So we'll leave that to the scientists! But it seems a breakthrough may be coming soon!

#rfu #parkinsons #alzheimers #RosalindFranklin #bioinnovationspeakerseries #neuroscience #neurdegenerativedisease #neurology

Their discussion of Amyloid & Tau, proteins that when found in the brain seem to be linked to AD & PD, & the challenges & triumphs in developing effective techniques & medications to detect those proteins & remove them, were beyond the scope of our understanding to provide a cohesive summary here!

- Michael asked the panel if they thought industry and private foundations could cover the cost of research impacted by NIH cuts. A panelist mentioned that one of the co-founders of Google (Sergey Brin) has donated over $1.5 billion to PD research!

- To continue researching neurodegenerative diseases, we need a very well funded NIH to attract talent not only for research in Univ. but for drug companies to have a pipeline of talent. The U.S. has been a major contributor to scientific research and that is why so much foreign talent comes here

- PD can also be prevented by lifestyle changes; a Mediterranean diet and exercise have been shown to help
- The Shingles vaccine has been found to reduce dementia!

Pesticides are also a factor, and people living in rural communities are especially affected. Pesticides are still not banned in the U.S. Air pollution is also a link. Additives in our water may be a factor; and TBI (traumatic brain injury)

- Toxins are a link. The EPA just banned TCE (trichloroethylene) in December. It is basically a degreasing agent. It's used in decaf coffee and dry cleaning.

- There is a correlation between industrialization and PD. The number of cases of PD in North America are 5 times higher than the rest of the world! Illinois has one of the highest incidences of PD among the states!

- 47% of AD cases are preventable with lifestyle changes
- Memory is elusive to scientists, they don't understand where it is happening!
- Parkinson's (PD) is the fastest growing neurological disease!

She learned so many fascinating things, not only from the panel, but scientists in the audience who also contributed their knowledge from their own research.

Did you know that:
- 1 in 8 people 65 or over have Alzheimer's (AD)
- AD starts 20 years before symptoms begin

Michael S. Rosen led a panel of local scientists who research diagnoses and treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's: Beth Stutzman and Vidya D J from RFU, Ole Graff from Abbvie, Jim Sullivan from Vanqua Bio and Semyon Shulman from FHCC and RFU.

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