Media Release – For immediate release
Four new studies announced to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first description of Parkinson’s disease
Wesley Medical Research has prioritised research that may result in new treatments and diagnostic techniques for Parkinson’s disease.
This coincides with the 200th anniversary of the first description of the disease by Dr James Parkinson, who first named Parkinson’s disease as the “Shaking Palsy” in an essay published in 1871.
Four new Wesley Medical Research studies on Parkinson’s diseases are:
- Repurposing a blood pressure pill for treatment of Parkinson’s disease
- Evaluating a physiotherapy exercise program to improve physical activity in patients with Parkinson’s disease
- Testing the sleep and ‘day-night cycle’ of patients with Parkinson’s disease
- Using melatonin to help relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
“Parkinson’s is a debilitating and incurable disease that has a major impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. Crucially, 31 new cases Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed every day in Australia and there are currently no effective treatments,” said Dr Richard Gordon, Parkinson’s disease researcher and collaborator from the University of Queensland.
“There is an urgent need to find ways to slow or stop disease progression. With support from the Wesley Medical Research, Shake It Up Australia Foundation and the Michael J Fox Foundation, our research group is working towards finding new treatments for Parkinson’s by repurposing drugs that are already approved as treatment for other diseases.”