep brain stimulation uses electrical impulses, generated by surgically implanted wire electrodes, to stimulate a target area in the brain. It does not destroy brain tissue and has fewer risks than older surgical methods, such as pallidotomy and thalamotomy, which involve the precise destruction of very small areas in the deep part of the brain that cause symptoms. Neurotransplantation surgery, which involves implanting cells that produce dopamine into the brain, is also being studied for the treatment of PD. However, the procedure is experimental and information about its effectiveness is limited. At present, it is not a proven treatment or a realistic option for most people. The study findings were presented at The Movement Disorder Society’s 13th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, where more than 3,900 physicians and medical professionals from 90 countries gathered to learn the latest research findings and state-of-the-art treatment options for Movement Disorders. Over 1,700 scientific abstracts submitted by clinicians from around the world were on display. The Movement Disorder Society, an international society of over 3,000 clinicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn