Worldwide Parkinson's Cases will Double in Next 25 Years
A prospective study of the world's population has led University of Rochester scientists to predict that the number of individuals with Parkinson's disease in 15 of the world's largest nations will double over the next generation. The study, recently published in Neurology, highlights the significant challenge facing countries with rapidly growing economies, particularly in Asia, many of which are ill prepared to meet this impending public health threat. More>>

Going Back a Century to Look for Alzheimer Clues
The two dominant proteins that determine how much blood flows through the body's arteries have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, offering new clues to scientists. The research revives an observation noted by German physician Alois Alzheimer when he first recognized the disease 100 years ago, namely that changes occur in both the brain's cells and in the small arteries and capillaries that supply and drain blood to and from the brain. Over decades, doctors have almost exclusively focused on the toxic effects of the disease on brain cells. Now, this research is one of the first modern attempts to begin studying changes to blood vessels.
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Brain Energy Findings Provide Clues to Host of Diseases
The Dana Foundation is funding a new research project at the University of Rochester aimed at understanding how brain cells allocate and use energy. They can potentially provide crucial new information in helping to treat and cure a host of chronic brain conditions and diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
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Tweaking the Treatment for Restless Legs
New research is showing problems with the first drug approved to treat restless leg syndrome. If Requip (ropinirole) is taken for too long, the drug can actually backfire, causing symptoms to worsen, say doctors who specialize in treating the condition. They say that treatment that rotates through different types of medications may be needed for many patients.
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Lead, Mercury Inhibit Critical Cell Function
Levels of toxic substances previously thought to be safe can actually cause critical stem cells in the central nervous system to prematurely shut down. This research, which is the first to identify a common molecular trigger for the effects of toxicant exposure, may give scientists new insights into damage caused by toxicant exposure and new methods of evaluating the safety of chemicals.
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