HERE IS WHAT ONE PERSON THINKS.
What's ahead in health? Longer lives, focus on
obesity.
BY CHRIS ZDEB, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE JANUARY 5, 2010
You might call Dr. Axel Meisen a fortune teller.
As the chairman of foresight with the Alberta Research Council, he has the task of
predicting issues of importance to the province 20 to 30 years down the road. And when it
comes to medicine, Meisen sees changes ahead. Here he lists the 10 health trends we're
most likely to see by the end of 2019.
"This all sounds really magical and (like) far-out medicine," Meisen says, "but I think it's
coming and is within reach."
More birthdays
Most people now live into their 80s, but within 10 years, average life expectancy will begin
to approach 95 to 100 years. Reputable physicians say there's nothing much stopping us
from living to be 130 or 140, Meisen says, adding increased longevity will be mainly due to
better lifestyle choices.
More genetically caused diseases
Living longer means we're going to see more genetically influenced diseases typically
associated with longevity, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, Meisen says. Thanks to
the mapping of the human genome (the complete set of human genetic information), we're
getting closer all the time to understanding the causes of those diseases.
The overweight and obese will become the new smokers
With smokers dwindling in number, health advocates will turn their attention to whittling the
number of overweight and obese people, who further tax a health-care system groaning
under the weight of skyrocketing costs. More evidence will emerge that an unhealthy
weight is as bad for your health as smoking.
We'll start eating better
More people, including aging baby boomers, are aware of the link between good nutrition
and good health. Realizing much of the control rests in their hands, they're trying to eat
better and be more active, Meisen says, especially since they're going to live longer and
What's ahead in health? Longer lives, focus on obesity.
they don't want to spend the last years of their lives bedridden and riddled with disease.
Hardware will replace healing hands
Today's tele-health or tele-medicine, (delivering health-related services and information via
telephone, e-mail or video) is just the beginning. Gradually, doctors, nurses and other
health-care providers will be replaced by hardware and software, Meisen says.
Instead of a doctor poking and prodding at a patient, a machine will make an initial
diagnosis by measuring blood pressure, heart rate and weight, and maybe taking an
internal image of the body. By the end of the decade, most patients will be diagnosed by
physicians who aren't in the same room. This won't reduce the number of physicians
needed, but will free more of them to study data collected by advanced technology to
make a better diagnosis and decision about treatment, Meisen says.
Improved personal hygiene
We're already seeing a stronger link between handwashing and health, Meisen says.
Many infectious diseases are caused by poor hygiene in food preparation or in the home,
and more people will become aware of that, and improve their cleaning routines
accordingly.
On a public health level, this issue is already being addressed by removing the main doors
on public washrooms and having water, soap and hand towels or dryers triggered by
motion sensors.
Attention will now turn to making buses and LRT less hands-on, Meisen says.
Enhanced surgical procedures
Continued improvements to surgical procedures mean smaller incisions that require
shorter hospital stays and less time to heal. With robots, doctors can do things on a "micro
scale" that even the best physicians with the best hands and eyesight would have trouble
doing, Meisen says.
Today, open-heart surgery is still a very complicated, protracted procedure, but he expects
it to be shortened and simplified over the next 10 years because of new technology.
Cure for cancer possible
A cure for cancer depends on a breakthrough, which is extremely difficult to predict, but
the odds improve the more people work on it, Meisen says, and there are a lot of people
What's ahead in health? Longer lives, focus on obesity.
working on it.
More body parts replaced
Meisen expects significant advances in the development of replacement parts for the
body. We can already do simple replacements, for skin to treat burn victims, for example.
But we'll probably be able to replace tissue, muscle and some simple organs by the end of
the decade, reducing dependence on finding perfectly matched donor organs for
transplant, Meisen says.
The promise lies in research on stem cells and use of substrate (developing artificial body
parts or implants) into which you can grow things like muscle and skin, he explains. By
2019, we should be able to grow bone, eliminating the need to use metal pieces for repair.
We might also be able to develop an artificial kidney that is not a machine.
