parkinson's uk research support network

Research Support Network

The Parkinson’s Research Support Network is run by Parkinson’s UK and brings together people driven to find better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s.

Get connected

Our Research Support Network connects you to all the latest Parkinson’s research news and opportunities.

Everyone is welcome, from researchers to people with Parkinson’s – all you need is an email address to get started.

Sign up to our Research Support Network  to receive regular emails about how to get involved in Parkinson’s research.

You will receive PUK’s monthly  Research Roundup , as well as opportunities to take part and have a say in research in your local area.

The Guildford and South Surrey Branch is affiliated to Parkinson’s UK and is run by volunteers to support those living in the Guildford and South Surrey area who have Parkinson’s and their families and friends.

Parkinson’s UK is the operating name of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom, a registered charity in England and Wales (258197) and in Scotland (SC037554). Registered office: 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EJ.

Research for Parkinson’s Disease

Unlike any other Parkinson’s charity in the UK, Parkinson’s Care and Support UK funds non-pharmaceutical research into managing, reversing, reducing and curing Parkinson’s Disease. This involves looking at what we put into the body and how this can affect someone’s lived experience of Parkinson’s.

With little advancement with prescription drugs over the past 50 years coupled with unpleasant side effects, PCSUK believes that our focus should be on tackling Parkinson’s with natural remedies and therapies.

We have entered an era where people are more conscious now more than ever about the effects that natural remedies have on their bodies. From eating well and having a gut-friendly lifestyle to natural supplements, research surrounding this topic has been increasingly popular and hopeful. This is an exciting and ground-breaking area of Parkinson’s research in which we will lead the way.

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What’s in the research pipeline?

Dr Kevin McFarthing is Clinical Trials Highlights editor of the Journal of Parkinson's Disease. That journal’s most-read article of 2022 is Kevin’s regular update on the clinical trials pipeline for promising drug therapies. Unlike many academic articles it’s open-access and so anybody can read it on the journal website at this link .

The importance of this work was highlighted in this recent editorial by Prof Bas Bloem and Dr Lorraine Kalia .

Informative articles by our own members

We are beginning to build a collection of research and information material written by Branch members. We hope you will find it useful.

From dogfish to Gila monsters - Parkinson’s treatments of tomorrow

Our Research Officer, Dr Kevin McFarthing, gave a presentation at our March 2020 branch meeting with an overview of the search for new treatments for Parkinson’s. Branch members also learnt the collective noun for groups of dogfish and lizards. You can find a copy of the slides here .

What goes wrong in Parkinson’s?

This short, easy-to-read article about the mechanisms in our brain cells that are affected by Parkinson’s was written by our Research Officer, Dr Kevin McFarthing, in April 2018. If you're unfamiliar with some of the scientific jargon and ideas that we often hear about when discussing Parkinson’s research and treatments, this will help! Download the article as a PDF document here, or preview it in your web browser using this link .

Regularly updated The Hope List: Parkinson’s Therapies in Development

Kevin also maintains a document listing all the drugs and other therapies that are being developed or in trial, along with some whose development has been abandoned. Download the Excel spreadsheet here, or preview it in your web browser using this link . Some of the information in Kevin's spreadsheet is taken from the PDTrialTracker.info website , which you may also find interesting.

Kevin presented some of his work on The Hope List at our Branch meeting in January 2019. His talk is available as a video screencast at this link .

Keeping up with Parkinson’s research

Anyone who's tried to stay up-to-date with research in the Parkinson’s field will know that there is a huge amount of information appearing every week, and unless you're an active researcher it's difficult to follow it all. There are many blogs, digests and other resources available on the web, but their quality is hard to assess and some have a very limited focus. We would like to suggest some resources that we know to be trustworthy and broad in scope:

Science of Parkinson’s blog (open in new tab)

Dr Simon Stott, a former Cambridge University Parkinson’s researcher who is now Deputy Director of Research at Cure Parkinson’s Trust , maintains a fascinating, wide-ranging and brilliantly written blog. He updates it two or three times a week. Some of the articles are quite technical, but they're always explained clearly and with humour. Highly recommended.

You can go straight to Simon's blog at this link . However, if you're new to it, his review of 2019 research may be a good starting point.

To receive regular updates on Simon's blog, you will need to have a Wordpress account so that you can "follow" it. If you don't want to sign up with Wordpress, you can simply check back and look at the blog every week or so – or, if you're a Twitter user, you can follow his account @ScienceofPD where he highlights new articles.

Parkinson’s UK Research Support Network

The "Parky RSN" provides regular email updates on research and how you can get involved. You can find out more by following this link .

The research blog of Parkinson’s UK (open in new tab)

Our parent charity Parkinson’s UK always takes huge care to provide accurate, up-to-date and clear information. Claire Bale, Beckie Port and other research staff at the charity maintain an interesting collection of material, with new items added every few days or so, at their research blog which you can find at this link . It covers current developments in research, but also includes material on patient experiences, living well with Parkinson’s, and background articles of general interest.

If you sign up for an account with the Medium.com website, you can "follow" Parkinson’s UK to get regular updates on new content.

The Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre

We are very lucky to have a world-renowned centre for Parkinson’s research on our doorstep in Oxford, the OPDC. Led by Professors Michele Hu and Richard Wade-Martins, it conducts basic research into the causes of Parkinson’s and carries out clinical studies, both to learn more about the condition and to test potential new therapies. You can find out more here on OPDC’s website .

Taking part in a clinical trial

If you’re interested in taking part in a clinical trial, first you will need to find out which trials are recruiting people with Parkinson’s. There are several good sites that provide information on such studies:

• Parkinson’s UK
• UK NHS Clinical Trials Gateway
• Cure Parkinson’s Trust
• Fox Trial Finder
• European Parkinson’s Disease Association

Parkinson's UK is the operating name of the Parkinson's Disease Society of the United Kingdom.

