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Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: parkinson's causes + parkinsons + parkinson's  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/5/2008)

Join the fight against Parkinson?s nowwearetalking, Australia - Having been diagnosed with Parkinson?s at 28, Nerissa set up POP (Perspectives on Parkinson?s) ? a foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into a ... Attempting and reaching perfection Osakis Review, MN - Kevin Burkart, the son of Lois Omacht Burkart of Osakis and Gary Burkart of Shell Lake, Wisconsin, did 100 sky dives to raise $45000 for Parkinson?s Disease ... Doctors warn seniors of delirium-inducing medications Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY - 49 minutes ago He pinpointed the cause, a Parkinson's medication called amantadine, then treated Delue with drugs that counteract some of the effects of delirium. ... Meda Acquires European Businesses from American Valeant and Enters ... WELT ONLINE, Germany - Aug 3, 2008 Tasmar (tolcapone) is used in combination with levodopa and carbidopa for the treatment of patients with severe Parkinson's disease. ...VRX Neurostimulators help woman curb tremors Arizona Republic, AZ - Aug 3, 2008 An estimated 5 million to 10 million people have the condition, often mistaken for Parkinson's disease. The difference is that people with Parkinson's ... High-rollers like to rock 'n' bowl for charity Denver Post, CO - Angelich was of special comfort to Denzer, a longtime society writer, as she battled Parkinson's for more than a decade. Doug Tisdale, the board's immediate ... The Neglected Side of Parkinson's Disease RedOrbit, TX - Aug 3, 2008 This finding raises the possibility that the latter group may, in fact, have had early Parkinson's disease and, had they not died of other causes, ... 7 Hidden Ways to Get Better Sleep Munster Times, IN - Some herbs may react with certain types of medication or cause adverse effects in individuals with liver disease, Parkinson's disease, and pregnant or ... Critical protection against disease risks Bangkok Post, Thailand - Aug 3, 2008 ... five major areas: heart disease, stroke, cancer, organ failure, brain- and age-related illnesses such as Parkinson's, dementia or Alzheimer's diseases. ... Wall Street Journal Blogs Claim: Parkinson?s Drug Causes Gambling Addiction. Discuss. Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - Jul 28, 2008 Joe Neglia was a retired government intelligence worker with Parkinson?s disease when he suddenly developed what he calls a gambling habit from hell. ...

Parkinson's cause still mostly a mystery

CNN: What is Parkinson's disease?

Growden: Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurological diseases. It was first described by James Parkinson back in 1817. He observed patients walking on the street with a slight tremor of the hand, a little bit of stooped posture and he wrote a paper on this. These are some of the features of Parkinsonism that we recognize today.

CNN: How is it diagnosed?

Growden: We make the diagnosis if individuals have at least two of what we call the cardinal manifestations of Parkinson's. The first symptom is a tremor. The second is a muscle stiffness or rigidity, and we test this by moving the limb through a range of movement. The third feature is slowness and facial impassivity. We all shift around and move. A patient with Parkinson's sits like he or she is carved out of a block of stone. The fourth feature is balance and gait abnormality. Parkinson's patients, as they progress, are prone to falls, which is one of the most distressing aspects of the whole thing.

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CNN: What causes Parkinson's?

Growden: In most cases we really don't know. There are some environmental factors that have been implicated in Parkinson's disease. It is known now that some pesticides can cause some cells to degenerate.

CNN: Is it always progressive?

Growden: Almost always, but the progression is measured in years, not in weeks or months. It's not uncommon to have patients who have this for 15, 20, 25 years.

CNN: What do you recommend for treatment?

Growden: In the right patient, the right dose of medicine is a miracle. The treatments we have are good. In many cases they can restore people for many years to full function. They are not curative however. There are also a whole set of physical therapies we recommend for patients with Parkinson's disease because when you get muscle stiffness, the tendency is to do very little. (Watch how meditation, exercise can help Parkinson's patients. )

CNN: Is there a cure in sight?

Growden: A lot of the enthusiasts and advocacy groups in the Parkinson's community are keen on stem cell transplantation and are a little upset that there seems to be a limitation on research in that area. That certainly holds great promise, but there are many years to go.

CNN: What do you say to a patient reluctant to seek help?

Growden: If the person is 75 years old, retired, tending the rose garden, they may say why bother. We always tailor the treatment to individual patient needs. If someone is impaired, slowing down or their life is constricted by this, then we begin treatment. The most important thing for patients to realize is that Parkinson's disease is not a death sentence.

Judy Fortin is a CNN Medical News correspondent.