Ray -- Thank you for the valuable service you provide by finding these news
stories. It is exciting to learn about what scientists are doing, and I
know that you are just repeating the language used by the media in your
subject line. However, I feel that the articles you post you need to be
placed in some context.
For example, despite the fact that the Medical Daily characterizes the
compound as a treatment, the Scripps news release says "Now the team’s new
dual inhibitor *will need to be optimized* [my emphasis]for potency, high
selectivity (which reduces off-target side effects) and bioavailability *so
it can be tested in animal models* [my emphasis again] of Parkinson’s
disease." This means that it is not even really a drug yet in the way I
believe most patients think of them. ("Drug = medication = a pill or a
patch or an injectable solution that I could take right now.") The compound
also hasn't even been tested on animals in a form similar to anything that
MIGHT one day be tested on humans.
The media love to sensationalize things to increase their
reader-/listener-/viewership. It is difficult to change their culture but
we can help our fellow Parkies (my term) to think and read news stories
critically, rather than merely swallowing them whole..
Again, I really appreciate what you are doing. I guess I'm asking you to do
a little bit more, whether it is to give a direct link to the original
study, or to preface the news stories like "Keep in mind that this is a
news story, not a scientific journal article about a product that is
readily available, so take what you read in it with a grain of salt."
Just my two cents' worth,
Jackie
On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 8:19 PM, Rayilyn Brown <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> developed but not identified by Scripps scientists.. Mannitol also
> mentioned.
>
>
> http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/16763/20130621/parkinsons-disease-drug-treatment-degenerative-disorder.htm
>
> Ray
> Rayilyn Brown
> Past Director AZNPF
> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
>
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--
Jackie Hunt Christensen
National Parkinson Foundation Minnesota board of directors
State Director, Parkinson's Action Network
Parkinson's disease and environmental health activist and author
* Note all organizational positions are volunteer
cell phone: 612-325-0372
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
weblinks: National Parkinson Foundation Minnesota<http://www.parkinsonmn.org>
Parkinson's Action Network <http://www.parkinsonsaction.org>
"Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not
socialism."
~Hubert H. Humphrey
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