PARKINSONS LINKS & SUPPORT GROUPS

Engineered stem cells show promise for sneaking drugs into the brain

2005-12-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

One of the great challenges for treating Parkinson's diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders is getting medicine to the right place in the brain.

The brain is a complex organ with many different types of cells and structures, and it is fortified with a protective barrier erected by blood vessels and glial cells - the brain's structural building blocks - that effectively blocks the delivery of most drugs from the bloodstream.

But now scientists have found a new way to sneak drugs past the blood-brain barrier by engineering and implanting progenitor brain cells derived from stem cells to produce and deliver a critical growth factor that has already shown clinical promise for treating Parkinson's disease.CLICK TO READ

A Potential Parkinson's Advance

2005-12-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

It has been a big problem for patients getting medicine to areas of the brain that need it most, but a new study in the Journal Gene Therapy, says researchers have created stem cells that can sneak past the blood-brain barrier, and deliver cells to the portions of the brain that are deteriorated. The stem cells were even able to stimulate the growth of new brain fibers there, which survived for up to three months.KCBD - NewsChannel 11 / CLICK TO READ

Eye Cell Implants Improve Motor Symptoms for Parkinson Patients - USA

2005-12-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

A preliminary study suggests that implants of cells from the human retina improved motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson disease, and they appear to be safe and well tolerated.CLICK TO READ

Evidence links cocaine abuse and Parkinson's disease

2005-12-14T23:48:00.000-08:00

Adults who abuse cocaine might increase their risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), and pregnant women who abuse cocaine could increase the risk of their children developing PD later in life, according to results of laboratory studies performed by investigators at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The study’s findings are important because there are currently more than 2 million cocaine abusers in the US today, the researchers said. Many individuals who abused the drug during the height of the cocaine abuse epidemic of the 1970s and 1980s are now entering their older years, when symptoms of PD are likely to emerge.Evidence links cocaine abuse and Parkinson's disease

Resources for Caregivers...National Organizations

2005-12-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

American Health Care Association (AHCA)
1201 L St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 842-4444
www.ahca.org

FamilyCare America
Enter your Zip code
1004 N. Thompson St. Suite 205
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 342-2200
E-mail: info@familycareamerica.com
www.familycareamerica.com

Family Caregiver Alliance
180 Montgomery St. Suite 11001
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 434-3388
or 1-800-445-8106
E-mail: info@caregiver.org
www.caregiver.org

National Alliance for Caregiving
4720 Montgomery Lane Fifth Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814
E-mail: info@caregiving.org
www.caregiving.org

National Center for Assisted Living
1201 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 842-4444
www.ncal.org

National Family Caregivers Association
10400 Connecticut Ave Suite 500
Kensington, MD 20895-3944
1-800-896-3650
(301) 942-6430
www.nfcacares.org

The Well Spouse Foundation
63 West Main St. Suite H
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 577-8899
1-800-838-0879
www.wellspouse.org

AARP
601 E Street NM
Washington, DC 20049
1-888-OUR-AARP
(1-888-687-2277)
AARP.com

Government Resources

Eldercare Locator
Provides help in finding local services for seniors.
1-800-677-1116
www.eldercare.gov

National Family Caregiver Support Program
Administration on Aging
Washington, DC 20201
(202) 619-0724
1-800-677-1116
E-mail: aoainfo@aoa.gov
www.aoa.gov/caregivers

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th St. SW
Washington, DC 20410
Phone: (202) 708-1112
TTY: (202) 708-1455
www.hud.gov

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
1-800-MEDICARE
www.medicare.gov

Health Care Finance Administration
1-877-267-2323
www.hcfa.gov

The National Parkinson Foundation

2005-11-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE

Michael J. Fox Foundation

2005-11-08T22:13:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE

Cure Parkinson’s Program

2005-11-08T22:11:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE

:: American Parkinson Disease Association

2005-11-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

CLICK

2005-11-08T21:59:00.000-08:00

National Parkinson's Foundation
National.

More than 1000 active support groups, including Young Onset Parkinson community and online groups, that seek to improve the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers. Provides information on local groups at their website. Provides (at website) a "Support Group Leaders Manual" to help those interested in starting a new group.

WRITE:

National Parkinson's Foundation

1501 NW 9th Ave.

Miami, FL 33136

CALL: 1-800-327-4545

305-547-6666

FAX: 305-243-4403

E-MAIL: contact@parkinson.org

WEBSITE: http://www.parkinson.org

American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.
National. 65 chapters. Founded 1961.

Network of 800 support groups for patients and families. Chapter development guidelines. Quarterly newsletter. Promotes research. Fifty-four information and referral centers nationwide. Also offers online booklets, referrals and support.

WRITE:

Amer. Parkinson Disease Assn.

1250 Hyland Blvd., Suite B4

Staten Island, NY 10305

CALL: 718-981-8001

1-800-223-2732

FAX: 718-981-4399

WEBSITE: http://www.apdaparkinson.com

Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Inc.
International. Founded 1957.

Aims to provide Parkinson patients a better quality of life through funding of research, in the hopes of finding the cause and, ultimately, the cure. Provides referrals to support groups, newsletter, information and phone support. Online question and answer forum.

WRITE:

Parkinson's Disease Fdn.

710 W. 168th St.

New York, NY 10032

CALL: 212-923-4700

1-800-457-6676 (day)

FAX: 212-923-4778

E-MAIL: info@pdf.org

WEBSITE: http://www.pdf.org

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2005-11-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

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