Guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C) is protective against dopamine neuron degeneration, a hallmark of Parkinson’s, by helping the cell’s powerhouse. A new study is the first to identify a brain receptor called GUCY2C as a potential way to fight dopamine loss. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is caused by the death of neurons that produce dopamine — a feel-good chemical related to movement, mood and more — in the brain. Dopamine neurons are involved in movement and the loss of these neurons disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate movement, leading to hallmark PD symptoms, such as tremors, rigidity and slowness. One of the reasons that dopamine neurons

On July 2, President Biden signed the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act into law. This is the first-ever federal legislation dedicated to ending Parkinson’s disease (PD). Top five ways this monumental bill can make an impact: Dramatically increase federal research funding Develop more effective pathways for treatments and cures Improve early diagnosis Spark new and improved models for patient care Address health disparities in diagnosis, treatment and clinical trial participation “The Parkinson’s Foundation is excited for what comes next,” said John Lehr, Parkinson’s Foundation President and CEO. “We look forward to having input in designing exactly how this bill

When people first notice symptoms developing, they usually visit their GP who can refer them to a neurologist or other specialist. Parkinson’s disease cannot be diagnosed after just one hospital test and doctors will usually carry out a series of tests and investigations. The first stages of a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease will involve checking your medical history and carrying out a thorough neurological examination. Commonly, this involves a series of questions about your symptoms and a physical assessment of your ability to perform various tasks with your hands, arms, and legs. The doctor will observe you walking, talking and

Each person is affected differently by Parkinson’s disease and no two people will experience exactly the same symptoms. The impact of Parkinson’s disease can be unpredictable and it is common for people to have good days and bad days. The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are: tremor (involuntary trembling or shaking movements; the most common symptom) rigidity (stiffness) slowness of movement (bradykinesia) balance problems problems with posture (particularly a tendency to stoop forwards) Other possible symptoms include difficulty initiating movement (for example, when getting up from a chair), a shuffling gait when walking, and freezing when trying to move (especially

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic (long-term) neurological condition. It is progressive and symptoms worsen over time. It is named after Dr James Parkinson who first described the condition in 1817. People with Parkinson’s disease experience a loss of nerve cells in the part of their brains responsible for controlling voluntary movements. This part of the brain is called the substantia nigra (a small cluster of cells deep in the centre of the brain within an area called the basal ganglia). The nerve cells in the substantia nigra usually produce a chemical called dopamine which helps transmit messages from the brain