To : All members of the Listserv
=46rom : Will A. Kuipers =
<[log in to unmask]>
The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in its issue of the 21st of march,
publishes a substantial article =
about a new method of earlier detection of Parkinson's Disease.
Research being done by a group of investigators, at the VU ( The Free
University ) of Amsterdam,
led by neurologist dr. Erik Wolters and by neurologist prof, dr. Wolfgang=
Oertel of Munich, Germany
centers on the detection of reduced activity of the olfactory nerves.
It is known that by the time effects of the disease become noticeable, 80=
%
of dopamine producing
cells in the Substantia Negra area of the brain have already been
destroyed.
The researchers are operating under the supposition that the loss of sens=
e
of smell actually
occurs much earlier in the process, allowing a much earlier detection.
Besides being very helpful in the diagnosis, it is hoped that there will =
be
an earlier possibility
of stopping the disease from progressing.
If this could be achieved the lessening of effectivity of the present
medicines due to the =
progressing disease, could also be stopped and the medicines would be
rendered effective
for the remaining life of the patient.
In this research initially careful studies are made of the sense of smell=
of some 500 relatives of
PD patients. When this leads to indications of irregularity, these person=
s
are likely candidates
for a so-called SPECT scan.
In this expensive test radioactive tracers are used in a scan of the
dopamine producing portions
of the brain. The tracers will not be able to adhere to dopamine cells th=
at
have already died.
In this way it is hoped that future PD patients can be identified.
It is then hoped that in this yet unknown advance stage medicines that ar=
e
at present being
developed could be administered to effectively stop the progress of the
disease. =
This would be closer to a cure than present methods that amount to
combatting symptoms.
Will A. Kuipers
<[log in to unmask] =
Note: If anybody cares to comment on this email, please be advised that I=
will be travelling
for the next two weeks and will not be able to receive mail.