A registered charity in England and Wales (258197) and in Scotland (SC037554). Registered office: 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EJ.

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Research Support Network Newsletters

Written by Julie Neale

0 comment(s), published: may 19, 2023.

Please see below the latest Research Roundup letters from Parkinson’s UK

Research Roundup Thank you for your continued support of Parkinson’s research, and a warm welcome if you are new to the Research Support Network. Study reveals benefits of physical activity for Parkinson’s symptoms Researchers compared results from over 150 studies to understand how different types of physical activity can be used to manage Parkinson’s symptoms. Being physically active can have a positive impact on Parkinson’s symptoms, both physically and mentally. Research has shown that aiming for 2.5 hours of physical activity a week can help people with Parkinson’s take control of their condition. Read more about the benefits of physical activity on our website. While there are many different types of physical activity, some will naturally suit some people better than others. However, it’s unknown whether some specific activities might be useful to target particular symptoms. Or whether exercises should be advised at different stages of the progression of the condition. What did the researchers do? The research team conducted a form of study called a Cochrane review. They analysed results from 156 different studies involving different types of physical activity including dance, aqua-based training and weight training. They looked at feedback from participants in these studies to assess for changes in quality of life, and other common tests to monitor progression of the condition. Overall, the researchers found that taking part in physical activity had benefits for people with Parkinson’s in terms of movement or improved quality of life, when compared with people who had not been active. It was not clear whether specific forms of physical activity were better than others for people with Parkinson’s. The team did find some evidence that linked taking part in dance classes with an improvement in balance and other symptoms associated with movement. They also found that aqua-based training was linked to improvements in quality of life, although whether this was due to physical activity or social interaction at exercise classes was unclear. What does this mean? This study, combining results collected from over 7,000 people with Parkinson’s, offers great evidence that taking part in most types of physical activity can be beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. Importantly, there was very little evidence that physical activity resulted in harm, or worsening of symptoms, for any participants. Dr Becky Jones, Research Communications Officer at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Reviews like this are a great example of how looking across results from many different studies can provide us with a clearer picture of whether a treatment or an activity could be beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. The study adds to our existing knowledge that physical activity can be an important way for people with Parkinson’s to take control of the condition. “The Cochrane review highlights exciting areas that need further study. More research into the particular benefits of dance or aqua-based training could help guide people with Parkinson’s to try out activities that could have the most impact on symptoms. “As always, we recommend that anyone wishing to make a change to their lifestyle speak with their healthcare provider for advice before starting.” Early results offer new hope for dyskinesia treatment We’re excited to announce the positive results of a trial for a potential new treatment for people with Parkinson’s with levodopa-induced dyskinesia. This is the first completed clinical trial funded by the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech. Dyskinesia is a debilitating side effect of current Parkinson’s medication, with around half (40 to 50%) of all people with Parkinson’s experiencing it after 5 years of taking levodopa, the main drug used to treat the condition. Up to 80% experience it after 10 years. With dyskinesia everyday tasks, such as eating, writing and walking, can become extremely difficult. In fact, uncontrolled movement was voted the third most important issue to be addressed by research in a recent Parkinson’s UK survey on quality of life. The main medication available to manage dyskinesia is amantadine, which can have side effects and does not work for everyone. The study tested whether a drug called NLX-112 is safe to use in people with Parkinson’s. It also looked at how effective it may be at reducing dyskinesia in people who take levodopa to manage their Parkinson’s. Its safety has previously been confirmed in people with other conditions. Serotonin cells in the brain have the ability to convert levodopa into dopamine. These cells are thought to contribute to the development of dyskinesia when they start to release dopamine erratically. NLX-112 works by targeting serotonin cells inside the brain, and decreasing the amount of dopamine the cells release. Supported by the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech The clinical trial was co-funded by The Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, the drug discovery arm of Parkinson’s UK, and The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The projects the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech funds are entirely driven by the Parkinson’s community and their priorities. This is the first completed clinical trial funded by the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, a global partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation. The promising results show that this innovative way of working to fast-track the most promising breakthroughs through the drug development pipeline is bringing us closer to new treatments. What did the research set out to do? The phase 2a clinical trial investigated how safe and well tolerated the drug was on a small number of people with Parkinson’s. The trial also took a first look at the drug’s efficacy, which is how well it does its job. What did the clinical trial involve? 22 participants with Parkinson’s with levodopa-induced dyskinesia completed the 8-week trial in Sweden. 15 participants received NLX-112 and 7 participants received a dummy drug. Participants either received NLX-112 or the dummy drug in increasing doses during the initial 4 weeks, to minimise the potential side effects. They stayed on the maximum dose for 2 weeks, and then were weaned off the drug over 2 weeks. What were the results? The results achieved the first objective to suggest that NLX-112 was safe and well tolerated in people with Parkinson’s. The second aim of the study was to show that NLX-112 was effective in treating dyskinesia. The results suggest participants who received NLX-112 showed a significant reduction in their scores for dyskinesia, whereas those who received the dummy drug did not show a significant reduction in their scores. The side effects of participants who received NLX-112 were mild, which confirmed previous results. What’s next? Now that the phase 2a clinical trial has been completed, the researchers will complete a full analysis of the results. They will then progress to a phase 2b clinical trial where they will investigate the safety and efficacy of the drug in a larger group. Dr Arthur Roach, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud and excited by these early results from Neurolixis. They were one of the first companies that the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech invested in, in partnership with The Michael J Fox Foundation, so to see it making positive progress just reiterates why this brave and innovative approach is right for the Parkinson’s community. It really is bringing us closer to new treatments that address the symptoms that the Parkinson’s community have told us are the most urgent and levodopa-induced dyskinesias is one of those. “Further studies will be necessary for regulatory approval and routine clinical use of NLX-112. But now people with Parkinson’s can have hope that a much-needed new treatment for levodopa-induced dyskinesias may be coming to them soon, and know that their support of the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech has made this possible.” Best wishes, Becky Jones Research Communications Officer

