PLEASE NOTE: I have marked three paragraphs in this story concerning research which showed that people in certain occupations are at a higher risk of developing Parkinsons. I heard this on a TV report last week and have been looking for it ever since. The TV reporter said the results of this study will be presented to the PARKINSON"S CONGRESS in Vancouver on Wednesday... http://www.ottawacitizen.com:80/national/990726/2649058.html Parkinson's sufferers get $6.8M boost Federal funding to speed research Mark Kennedy--The Ottawa Citizen VANCOUVER -- July 26, 1999 -- The federal government will more than double its support for Parkinson's disease research with a $6.8-million grant to be announced today. The funding is to be unveiled in Vancouver by Health Minister Allan Rock during his keynote speech to a major four-day conference on the degenerative neurological disorder. The 13th International Congress on Parkinson's disease is drawing more than 2,000 neurologists, researchers and physicians from around the world. Their goal is to learn more about the cause of the mysterious disease that affects about 100,000 Canadians, find better ways of treatment, and hopefully, discover a cure some day. The new federal funding will enable a team of researchers at the University of British Columbia to embark on several research projects aimed at improving the lives of those with Parkinson's. Researchers believe Parkinson's may result from a genetic predisposition that is triggered when someone is exposed to certain other factors. For instance, one of the UBC projects will examine whether viral infections are a possible cause of the disease. ---->------------>----------->----------- Already, in an unpublished study of nearly 900 British Columbians, the UBC scientists have found that people whose jobs may expose them to more viruses and infections have a greater risk of getting Parkinson's. They found that teachers, medical workers and those who work outdoors in mining, forestry, logging, and oil and gas exploration have elevated risks of developing the disease. Researchers say if further studies confirm the theory to be true, it's the first step toward preventing people at risk from contracting Parkinson's. ---->------------>------------->--------- Despite its progressively destructive symptoms -- muscle stiffness, tremors, painful cramps, slow speech and movement, and an eventual inability to walk -- most people know little about the disease. Its most famous victims include former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali and Canadian-born actor Michael J. Fox, who drew unprecedented publicity to the disease last year when he revealed he was diagnosed with early-onset symptoms. The disease destroys brain cells that produce dopamine -- a neurotransmitter that carries messages between nerve endings, allowing muscles to move. Most people experience a natural drop in dopamine levels as they reach their 60s and 70s, but those with Parkinson's face a steep drop that causes slow loss of body control. Most aren't diagnosed with the disease until after the age of 55, but researchers believe that at least half of the brain damage has occurred by then. Mr. Rock's announcement will come as good news to advocates for Parkinson's victims, who have long complained of government underfunding for research projects. Currently, the federal government -- through the Medical Research Council -- directly invests just under $1 million a year in research on Parkinson's. The $6.8 million in new funding adds slightly more than $1 million per year over the next five years in operating grants for the research projects. As well, $1.4 million is being forwarded to purchase specialized equipment, in particular, a $1-million positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. The PET machine is used by researchers to provide high-resolution images of the brain. The grants are being awarded to Dr. Donald Calne, lead researcher in the University of British Columbia project, and 13 of his colleagues. Under the collaborative research project, titled Degenerative Disorders of the Motor Pathways, the researchers will conduct six projects. The money will allow them to study the natural history of Parkinson's disease and the role of dopamine. -- Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada [log in to unmask] ^^^ \ / \ | / Today’s Research \\ | // ...Tomorrow’s Cure \ | / \|/ ```````