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Bicycle May Speed Up Parkinson's Diagnosis
Posted 7 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Oct. 7 – A patient's ability to ride a bicycle can help doctors determine whether the patient has Parkinson's disease or atypical parkinsonism, regardless of the terrain or riding situation, a new study indicates. Atypical parkinsonism includes disorders that appear similar to Parkinson's disease but respond differently to treatment. It was already known that patients with atypical parkinsonism lose the ability to cycle early in their illness, while Parkinson's patients can still ride well. But it wasn't known if this "bicycle sign" was universally applicable across the varieties of riding environments or situations in different countries. In this study, Japanese researchers assessed the reliability of the "bicycle sign" in their country, which has hilly, narrow roads crowded with cars. They found that 88.9 percent of Japanese patients with atypical parkinsonism stopped cycling ... Read more
Related support groups: Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonian Tremor, Parkinsonism
Berries May Offer Sweet Protection Against Parkinson's Disease
Posted 14 Feb 2011 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, Feb. 13 – People who eat foods rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, especially berries, may be protecting themselves from developing Parkinson's disease, a new study suggests. In addition to berries, flavonoids are found in a variety of foods such as apples, chocolate, and citrus fruits. These compounds have been touted as protective against some diseases because of their antioxidant effects, researchers say. However, not all flavonoids are created equal. Only those known as anthocyanins, found in berries and other red/purplish fruits and vegetables, protected both men and women, according to the results of this study, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. "Although it's too early to say that eating berries can reduce Parkinson's disease risk, benefits of berries have been reported in several previous studies, for example, lowering risk of ... Read more
Related support groups: Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonian Tremor, Parkinsonism