Research Roundup Thank you for your continued support of Parkinson’s research, and a warm welcome if you are new to the Research Support Network. Brain Awareness Week — studying the power of the brain’s self-cleaning system In March we marked Brain Awareness Week, a celebration of research being undertaken to understand how the brain works, and crucially ways to help when things go wrong. At Parkinson’s UK, almost all of the research we fund relates to the brain in some way. We know the symptoms of Parkinson’s are caused by a loss of a brain chemical called dopamine. This is linked to the death of brain cells which produce it. So whether the research is studying the brain more closely to look at what causes this, studying the impact of certain drugs for treating symptoms. Or even studying the effects of certain activities such as physical activity on mental health, it would be tricky to study Parkinson’s without considering the brain along the way. Some of the projects we fund look a bit more closely at how the condition develops in the brain. One such project is being led by Dr Ian Harrison and Professor Mark Lythgoe at University College London. Ian and Mark are interested in how our brains normally get rid of waste products which build up throughout the day. Failed clearance of these waste products can lead to them building up in the brain, which can stop the cells from being able to carry out their job as usual. Many different neurodegenerative conditions are associated with a build up of brain waste, normally in the form of clumps of sticky protein. In Parkinson’s, the troublesome protein is called alpha-synuclein. Strands of the protein start to tangle together and clog up brain cells, causing damage which ultimately results in cell death. Flushing away the waste In our brains, we need a way to clear away the waste protein which builds up throughout the day. Luckily, we have a built-in self-cleaning system, called the glymphatic system, which kicks in while we sleep. The glymphatic system is a network of fluid-filled spaces and water channels that can carry this accumulated waste out of the brain. It uses cerebrospinal fluid, a clear liquid which surrounds the brain, to wash away the toxic proteins and dead cells that have built up during the day. But in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, the system is not able to clear away the toxic clumps of alpha-synuclein effectively. So in 2019, alongside Alzheimer’s UK, we co-funded a project led by Ian to try and understand whether there are ways to boost this system. The project involves studying mice that have been injected with alpha-synuclein. This injection triggers the alpha-synuclein already in the brain to start clumping together, which then starts to accumulate in the brain. As alpha-synuclein clumps form, they cause damage, and the clumps start to spread around other cells. This means that the mice start to develop some of the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, such as movement problems. To understand how the glymphatic system might be involved in the development of Parkinson’s symptoms, Ian has been using a drug which stops the system working. The drug targets a protein called aquaporin-4, which previous research has shown is important in making sure the glymphatic system works correctly. Ian’s results so far show that when the mice are given this drug, they experience more problems with movement, and develop more clumps of alpha-synuclein in areas of the brain. This suggests that the glymphatic system is important in Parkinson’s — when it’s not working at all, the symptoms appear worse. So is there a way to boost the glymphatic system? Using the same mice, Ian is looking to address this question. This time, he’s using a different drug, which can speed up the glymphatic system. It does this by increasing the function of aquaporin-4. If it works, then he should see that the mice given this drug have fewer issues with movement and fewer clumps of alpha-synuclein in their brain cells. This work is still ongoing, but Ian is excited to see where this will lead. From mice to humans and back again While using mice in research can be a really helpful tool to study what’s going on in the brain during Parkinson’s, it doesn’t quite tell us the whole story of what’s happening in humans. We need studies of human brains to understand the whole picture. Which is why Ian is working with Mark Lythgoe, Professor of Biomedical Imaging at University College London, to find out more about what’s happening in the brains of people with Parkinson’s. Using tissue provided by the Parkinson’s UK Brain Bank, Ian and Mark are comparing areas of the brain in people who had early and late stage Parkinson’s, alongside people who didn’t have Parkinson’s. They are looking for aquaporin-4, and for any clues that it might be linked to increases in alpha-synuclein build up. When it’s working properly, aquaporin-4 should be found concentrated in one area of a particular type of brain cell. This helps it perform its main function — moving cerebrospinal fluid into the brain, so that the fluid can power the glymphatic system and clear away waste proteins. But when it’s not working properly, aquaporin-4 can be found spread throughout the cell, rather than concentrated to the one area. Looking at the brain tissue has helped Ian and Mark piece together more of the story that began by looking at the mice. In brain samples from people with late stages of Parkinson’s, there is less aquaporin-4 when compared to samples from people without Parkinson’s. And the aquaporin-4 that is there, isn’t where it should be. All this suggests the glymphatic system might not be working properly. However in people with early stages of Parkinson’s, there seems to be more aquaporin-4 than in people without Parkinson’s. This seems counterintuitive, but it could just mean that the body is trying harder to clear away the clumps of alpha-synuclein that have already started to form. By increasing aquaporin-4, the brain is trying to encourage the glymphatic system to work overtime, but unfortunately this is not enough to clear away all the clumps of protein. What’s the next stage? Working with the Brain Bank tissue has helped Ian and Mark confirm some of what they are seeing in their experiments with mice. Studying brain tissue donated by people who have lived with Parkinson’s is invaluable to furthering our understanding of Parkinson’s. And finding potential new treatments. As well as looking for aquaporin-4, Ian and Mark have also been able to take samples of alpha-synuclein from the Brain Bank tissue. This means that they have real protein from people with Parkinson’s, which can be used for further studies. One of the ways they hope to use this is to further their work in mice. Using this alpha-synuclein, donated from people who had Parkinson’s, might help make the study more representative of what’s going on in humans, instead of relying on an artificial form of alpha-synuclein. They also hope to use these mice to work out the best time to give a treatment which would boost the glymphatic system, making it the most useful for people with Parkinson’s. The work so far has shed light on how the glymphatic system might be involved in Parkinson’s, and ways that we might be able to harness its power to pave the way for new treatments to slow, or even stop, the progression of Parkinson’s. Study reveals benefits of physical activity for Parkinson’s symptoms Researchers compared results from over 150 studies to understand how different types of physical activity can be used to manage Parkinson’s symptoms. Being physically active can have a positive impact on Parkinson’s symptoms, both physically and mentally. Research