Into the mind
Sophisticated imaging techniques such as the functional MRI allow researchers to map
the way the mind works. Being able to study the living brain in action provides researchers
with information about depression, brain cancer, autism and memory disorders, bringing
them a step closer to figuring out how to possibly rewire it, though this is not likely to be
achieved in the next 10 years.
Edmonton Journal
czdeb@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
COLORED LIGHTS AND PARKINSON'S
How about this??
Scientists Use Colored Lights to Program Brain Activity
Jessica Berman | Washington 07 January 2010
Scientists in the United States have developed a powerful new method to help calm
the abnormal brain activity associated with diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's.
The technique involves the use of laser light stimulation of special proteins implanted in
key areas of the brain.
So-called neural "super silencers," were developed by scientists at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology from two genes found in fungi and bacteria. The genes, called
Arch (ARK) and Mac, are responsible for making light-sensitive proteins that help the
organisms convert light into energy.
But when those genes are inserted into the brain, neurons can be engineered to
express the proteins, making it possible to manipulate them with a laser beam and calm
irritated nerve cells that are responsible for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and chronic
pain syndromes.
Ed Boyden is a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at MIT. He is the lead author of
a study that showed how neurons containing the genes could be turned on and off
with pulses of laser-beam light. "If you could turn off those neurons that are behaving
inappropriately just for the right amount of time, that allows you to cancel out the
aberrant neural dynamics with fewer side effects than if you were to bathe the entire
brain in a pharmacological agent," he said.
Boyden says the laser light activates the genetically modified brain cells, lowering the
voltage in the neurons and stopping them from firing inappropriately.
"We've shown in the current paper that we could express these molecules from fungus
and archi-bacteria and so on and they would express just fine for months in mice. And
we also showed we could get safe and effective optical silencing of these neurons.
When we turned the light off, the neurons just go back to their normal activity," he said.
Scientists are now trying to develop a neural feedback system that would become
Scientists Use Colored Lights to Program Brain Activity | S... http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&t...
1 of 2 1/8/10 7:25 AM
active when brain cells start to become over-stimulated, as in the case of epilepsy. "So,
for example, one of the things we are working on is can we detect a certain brain state
using electrodes the same way that it's been done for almost a hundred years and use
it to monitor the brain and then deliver a pulse of light just at the right time to shut down
a pathological state in the brain," Boyden said.
With the new tools, Boyden says researchers may someday be able to identify and
correct complex neural networks that lead to disease by engineering different neurons
to respond to different colors of light.
For example, in the study, researchers found that brain cells implanted with the Arch
gene were silenced by yellow light, while neurons modified by the Mac gene were
silenced by blue light.
"We're screening even more species now to try to broaden our ecological biodiversity
screen. But we're also starting to do longer and longer measurements of the safety and
efficacy in more clinically interesting scenarios," he said.
Boyden's team has begun experimenting with light-sensing proteins to calm the brains
of non-human primates.
While the use of light tools to treat human brain diseases is still a long way off, Boyden
says other researchers are starting to use the technology to develop new and improved
drugs.
Ed Boyden and colleagues describe their work programming brain activity with lightsensing
genes this week in the journal Nature.
Find this article at:
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/science-technology/Scientists-Use-Colored-Lights-to-Program-Brain-Activity-80964302.html
Scientists Use Colored Lights to Program Brain Activity
Jessica Berman | Washington 07 January 2010
Scientists in the United States have developed a powerful new method to help calm
the abnormal brain activity associated with diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's.
The technique involves the use of laser light stimulation of special proteins implanted in
key areas of the brain.
So-called neural "super silencers," were developed by scientists at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology from two genes found in fungi and bacteria. The genes, called
Arch (ARK) and Mac, are responsible for making light-sensitive proteins that help the
organisms convert light into energy.
But when those genes are inserted into the brain, neurons can be engineered to
express the proteins, making it possible to manipulate them with a laser beam and calm
irritated nerve cells that are responsible for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and chronic
pain syndromes.
Ed Boyden is a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at MIT. He is the lead author of
a study that showed how neurons containing the genes could be turned on and off
with pulses of laser-beam light. "If you could turn off those neurons that are behaving
inappropriately just for the right amount of time, that allows you to cancel out the
aberrant neural dynamics with fewer side effects than if you were to bathe the entire
brain in a pharmacological agent," he said.
