Parkinson Foundation of Harris County

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Your help is needed NOW!

 

Our fiscal year 2009-10 (July 1–June 30) is past the half-way mark, and our income hasn't come close to supporting our expenses. If you have already paid your dues, we thank you. If you can raise your level of giving, that will be wonderful. To those who haven't contributed for a while or ever, we need your support. All proceeds go toward providing free services to persons affected by Parkinson's disease. We are an all-volunteer foundation, and the only paid workers are our therapists. We receive no funding from any city, state or federal source.

 

 

Exercise may delay the progression of PD

Research study conducted by University of Houston (UH) pharmacology graduate student Gaurav Patki and professor Yuen-Sum "Vincent" Lau, Ph.D. suggests that long-term endurance exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) by protecting cells involved in maintaining function and movement.

"Clinical reports have implicated exercise training in improving the physical performance and mobility of people with Parkinson's disease, but no one has demonstrated, either clinically or in laboratory models, whether exercise can delay the progression of neuronal degeneration," Dr. Lau said.

The UH researchers studied mice that had PD-like symptoms, including impaired movement and a marked loss of brain dopamine and mitochondrial function. They kept half the mice sedentary, and the other half on a motorized treadmill for 40 minutes daily, five days a week, for 18 weeks. At the end of the study, the exercised mice had significantly higher brain dopamine content, greater brain mitochondrial activity and performed better on balance tests than the sedentary mice.

"This research provides scientific evidence that long-term endurance exercise protects brain mitochondria and dopamine-producing neurons from undergoing progressive degeneration," said Dr. Lau, who chairs the UH Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. "We also proved and want to emphasize that exercise has to be long term in order to sufficiently produce the neuroprotective benefits."

From a report in Texas Medical Center News 1/15/2010

Free Caregiver Course. Thanks to Gillian Hill, Community Relations Manager of The Plaza at the Buckingham, for sending information about a six-week series of two-hour classes for caregivers.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes will be held at the Buckingham March 22-April 26, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Enrollment is limited. For questions or reservations call Monica Romero at 713-979-3100.