has shown that aiming for 2.5 hours of physical activity a week can help people with Parkinson’s take control of their condition. Read more about the benefits of physical activity on our website. While there are many different types of physical activity, some will naturally suit some people better than others. However, it’s unknown whether some specific activities might be useful to target particular symptoms. Or whether exercises should be advised at different stages of the progression of the condition. What did the researchers do? The research team conducted a form of study called a Cochrane review. They analysed results from 156 different studies involving different types of physical activity including dance, aqua-based training and weight training. They looked at feedback from participants in these studies to assess for changes in quality of life, and other common tests to monitor progression of the condition. Overall, the researchers found that taking part in physical activity had benefits for people with Parkinson’s in terms of movement or improved quality of life, when compared with people who had not been active. It was not clear whether specific forms of physical activity were better than others for people with Parkinson’s. The team did find some evidence that linked taking part in dance classes with an improvement in balance and other symptoms associated with movement. They also found that aqua-based training was linked to improvements in quality of life, although whether this was due to physical activity or social interaction at exercise classes was unclear. What does this mean? This study, combining results collected from over 7,000 people with Parkinson’s, offers great evidence that taking part in most types of physical activity can be beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. Importantly, there was very little evidence that physical activity resulted in harm, or worsening of symptoms, for any participants. Dr Becky Jones, Research Communications Officer at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Reviews like this are a great example of how looking across results from many different studies can provide us with a clearer picture of whether a treatment or an activity could be beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. The study adds to our existing knowledge that physical activity can be an important way for people with Parkinson’s to take control of the condition. “The Cochrane review highlights exciting areas that need further study. More research into the particular benefits of dance or aqua-based training could help guide people with Parkinson’s to try out activities that could have the most impact on symptoms. “As always, we recommend that anyone wishing to make a change to their lifestyle speak with their healthcare provider for advice before starting.” Early results offer new hope for dyskinesia treatment We’re excited to announce the positive results of a trial for a potential new treatment for people with Parkinson’s with levodopa-induced dyskinesia. This is the first completed clinical trial funded by the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech. Dyskinesia is a debilitating side effect of current Parkinson’s medication, with around half (40 to 50%) of all people with Parkinson’s experiencing it after 5 years of taking levodopa, the main drug used to treat the condition. Up to 80% experience it after 10 years. With dyskinesia everyday tasks, such as eating, writing and walking, can become extremely difficult. In fact, uncontrolled movement was voted the third most important issue to be addressed by research in a recent Parkinson’s UK survey on quality of life. The main medication available to manage dyskinesia is amantadine, which can have side effects and does not work for everyone. The study tested whether a drug called NLX-112 is safe to use in people with Parkinson’s. It also looked at how effective it may be at reducing dyskinesia in people who take levodopa to manage their Parkinson’s. Its safety has previously been confirmed in people with other conditions. Serotonin cells in the brain have the ability to convert levodopa into dopamine. These cells are thought to contribute to the development of dyskinesia when they start to release dopamine erratically. NLX-112 works by targeting serotonin cells inside the brain, and decreasing the amount of dopamine the cells release. Supported by the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech The clinical trial was co-funded by The Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, the drug discovery arm of Parkinson’s UK, and The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The projects the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech funds are entirely driven by the Parkinson’s community and their priorities. This is the first completed clinical trial funded by the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, a global partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation. The promising results show that this innovative way of working to fast-track the most promising breakthroughs through the drug development pipeline is bringing us closer to new treatments. What did the research set out to do? The phase 2a clinical trial investigated how safe and well tolerated the drug was on a small number of people with Parkinson’s. The trial also took a first look at the drug’s efficacy, which is how well it does its job. What did the clinical trial involve? 22 participants with Parkinson’s with levodopa-induced dyskinesia completed the 8-week trial in Sweden. 15 participants received NLX-112 and 7 participants received a dummy drug. Participants either received NLX-112 or the dummy drug in increasing doses during the initial 4 weeks, to minimise the potential side effects. They stayed on the maximum dose for 2 weeks, and then were weaned off the drug over 2 weeks. What were the results? The results achieved the first objective to suggest that NLX-112 was safe and well tolerated in people with Parkinson’s. The second aim of the study was to show that NLX-112 was effective in treating dyskinesia. The results suggest participants who received NLX-112 showed a significant reduction in their scores for dyskinesia, whereas those who received the dummy drug did not show a significant reduction in their scores. The side effects of participants who received NLX-112 were mild, which confirmed previous results. What’s next? Now that the phase 2a clinical trial has been completed, the researchers will complete a full analysis of the results. They will then progress to a phase 2b clinical trial where they will investigate the safety and efficacy of the drug in a larger group. Dr Arthur Roach, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud and excited by these early results from Neurolixis. They were one of the first companies that the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech invested in, in partnership with The Michael J Fox Foundation, so to see it making positive progress just reiterates why this brave and innovative approach is right for the Parkinson’s community. It really is bringing us closer to new treatments that address the symptoms that the Parkinson’s community have told us are the most urgent and levodopa-induced dyskinesias is one of those. “Further studies will be necessary for regulatory approval and routine clinical use of NLX-112. But now people with Parkinson’s can have hope that a much-needed new treatment for levodopa-induced dyskinesias may be coming to them soon, and know that their support of the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech has made this possible.” Best wishes, Becky Jones Research Communications Officer