Boyden says the laser light activates the genetically modified brain cells, lowering the
voltage in the neurons and stopping them from firing inappropriately.
"We've shown in the current paper that we could express these molecules from fungus
and archi-bacteria and so on and they would express just fine for months in mice. And
we also showed we could get safe and effective optical silencing of these neurons.
When we turned the light off, the neurons just go back to their normal activity," he said.
Scientists are now trying to develop a neural feedback system that would become
Scientists Use Colored Lights to Program Brain Activity | S... http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&t...
1 of 2 1/8/10 7:25 AM
active when brain cells start to become over-stimulated, as in the case of epilepsy. "So,
for example, one of the things we are working on is can we detect a certain brain state
using electrodes the same way that it's been done for almost a hundred years and use
it to monitor the brain and then deliver a pulse of light just at the right time to shut down
a pathological state in the brain," Boyden said.
With the new tools, Boyden says researchers may someday be able to identify and
correct complex neural networks that lead to disease by engineering different neurons
to respond to different colors of light.
For example, in the study, researchers found that brain cells implanted with the Arch
gene were silenced by yellow light, while neurons modified by the Mac gene were
silenced by blue light.
"We're screening even more species now to try to broaden our ecological biodiversity
screen. But we're also starting to do longer and longer measurements of the safety and
efficacy in more clinically interesting scenarios," he said.
Boyden's team has begun experimenting with light-sensing proteins to calm the brains
of non-human primates.
While the use of light tools to treat human brain diseases is still a long way off, Boyden
says other researchers are starting to use the technology to develop new and improved
drugs.
Ed Boyden and colleagues describe their work programming brain activity with lightsensing
genes this week in the journal Nature.
Find this article at:
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/science-technology/Scientists-Use-Colored-Lights-to-Program-Brain-Activity-80964302.html
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
PDF IN 2009
HELPING TO REACH THE GOAL.
EXCERPTS FROM PDF:
PDF’s Top Ten List 2009
Funded $5 million through our diverse research programs to support the best scientific investments in Parkinson’s, including three leading Parkinson’s research centers and 24 individual investigators.
Continued our commitment to training future leaders in Parkinson’s through our Fellowship and Career Development Programs, which supported 42 fellowships for researchers, clinicians and medical students.
Remained responsive to new and existing research opportunities, including awarding $300,000 in emergency bridge funding to four leading Parkinson’s scientists and ramping up support for the promising Longitudinal and Biomarker Study in PD (LABS-PD) Project.
Advanced the state of clinical research to improve the development of new therapies for Parkinson’s by preparing 37 people with Parkinson’s to become clinical research advocates through our Second Clinical Research Learning Institute and by laying groundwork, through a series of roundtable discussions, for a clinical study to investigate the therapeutic potential of exercise.
Hosted a new series of online educational programs to ensure all people with Parkinson’s have access to the latest information from the leaders in the field. The seven programs attracted almost 7,000 registrants.
Advised, through our National HelpLine and Ask the Expert service, thousands of people with Parkinson’s, family members and health care professionals from all 50 states and six continents, on issues relating to diagnosis, treatment, caregiving and more.
Distributed 50,000 free educational publications to people around the US and around the world, to ensure people with Parkinson’s are armed with the facts and resources they need to live well.
Celebrated our fourth year working with our People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council, a group of 13 individuals who advise PDF on its programs.
Recommitted ourselves to our new financial assistance program (established in 2008 with an annual $50,000 grant to the Melvin Weinstein Parkinson's Foundation) for people with Parkinson’s to cover emergency needs, such as the purchase of wheelchairs, walkers and canes as well as home care and other assistance.
Was rated a Four-Star Charity by Charity Navigator, making PDF the only Parkinson’s Charity to receive both this and the Charity Seal of Approval from the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
In 2010, with your help, PDF will continue to support you and your loved ones with Parkinson’s through our research, education and advocacy programs. Your gift, if given before December 31st, will also give you the benefit of a tax-deduction on your 2009 return.
