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please change to: [log in to unmask] Thank you ----- Original Message ----- From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:12 AM Subject: Cholesterol-lowering drug may prevent PD progression > Science News > > Widely Used Cholesterol-lowering Drug May Prevent Progression Of > Parkinson's Disease > > ScienceDaily (Nov. 9, 2009) - Simvastatin, a commonly used, > cholesterol-lowering drug, may prevent Parkinson's disease from > progressing further. Neurological researchers at Rush University Medical > Center conducted a study examining the use of the FDA-approved medication > in mice with Parkinson's disease and found that the drug successfully > reverses the biochemical, cellular and anatomical changes caused by the > disease. > Statins are one of the most widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs > throughout the world," said study author Kalipada Pahan, PhD, professor of > neurological sciences at Rush University Medical Center. "This may be a > safer approach to halt the disease progression in Parkinson's patients." > Pahan and colleagues from Rush, along with researchers at the University > of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha published these findings in the > October 28 issue of the Journal of Neurosciences. > The authors have shown that the activity of one protein called p21Ras is > increased very early in the midbrain of mice with Parkinson's pathology. > Simvastatin enters into the brain and blocks the activity of the p21Ras > protein and other associated toxic molecules, and goes on to protect the > neurons, normalize neurotransmitter levels, and improves the motor > functions in the mice with Parkinson's. > "Understanding how the disease works is important to developing effective > drugs that protect the brain and stop the progression of Parkinson's," > said Pahan. "If we are able to replicate these results in Parkinson's > patients in the clinical setting, it would be a remarkable advance in the > treatment of this devastating neurodegenerative disease." > The study was supported by grants from National Institutes of Health and > Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. > Parkinson's is a slowly progressive disease that affects a small area of > cells within the mid-brain known as the substantia nigra. Gradual > degeneration of these cells causes a reduction in dopamine, which is a > vital chemical neurotransmitter. The decrease in dopamine results in one > or more of the classic signs of Parkinson's disease that includes, resting > tremor on one side of the body, generalized slowness of movement, > stiffness of limbs, and gait or balance problems. The cause of Parkinson's > disease is unknown. Both environmental and genetic causes of the disease > have been postulated. > Parkinson's disease affects about 1.2 million patients in the United > States and Canada. Although 15 percent of patients are diagnosed before > age 50, it is generally considered a disease that targets older adults, > affecting one of every 100 persons over the age of 60. This disease > appears to be slightly more common in men than women. > > Adapted from materials provided by Rush University Medical Center, via > EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. > > Rayilyn Brown > Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > [log in to unmask] > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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