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Edinburgh Parkinsons

Research Interest Groups

15 October 2020

The official launch of the Glasgow Research Interest Group (GRIG) is to be marked by an online event on the 27 October 2020 at 1500 – 1700 . The launch will be hosted on the Zoom platform.

Tickets are free and can be reserved via EventBrite   It is the culmination of 12 months of sustained effort from the GRIG steering group and Parkinson’s UK Research team members.

Dr Donald Grosset has kindly agreed to take answers from the floor, and GRIG would be most interested to receive in advance of the event, any key questions in writing, addressed direct to: [email protected]

(Note: it will be possible to raise questions on the day via the chatroom facility) 

There will also be an online event to mark the launch of the North of Scotland Research Interest Group on the 14th November, from 10.30 – 13.00

• Dr Maria Doitsidou: ‘Parkinson’s & the Gut’
• Julie Jones: ‘Parkinson’s & Exercise’
• Annie Macleod:  Parkinson’s UK Scotland Director
• Liz Nash: Parkinson’s UK Research Support Network Manager

After the talks and Q&A, people from the North of Scotland are invited to stay on to discuss the development of a local Research Interest Group.

Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. Book here :

For any questions about the event, please contact: Liz Nash, Research Support Network Manager: [email protected] tel:0207 9639398 or Cathy Orr, Area Development Manager [email protected] tel:0344 225 983

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Revolutionising life with Parkinson’s disease through AI

4 September 2024

Jorgen Ellis and Tom Finn founders of Strolll, faced a challenge: could they help Tom’s father, Nigel, make his way to the pub despite his Parkinson’s disease?

The solution they developed is now poised to transform the daily lives of millions living with the condition.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that severely impacts motor functions, particularly walking and balance.

Traditional therapies, such as cueing therapy, which uses visual and auditory prompts to by-pass the pathways damaged by Parkinson’s have shown promise in managing these symptoms. However, their use has been largely confined to clinical settings, limiting their accessibility for everyday situations.

Strolll’s ground-breaking solution works by projecting real-time visual and auditory cues through special glasses which harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and augmented reality (AR) to bring these therapies into the daily lives of those affected.

Jorgen explains:

Tom’s dad would have problems walking down the hall, but when it came to climbing stairs, he had no problem – this is where cueing therapy can help. Parkinson’s is incredibly complex, affecting our human autopilot. Movements that most people don’t even think about – like walking and swallowing – are exactly what Parkinson’s impairs. The brain is amazing; it can control different movements, but you can’t just switch gears like you would in a car. So, we have to force the brain to do that with external stimuli.

Video credit: UK Research and Innovation Video transcript and on-screen captions are available by watching on YouTube.

The technology

Strolll’s ground-breaking solution to stimulate the brain in everyday settings for those affected by Parkinson’s, was to develop the software for AR glasses which they have called NavigAIt. They work by tailoring cues to each user’s specific needs using AI and machine learning.

For example, as a person with Parkinson’s walks through their home or navigates public spaces, the software continuously assesses their gait, balance, and surrounding environment. It then provides the most effective cues, such as coloured lines or rhythmic sounds, to help them overcome symptoms like freezing or an unsteady gait.

Brent Poynton, Chief Technology Officer, explains:

The interface itself is akin to a Heads-Up Display (HUD) in a self-driving car, guiding users toward their intended destination. We can use the technology built into the AR glasses you have on your head, and through that we can understand exactly where in the world you are, as well as what in the world is around you. Using real life feedback, the computer can then give you prompts to get there.

Strolll is experienced in the development of rehabilitation tools for those with Parkinson’s, and NavigAIt is the next leap in Strolll’s existing rehabilitation products. NavigAIt offers an innovative, AI-driven solution that integrates seamlessly into daily life, surpassing previous applications which are either limited to clinical settings or designed to be therapeutic games accessed at home.

Impact and vision

Strolll’s ultimate goal through the use of their software is to empower people with Parkinson’s to live without the fear of mobility-related symptoms. Jorgen envisions a future where people can purchase AR glasses online or from their local telecom shop, choosing styles and aesthetics that suit their tastes.

The glasses are versatile, allowing users to check emails, watch TV and more. This would mean users of NavigAIt will be indistinguishable from the general public, allowing them to discreetly manage symptoms and walk confidently in any setting without the anxiety of freezing or falling.

Partnerships and progress

Strolll’s success is bolstered by strong partnerships, including collaboration with Dr Melvyn Roerdink at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Samatha Richmond, Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs explains:

Maastricht are providing the scientific expertise we need to run randomised control trials, recruit patients, conduct studies, and analyse the clinical effectiveness of our technology. Strolll combines this with our technological capabilities to develop machine learning products and the work to register medical devices.

The partnership has also provided Strolll with valuable insights into medical device regulations across the EU, paving the way for international expansion to countries like Germany, France, and eventually the US.

Samantha explains:

Because our product results in people accessing our software though glasses there are, rightly, stringent regulations we need to adhere too to show this product is safe for people to use.

From science fiction to reality

Tom (left) and Nigel Finn (right). Credit: Strolll

So, will Tom’s father Nigel soon be able to wear a pair of NavigAlt AR glasses and enjoy a pint in his local?

Not quite yet as they are still looking at environment impacts such as people walking in front of you or an uneven floor, but Jorgan says it’s an exciting time:

With the advancements in AI, the progress in AR technology, and the growing acceptance of AR glasses, we’re at a pivotal point where we can make this technology and software available to people with Parkinson’s. The technology is all there, our job now is to get this software into people’s homes.