Please accept our appreciation for your support and our best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Robin Anthony Elliott
If you have or believe you have Parkinson’s disease, then promptly consult a physician and follow your physician’s advice. This email is not a substitute for a physician’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or for a physician’s prescription of drugs, treatment or operations for Parkinson’s.
www.pdf.org |Contact Us|PINS Helpline: (800) 457-6676
© 2009 Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Inc.
EXCERPTS FROM PDF:
PDF’s Top Ten List 2009
Funded $5 million through our diverse research programs to support the best scientific investments in Parkinson’s, including three leading Parkinson’s research centers and 24 individual investigators.
Continued our commitment to training future leaders in Parkinson’s through our Fellowship and Career Development Programs, which supported 42 fellowships for researchers, clinicians and medical students.
Remained responsive to new and existing research opportunities, including awarding $300,000 in emergency bridge funding to four leading Parkinson’s scientists and ramping up support for the promising Longitudinal and Biomarker Study in PD (LABS-PD) Project.
Advanced the state of clinical research to improve the development of new therapies for Parkinson’s by preparing 37 people with Parkinson’s to become clinical research advocates through our Second Clinical Research Learning Institute and by laying groundwork, through a series of roundtable discussions, for a clinical study to investigate the therapeutic potential of exercise.
Hosted a new series of online educational programs to ensure all people with Parkinson’s have access to the latest information from the leaders in the field. The seven programs attracted almost 7,000 registrants.
Advised, through our National HelpLine and Ask the Expert service, thousands of people with Parkinson’s, family members and health care professionals from all 50 states and six continents, on issues relating to diagnosis, treatment, caregiving and more.
Distributed 50,000 free educational publications to people around the US and around the world, to ensure people with Parkinson’s are armed with the facts and resources they need to live well.
Celebrated our fourth year working with our People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council, a group of 13 individuals who advise PDF on its programs.
Recommitted ourselves to our new financial assistance program (established in 2008 with an annual $50,000 grant to the Melvin Weinstein Parkinson's Foundation) for people with Parkinson’s to cover emergency needs, such as the purchase of wheelchairs, walkers and canes as well as home care and other assistance.
Was rated a Four-Star Charity by Charity Navigator, making PDF the only Parkinson’s Charity to receive both this and the Charity Seal of Approval from the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
In 2010, with your help, PDF will continue to support you and your loved ones with Parkinson’s through our research, education and advocacy programs. Your gift, if given before December 31st, will also give you the benefit of a tax-deduction on your 2009 return.
Please accept our appreciation for your support and our best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Robin Anthony Elliott
If you have or believe you have Parkinson’s disease, then promptly consult a physician and follow your physician’s advice. This email is not a substitute for a physician’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or for a physician’s prescription of drugs, treatment or operations for Parkinson’s.
www.pdf.org |Contact Us|PINS Helpline: (800) 457-6676
© 2009 Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Inc.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
STORM TRACKER
It is Friday night 12/18/2009.
All you hear about on the news (east coast U.S.A.) is storm warnings and watches. Predictions of the worst in 43 years for a pre-Christmas winter storm.
As I see it not all predictions come to pass. We have been in an economic storm for over two years. Not all predictions come to pass.
Some say the storm has passed.
Some say the storm continues.
Some say the storm is getting worse.
Some say the storm is getting better.
Some say, "what storm"???
It all depends on where you stand, sit, or whatever.
I guess we will see.
All you hear about on the news (east coast U.S.A.) is storm warnings and watches. Predictions of the worst in 43 years for a pre-Christmas winter storm.
As I see it not all predictions come to pass. We have been in an economic storm for over two years. Not all predictions come to pass.
Some say the storm has passed.
Some say the storm continues.
Some say the storm is getting worse.
Some say the storm is getting better.
Some say, "what storm"???
It all depends on where you stand, sit, or whatever.
I guess we will see.
PARKINSON'S--THAT FICKLE DISEASE
fickle |ˈfikəl|
adjective
changing frequently, esp. as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection : Web patrons are a notoriously fickle lot, bouncing from one site to another on a whim | the weather is forever fickle.
