Cumbria Parkinson’s Research Day
Parkinson’s Research + Engagement: Diagnosis and Beyond
We would like to send out heartfelt thanks to all those researchers, organisers and participants who helped to make the Research event at the North Lakes Hotel in Penrith in April such a wonderful success. Alan Ellis and the West Cumbria Branch have kindly summarised this excellent day.
Welcome to all was given by Cara Connolly, Parkinson's area Development Manager.
For the remainder of the day speakers came around each table to inform us of their projects:
Research Opportunities and Recruiting Studies in Cumbria by Gillian Webster, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Gillian explained how a drug a "Ambroxel" may help to slowdown or flat line the progress of Parkinson's and handed out some information if people were interested to find out more. She also discussed the Parkinson's Family Project, a National Study, wanting details of current, family descendants who had or may have had Parkinson’s to build up a genealogic picture of a family, to interpret if any links from the past can be projected forward into future generations.
Brain Changes in People with Parkinson's by Dr Lauren Walker, Newcastle University: The nearest Brain Bank is in Newcastle there are several centres in the UK, (these are not the same as the Parkinson's Brain Bank in London). Brains when donated are used to determine, for example which proteins have developed and ‘stick together’ giving rise to disease. Microscopes are being developed to be able to give diagnoses quicker. Brains donated in the 1970's are still being used, due to new technologies developed in recent years.
Using Technology to Remotely Personalise Your Medication by Emma Parker, Brain Movement Research Group, Newcastle University
Digital devices were demonstrated looking at prompting for medication and recording walking movements such as speed step length, over longer and shorted bouts of walking. Motor fluctuations and dyskinesia are monitored. Eventually data will be collected for seven days, create a plan for the individual person. Data will be able to detect all movements e.g. medication, waking, sleeping etc. Data has been collected, is now being analysed, results should be ready in about two years.
Closing Remarks, by Tracy Westgarth and Cara Connolly: Thanked their teams of workers for all their work in enabling this event to be staged. Thanks, must also go to the speakers who have enlightened us with their work, the hotel for their hospitality. Special thanks to both Carlisle and West Cumbria Branches for funding this event.
Cumbria Parkinson’s Research Day
Parkinson’s Research + Engagement: Diagnosis and Beyond
Thursday 25th April | The Lakes Hotel, Penrith
Written by Alan Ellis and the West Cumbria Branch