Top image:  AR goggles. Credit: Strolll

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Ground-breaking cancer and Parkinson's research team given 5 year funding boost

Researchers at the University of Dundee are receiving a government funding boost to continue their vital work for a further 5 years.

Vital work by Dundee-based cell biology researchers, who have already developed a drug to treat skin cancer and attracted £60 million in private investment, to continue thanks to further government backing

Almost £30 million in government funding could potentially unlock new treatments for conditions, from motor neurone disease to Crohn’s, by supporting research into how signals are transmitted within the body’s cells. 

Science and Technology Secretary will announce funding at the Universities UK conference as he sets out his vision for harnessing the power of higher education to boost innovation and economic growth across the country.

Dundee-based researchers with a track record of devising treatments for deadly diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s – whose work has crowded in £60 million in investment to date – are receiving further backing from the government to continue their vital work for a further 5 years, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle will announce today (Thursday 5 September). 

The Medical Research Council’s Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit ( MRC PPU ) will receive nearly £30 million of funding allocated from UKRI’s Medical Research Council ( MRC ) to bolster its cell biology research centre as it continues its vital work over the next 5 years. 

Currently, the 200-strong scientific community of staff and students based at the University of Dundee are using cutting-edge technology and biochemistry to explore how signals transmitted within the body’s cells are disrupted. Working closely with industry, Dundee’s unit has been a fundamental part of the development and clinical approval of over 40 drugs that are now widely used to treat patients, attracting almost £60 million in private investment. It is just one example cementing Scotland’s place at the forefront of the UK government’s plans to make Britain a powerhouse for life sciences that attracts international investment and drives forward the deployment of discoveries that grow the economy, create prosperity across the country and improve lives and public services.

Improving our understanding of the processes within cells could be the key to unlocking the scientific basis of innovative treatments for a range of diseases – from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to Crohn’s and coeliac disease.  Their work has already delivered a drug that is now widely used to treat skin cancer.

The new funding comes ahead of the Science and Technology Secretary addressing higher education representatives at the Universities UK conference at the University of Reading, where he will reflect on his personal experience in higher education and will give his full-throated backing to the sector as a vehicle for much-needed economic growth.  

He will also outline his vision for DSIT , and the crucial role universities can play in this, harnessing discoveries and innovations for novel therapies and technologies, like those developed in Dundee, that could transform patients’ lives and drive economic growth.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

“I went to university later in life than most, but when I did it changed everything for me. It was the first time in my life that people saw potential in me that I never knew I had, and gave me the support and focus I needed to build something from it. The value of our universities, to the economy and to the whole of society, cannot be overstated. 

“As we embark on a decade of national renewal, the higher education sector has a profound role to play in every piece of work we’ll need to do, to build a Britain that delivers for working people: from seizing the potential of clean energy to rebuilding the NHS. I will always champion our universities. They are society’s most powerful engines for innovation, aspiration, economic growth and the creation of better lives for all – which is why investing in their work, like this £30m in funding, is so important.” 

Science Minister Lord Vallance said: 

“The work at the University of Dundee, which we are announcing support for today, is proof of how deep expertise, effective links with industry, and the power of curiosity can deliver meaningful improvements to people’s lives, while also driving economic growth across the UK.

“This funding puts the unit on track to strive for still more health breakthroughs, that could help more patients live longer and healthier lives.” 

Working with other companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, the team was central to developing a drug now widely used to treat melanoma, and a promising new drug for Parkinson’s disease is in clinical trials as a result of the team’s globally recognise work, investigating the condition to discover potential causes and treatments. 

Universities are vital to the government’s mission to boost our economy and transform healthcare services with world-class science and research. They are at the heart of our research strengths, underpinning key sectors including life sciences. Backing university-based researchers, like the team at the University of Dundee, will ensure that they can continue unlocking the technologies and therapies that could be life-changing to patients, and which drive economic growth and productivity. 

Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC PPU said:  

“We are incredibly grateful for the long-term support that our Unit has received from the MRC over the last 34 years. This has enabled our researchers to tackle the most important questions and greatly contributed to our understanding of how derailment of biological pathways causes human diseases including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer, and immune dysfunction.  

“Our mission for the next 5 years will be to work with leading research centres, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies to translate our discoveries into clinical progress and accelerate drug discovery. Whilst doing this research we aim to provide our staff with a unique training opportunity working in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment paying attention to improving culture and development best practices.” 

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, said:  

“The MRC are proud to be investing for a further 5 years in the exceptional research of the MRC PPU in Dundee. They are leaders in conducting rigorous fundamental research and then working with industry to translate those breakthroughs for patient benefit. The MRC PPU have an outstanding culture of collaboration and sharing their leading research expertise, products and techniques with the wider scientific community.” 

DSIT media enquiries

Email [email protected]

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

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Parkinson uk nurse…

I see this is your first post, and the forum does take some getting used to, so prevail and try again to post what you wanted to say, please.

You have actually opened up a thread for me that I wanted to start so hope that you won't mind if I hijack it as I have been in contact with Admin. as I can't , for some reason,  start a new topic.

Are you happy with your PNS or not?

My OH has now been in hospital for just over 2 weeks. There IS a PSN based at that hospital. The day after  they were admitted I had reason to call the PSN at the clinic they attend to say that I could not discuss  the tweaks in their medication, as arranged, as they were in hospital.I fully expected that they would contact our local PSN to tell them that my OH was in the local hospital.15 days and NO contact!!! Frankly, I am disgusted.

I suggested some time ago that our local PSN attend, maybe twice a year for an hour or so, our branch meetings to, informally address little concerns that did not require an appointment for a home visit, which, in my experience, with them being on leave, being at a conference, is usually 3 weeks or so later.