DERIVATIVES
fickleness |ˈfɪkəlnəs| noun
fickly |ˈfik(ə)lē| |ˈfɪk(ə)li| adverb
ORIGIN Old English ficol [deceitful] .
PD(Parkinson's Disease) oh yes, it can be fickle, unpredictable. Just ask someone who travels down the road with PD.
You say you don't know anyone with PD. Well I bet you do, even if you are not aware of it. It has been written that a person diagnosed with PD more than likely was afflicted eight or ten years before being told, "You Have Parkinson's Disease (that's not what you want to hear).
PD is more prevalent than most people realize. Young Onset P D is a growing concern. I was fortunate to not fall into that category and most fortunate to be slow at progressing since my diagnosis in 2000.
My journey with PD has taught me many things and introduced me to people that are amazing in their life and times with PD, patients, caregivers and medical professionals and researchers.
Yet, here we are, shaking the world and still no cure in sight. Hopefully the funds for research and care will not be cut in these turbulent times.
Journeying through uncharted waters, better days ahead.
adjective
changing frequently, esp. as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection : Web patrons are a notoriously fickle lot, bouncing from one site to another on a whim | the weather is forever fickle.
DERIVATIVES
fickleness |ˈfɪkəlnəs| noun
fickly |ˈfik(ə)lē| |ˈfɪk(ə)li| adverb
ORIGIN Old English ficol [deceitful] .
PD(Parkinson's Disease) oh yes, it can be fickle, unpredictable. Just ask someone who travels down the road with PD.
You say you don't know anyone with PD. Well I bet you do, even if you are not aware of it. It has been written that a person diagnosed with PD more than likely was afflicted eight or ten years before being told, "You Have Parkinson's Disease (that's not what you want to hear).
PD is more prevalent than most people realize. Young Onset P D is a growing concern. I was fortunate to not fall into that category and most fortunate to be slow at progressing since my diagnosis in 2000.
My journey with PD has taught me many things and introduced me to people that are amazing in their life and times with PD, patients, caregivers and medical professionals and researchers.
Yet, here we are, shaking the world and still no cure in sight. Hopefully the funds for research and care will not be cut in these turbulent times.
Journeying through uncharted waters, better days ahead.
Monday, December 14, 2009
PARKINSON'S and the V A PADRECC
Once again I am impressed with the Veteran's Administration Parkinson's program. They are truly on top of things and most cooperative and understanding of the various problems encountered by PD patients.
One of the best things since tips on shoelaces.
HELP WAS THERE FROM PLM/PARKINSON'S MEMBERS
All I can say is thank you for the support and advice I received from Patients Like Me.com members over the past few days. Just a little bit helps and it brought me comfort from my misery of changing my meds cocktails.
Thank You All
Parkinson's and Changing Medicines
In the past eleven years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, I have endured the fear and panic of adding medications to control the symptons of PD (as we all know there is no cure yet). When you know you are signing on for a lifetime of putting more and more foreign things into your body--you worry and become concerned that this is just a "shooting from the hip" process.
Parkinson's is such a fickle disease, you hardly ever know what's around the corner, until you get there.
Well, my latest fun was weaning myself off one medication and adding another.
MISERY, that's what I call this past few days. I now await the open office hours of my PD specialist, hoping for an answer, but I do remember the Doctors are still practicing medicine.
I look forward to better days ahead.
'Till next time.
Parkinson's is such a fickle disease, you hardly ever know what's around the corner, until you get there.
Well, my latest fun was weaning myself off one medication and adding another.
MISERY, that's what I call this past few days. I now await the open office hours of my PD specialist, hoping for an answer, but I do remember the Doctors are still practicing medicine.
I look forward to better days ahead.
'Till next time.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
P.A.D.R.E.C.C @ The V.A.
The Veterans Administration should be proud of their participation in the research, education and treatment of Parkinson's Disease.
This journeyman with PD has finally made the move to become one of the lucky veterans participating in this all inclusive program.
I am just getting started and will update my progress and experiences along the way.
'til then,
HAPPY TRAVELS
This journeyman with PD has finally made the move to become one of the lucky veterans participating in this all inclusive program.
I am just getting started and will update my progress and experiences along the way.
'til then,
HAPPY TRAVELS
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