Summary: Environmental factors have a substantial impact on the development of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and risk levels can be dramatically reduced. These factors include dietary patterns, toxic chemical exposures, inadequate exercise, and socio-economic stress. It is also suggested that these factors alter the biochemical pathways in cells, which fuels not only Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases but other chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.

Comment: "It is clear from these findings that our activities in the areas of food and agriculture, energy, chemical use, and social organization are key drivers in the abnormal loss of neurological function in older people throughout the modern world," says Jill Stein, MD, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility. This report can help elderly people prevent neurological disorders by reducing environmental risk factors.

Summary: Falls are a serious health concern for millions of Americans. Some risk factors for falls include mobility difficulties, depression, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and hearing loss. Tips for avoiding falls include getting annual physical exams, consuming diets with adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D, not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, exercise, keeping homes safe from hazards, and wearing shoes with no-skid soles.

Comment: Every year more than 11 million Americans fall and injure themselves, resulting in 368,000 hip fractures last year. Seniors and those at risk for falls should follow the tips and guidelines issued to prevent falls. Making small changes in lifestyle can protect those with Parkinson's disease from falls and injuries.

Summary: The majority of physicians require patients to answer written questions while in the waiting room to visit the doctor. However, a new survey has revealed the gap between doctors and patients in the process of answering the written questions. Because of the difference in literacy between patients and physicians, most patients are confused, or don't understand most of the questions. According to Dr. Master, one of the authors of this survey, the predominant reason for this is illiteracy.

Comment: Illiteracy is becoming more common in American which is causing great problems to physicians. Not only is there a problem with illiteracy but also with patients who are innumerate. By answering the surveys to the best of your abilities, you will receive better diagnosis or treatment of parkinson's disease.

Summary: New market research shows that over the past year more adults went to the internet to get health information than consulted a doctor. This trend may likely be the product of an increasing consumer comfort in using the web to find reliable medical information. In addition, rising costs of healthcare coverage and visits to the doctor may be adding to the preference for first looking for information online.

Comment: The impacts of this trend, as well as others, will be discussed in an online seminar entitled "Is TV Dead? How the New New Media Changes Pharmaceutical DTC Advertising". The event is scheduled for October 14th at 11am EST and October 16th at 3pm EST.

Summary: The Granger causality is an economic theory used for determining whether links in events are coincidence or influenced from the events and processes. Research has shown that this economic theory can be used to better understand the influences of different parts of the brain. They used the frontoparietal cortex and the visual cortex, and used the Granger causality to determine that the frontoparietal cortex influences the visual cortex.

Comment: Researchers have been using MRI's to study the influences in the brain, but this method can only show results every two seconds, which can be too slow to see the influences. The Granger causality can be used to improve studies of brain functions and influences, and can also be used to determine the affects of lesions in certain brain areas. This method could help researchers develop better treatments for neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Summary: Vitamin D has been linked to improved overall health. This vitamin affects 36 organ tissues in the body including bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and uterus tissues. It has also been linked to improving immune systems, insulin secretion, heart health, blood pressure, muscle, brain activity, and decreased risk of cancer. For most adults 200-600 IU of daily vitamin D is recommended, but some experts recommend up to 2000 IU daily.

Comment: Vitamin D has previously been thought to improve bone health, but this study shows that it can affect all areas of health. By increased intake of vitamin D people with Parkinson's disease can experience improved health.

Summary: New regulations, which will take effect next Wednesday, have Medicare halting payment for 10 errors which they have deemed "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented." Expected to affect hundreds of thousands, the new rules will mostly likely not result in a major reduction in expenses.

Comment: This new decision comes on the heels of announcements by four state Medicaid organizations last year in which they eliminated 28 "never events", preventable errors, from coverage. The trend seems to be growing and could have negative ramifications for millions of Americans. Among others, healthcare professionals have begun expressing concern about the decision.

Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.

Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including Parkinson's disease. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with Parkinson's disease.

Summary: In an effort to clarify the rather unknown interactions between cholesterol and neurotransmitter receptors, scientists have created a computerized model using data relating to cholesterol's interaction with proteins. The results are a new model on the behavior of a neurotransmitter involved in inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, among others.

Comment: Pharmacology will most likely benefit from these findings. Drugs interacting with this receptor can now be made more specifically, effectively and correctly.

Summary: Researchers have discovered a way to improve electrical nerve stimulation by outfitting the electrodes with a basic black coating that is formed from carbon nanotubes. This coating improves the signals that are transmitted by the electrodes. The black coating also improves conductivity, reducing the tissue damage and using less electricity.

Comment: Because the condition of parkinson's can be so painful, this new treatment may help control the pain and improve the nerve cells. Many are affected with this condition and because of this improved therapy, patients may find their parkinson's not as painful.