Further disgusted to have the PSN say that our meetings clashed with their clinic attendance AND, even more  disgusted for the PSN to say that, the consultant wanted them to learn. Do they not have any training or expertise on their appointment, seems not??Now I do see the need for PSN's to sit on on appointments with those newly diagnosed and those who have a problem    with their medication needing adjustment BUT, SITTING IN ON EVERY APPOINTMMENT?? why?

In the 20 years since diagnosis, we have rarely  needed a PSN, and have not experienced this until recently,sitting in on every consultation.

I ask why PSN's are not out there, in the community, doing what I and others, expect of them??

Our local PSN  has been in our area now for a year. Not one phone call in that time to see how OH is but they are full on when it comes to attending some of our fund raiisng events.  

Maybe PUK can advise me of the job description of PSN's. Should they make contact with PWP in their area maybe twice a year and should they attend branch meetings at all?

If their remit is neither of the above, then or branch will seriously consider any further donations to extend the PSN's network.

Over to you PUK.

I'm really sorry that you are so disappointed with your Parkinson's nurse. You can find out more about what they do and what their remit is here:  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/parkinsons-nurses

Have you been in touch with your local adviser? They can be a huge source of help. Please have a look here if you haven't contacted yours yet:  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/helpline-and-local-advisers

It would be very helpful if you could ring the helpline to discuss the issues you have been having with your Parkinson's nurse. As you know, you can access Parkinson's nurses on the helpline, but it might also be very useful to explore what can be done to improve the service you have been receiving from yours and look at alternative sources of help.

Best wishes,

Mara (Moderation team) 

My husband hasnt  seen a PD nurse for over a year....despite leaving messages on her voicemail asking her to contact us.

She was copied into a letter in April from the consultant asking her to contact us....

I saw the PD local advisor a few weeks ago at a group and mentioned it to her,she said she would email the nurse.....

We saw the consultant again in October and again mentioned we hadnt seen the PD nurse...she was again copied into the letter we recieved back from the visit asking her to contact us...

Well.last week we finally got an appointment for December..over 15months since we saw a PD nurse..at the bottom if the letter in capital letters it stated "If you have seen your consultant recently please ring to cancel this appointment and reschedule for another time"..!!!!! She has obviously received the copy of the letter from the consultant so knows we saw him in October.

BUT there is no way we are cancelling this appointment as its taken over a year to get it.....

Feeling sadly let down by the system......

Sorry to read not much progress on PD  nurse situation.  I really hope you are able to sort things out with the pd nurse in December and before leaving the appt you will have booked your next appt.

Fingers crossed BB, good luck and take care. x

Morning TeeHee..

Thanks for your reply.

At the moment both myself and my Husband are very despondent with the whole PD situatuon.When my husband was diagnoised by the consultant, the GP admitted to us afterwards that he had probably misdiagnosed him for 4/5 years...it was frozen shoulder,trapped nerve etc etc.because he was only 55 when the symptons started.He was to young for the PD diagnoisis.....this happens so many times I now know.So my husband is probably 6years + down the line with PD now.

Then we were told about the amazing support and help available to both of us....face to face help not phone line help! Sadly that hasnt materialized for us.

At the moment my husband is really angry about the PD nurse and the way he is being treated, basically having to complain to get an appointment. We are not the complaining sort of people normally just get on with things.

He is saying he cant be bothered to see her as he may say something to her, but its me who is saying we will see her and we are not going to reschedule the appointment on principal.....surely anyone with PD has enough stress in their lives without the "professionals" adding to that...we are both working still and my husband is pushing himself daily to carry on as he has a very manual job. I know he is deteriorating before my eyes.... Maybe to the PD nurse he is just a name on a list.....

Thats the way the system is making us feel...

I will let you know how the appointment goes...not holding out any hope of another appointment booked on the day though....

Sorry if this sounds like a rant but its just the frustration of it all and not meant to be a moan....

Denise 

It's not a rant just you releasing all that frustration and its good for you.

I was diagnosed with PD aged 46 , a few months away from my PD 10 yr anniversary.  I am changing my pd nurse as no support , etc... I will have to travel a bit more but I am hopeful this will help. Is this an option for you?

I discussed this with my GP who agreed and did the paperwork, awaiting next appt details.  I like you  have problems getting an appt. and when I do see her its a negative experience. I am not convinced caring, supportive are words in her vocabulary I feel she is cold and dismissive.

 I think she may be an NHS android /robot in the guise of a female and have to resist checking the back of her neck for wires or a plug socket. 

My little burst of frustration BB, but am thinking of you and keep us updated. 

Seems it is not only us that are having problems with PSN's. Thanks for your posts, babesbrown and TeeHee.

OH now home for 8 weeks after 101 days in hospital. No visit whilst an inpatient from the PSN since before Christmas or since discharge from hospital.

Indirectly we have heard that the absence will be a long one. Why has nobody contacted us with an alternative contact.

We are also in limbo with regard to a consultant. Our consultant of many years is not in our local health board area BUT, one has been appointed for our LHB but has no knowledge of the many past years of history. Continuity is very important.( Whilst in hospital many doctors wanted to change medication, almost on a daily basis. They didn’t understand that one bad day did not warrant a change/review of meds.)

However, getting to the appointment would be a nightmare and impossible. We can however, see a Dr at our local hospital, the one whose care was less than exemplary whilst OH was an inpatient, who increased and added new meds, which had no benefit or improvement, and who also missed a problem that has now resulted in an urgent referral for a CT scan after I expressed my concern for months.

Between the devil and the…

I think that it is a common problem. I had about 2 phone calls and 1 clinic appointment when our community nurse started ?4 years ago. Then nothing. I don’t think there are enough of the them and the job description seem to vary between areas.

