Latest news with #ParkinsonsFoundation
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Leading Parkinson's Advocacy Groups Urge Strong Federal Investment in Biomedical Research
NEW YORK , June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Congress works to set funding levels for the National Institutes of Health, The American Parkinson Disease Association, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and The Parkinson's Foundation call on lawmakers to ensure that a robustly funded, collaborative NIH — the essential engine of medical progress and hope for millions of Americans — is a cornerstone of the nation's budget today and in the future. Decades of dedicated scientific investigation and bipartisan support for NIH have advanced the search for next-generation treatments and brought us to the brink of transformative breakthroughs in Parkinson's care. Sustained federal investment also has contributed to recent discoveries that have unlocked brand-new understanding of shared biology across the major brain diseases, positioning the field to make even more rapid gains within the next decade. Any reorganization of NIH must be guided by these new scientific insights— with input from patients and families — to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes. It is imperative that we preserve and build on this progress by increasing investment in our national scientific enterprise through NIH on behalf of the 1 million Americans living with Parkinson's, their families and the millions more whose lives are touched by neurodegenerative disease, such as Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer's disease. This is the future our country needs and deserves. Our organizations have demonstrated the power of public-private partnership to drive scientific progress, delivering results for patients and families. We and our nationwide network of advocates will support every effort to keep this critical work moving forward through the appropriations process and in any consideration of a reorganization of NIH. We trust our nation's leaders to join us in this vital mission. About The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is a nationwide grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson's disease (PD) and works tirelessly to help the approximately one million with PD in the United States live life to the fullest in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder. Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $313 million to provide outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevate public awareness about the disease, and support research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and ultimately put an end to this disease. About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding $2.5 billion in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; creates a robust open- access data set and biosample library to speed scientific breakthroughs and treatment with its landmark clinical study, PPMI; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us at Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. About the Parkinson's Foundation The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community. Since 1957, the Parkinson's Foundation has invested more than $474 million in Parkinson's research and clinical care. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram or call 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636). View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research; The Parkinson's Foundation; The American Parkinson Disease Association
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Inside Michael J Fox's miraculous Parkinson's turnaround... but it marks a troubling new health milestone
Michael J Fox will make an extraordinary return to acting after three decades with Parkinson's disease, which is surging in the US. Fox, 63, was diagnosed at just 29 years old with Parkinson's disease, a progressive brain disorder caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. This leads to movement and speech issues that worsen over time. Though the 'Back to the Future' star managed to hide his disease from the public eye for seven years, he began appearing on screen less often as he had more trouble walking, talking and controlling tremors. However, Fox announced this week he is returning to acting for the first time in five years, starring alongside Harrison Ford and Jason Segal in 'Shrinking' in an undisclosed role. Though it's unclear what his current treatment plan looks like, Fox's recovery could be from a slew of new treatments approved by the FDA in recent years, many of which his foundation has funded. But his return to form comes as Parkinson's rises in the US, with over 1million Americans now suffering from the disease. Experts are unsure what exactly is behind the troubling milestone, but recent research suggests environmental toxins and diet could be to blame. The above graph from the journal Neurology shows the increase in Parkinson's cases and deaths in the US from 1990 to 2019 The Parkinson's Foundation estimates 1.2million Americans will be diagnosed with Parkinson's by 2030, and 90,000 are struck by the disease every year. This is a 50 percent increase from the previously estimated rate of 60,000 a decade ago, the foundation estimates. Experts believe environmental factors could partly be to blame for the rise of Parkinson's disease in the US. Researchers in Minnesota, for example, found exposure to the pollutant particulate matter, PM2.5, raised the risk of Parkinson's disease by 36 percent. Another study published earlier this month also found consuming at least 11 servings of ultraprocessed food in a day increased the risk of early Parkinson's symptoms by damaging dopamine-producing neurons. There are roughly 35,000 deaths per year. There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but medications and other treatments can help replace lost dopamine and keep symptoms at bay. The most common, Levodopa, crosses the blood-brain barrier to convert itself into dopamine, controlling balance issues and tremors. Fox has previously said he takes Levodopa, though it's unclear if he still takes it. In 2015, the actor underwent deep brain stimulation. This is a surgical procedure that involves making small holes in the brain and implanting electrodes. Using a device on the chest resembling a pacemakers, electrical zaps get sent through the electrodes. In Parkinson's disease, it has been shown to interrupt faulty nerve signals in the brain, controlling movements. Fox is also seen in his 2023 documentary 'Still' working with a physical therapist on walking. According to Johns Hopkins, physical therapy can help Parkinson's patients improve balance and coordination, as well as stiffness and rigidity caused the lack of dopamine. He also has used speech therapy, as Parkinson's disease damages muscles responsible for speaking and swallowing. This therapy may have helped him maintain the ability to speak and recite lines for acting jobs. Though it's unclear if Fox has received experimental or newer treatments, his foundation has helped fund several of the newest Parkinson's therapies. These include a different form of deep brain stimulation called adaptive deep brain stimulation, which adapts electrical impulses in real-time based on symptoms. This means it can sense and adjust when a patient's brain activity changes, offering a more personalized approach. Adaptive deep brain stimulation was just approved by the FDA for Parkinson's in February and is expected to be widely available later this year. The Michael J Fox Foundation has also funded two medications placed under the tongue and inhaled that are meant to 'rescue' Parkinson's patients during 'off' episodes and quickly alleviate symptoms.