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Q&A with neurologists: Can your phone and AI track Parkinson's progression?

by Melinda Krigel, University of California, San Francisco

Researchers say we're on the cusp of a new era where physicians will personalize care, adjusting medications and pacemakers based on videos captured at home by patients that can be analyzed by artificial intelligence.

Despite recent advancements in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, it remains a challenge to accurately measure the progression of symptoms in this neurological disorder . While noticeable symptoms like tremors, stiffness and slowing of movement can be observed, there have been few ways to quantify changes in symptoms outside of a clinical setting—up until now.

Researchers at UC San Francisco have developed a video-based analysis system enabled by machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence (AI), to quantify and validate motor symptom severity in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Co-senior study authors Simon Little, MBBS, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology and Reza Abbasi-Asl, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology discuss the breakthrough and what role AI plays. The research is published in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease .

Why design this system for PD?

Little: Parkinson's disease is the most common and severe movement disorder. It is also the fastest growing neurological disorder and is rapidly becoming more prevalent in the U.S. and around the world. We wanted to design a system using machine learning that would enable us to quantify movements objectively and allow us to tailor treatments to patients individually according to their objectively quantified movements.

Why is it important to quantify PD motor symptoms?

Little: To adjust treatment appropriately. This includes medications and brain stimulation, tracking patients over time and having sensitive measures for clinical trials.

What is the standard approach to measuring PD motor symptoms?

Little: The standard approach to measuring PD motor symptoms is a subjective qualitative clinical examination by an expert neurologist where a patient repeats movements like finger tapping, foot tapping and hand movements. Historically, clinicians have looked at those types of movements and subjectively scored them with a score: slight, mild, moderate or severe.

There have been quite a number of different efforts to measure things more objectively, using things like wearable sensors on the body, or using other machine learning techniques. So far, those have generally remained at the research level and are only just starting to make their way into useful clinical practice.

What differentiates your system from these clinical approaches?

Little: Our system is quick, objective, quantitative and looks at multiple types of movement, not just the movements covered in the standard clinical examination. It also works on standard video equipment, such as from a smartphone or tablet. This system gives an objective number score to how much the disease is impacting the patient's movements, including changes to the speed or quality of the movements. The system can also look at a bigger library of movements.

Abbasi-Asl: Another key component of our system is its ability to provide explanations on how it can predict PD severity. This enables us to identify the most common movement patterns in different disease severity groups.

Can you explain how smartphone or tablet videos are translated into measurable data with AI?

Abbasi-Asl: The beauty of our approach is that our AI-enabled system transforms short videos of patients during different movement tasks into digitized and computer-friendly movement data. Our system identifies the different landmarks or body parts on these videos and then uses the movement of those body parts to differentiate between different disease severity groups.

What movements can be translated with your system?

Abbasi-Asl: The AI system is trained to analyze any type of movement in the video data. In our study, we specifically focused on videos of patients walking and moving their hands, but our future work will include other movement types, such as facial expressions and speech.

How does the system capture the severity of PD symptoms?

Abbasi-Asl: Once the AI system captures the movement in video data, our machine learning analysis identifies the most important movement features, such as the speed of finger movement that is associated with a particular severity level. It basically determines whether patients with low or high severity share a particular movement pattern.

Will the system improve assessment of changes in PD motor symptoms over time?

Little: We hope that this technology could accurately measure changes in Parkinson's symptoms over time, which can help with treatment adjustments and measuring patients in clinical trials more accurately.

Abbasi-Asl: The findings from the clinical perspective also highlight some new features of movement that maybe haven't been the primary focus in the past. We can now come up with recommendations highlighting potential new movement patterns in patients that could be predictive of the severity of the disease.

By improving motor symptom diagnosis, can you more effectively personalize treatment?

Little: At the moment, when we see patients in clinic, we assess them and compare where they are today with what they were like three or six months ago. The patient also tells us how they are feeling. They may report fluctuations in symptoms, but it's difficult to know how severe those fluctuations are.

Based on that limited information, we try to assess the next best steps for patients. Should we increase the medication? Should we change a brain pacemaker setting?

So, if we can accurately quantify the patient's symptoms to know how they are doing relative to their last visit, we can know if a treatment intervention made symptoms better or worse.

By having an accurate measure of patient symptoms that is quantitative and reliable, a clinician has a lot more to work with, and they can make sure the patient is getting the best therapy, at the best time and at the right dose, to try to offset their symptoms as much as possible.

Would the information you're getting about patients increase since it would be on a continuous basis rather than just when they are in for a clinic visit?

Little: Absolutely. I think we've kind of been conducting some areas of medicine really broadly in the same way for the last 100 years. We see patients and talk to them. We do an examination in clinic and then we try and make an adjustment of some of their treatments.

But if we can track their fluctuations and their movements at home, we could have a very different style of medical practice where patients are being monitored nearly continuously. That already happens for some conditions—for example, a patient with a cardiac pacemaker is being monitored for what their heart is doing continuously rather than just every six months when they see the clinician. So, I think that's where we could and probably will get to with these kinds of digital tools.

Can the system be applied to other neurological disorders?

Little: Yes. In theory, this could be used to quantify and measure any type of movement deficit—it doesn't have to be restricted to Parkinson's disease. Many other neurological disorders have problems with movement. Our system provides a generalizable way of analyzing movements efficiently.

Our trial analyzed the movements of patients with Parkinson's disease, but it could be used for neurological disorders like strokes, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries. However, this would need to be validated in these other conditions before we can be certain how accurate it would be.

Do you have any future studies/applications planned?

Abbasi-Asl: The next step for us is to study whether our framework could handle data that is collected at home when patients are just doing their daily activity, or perhaps when using their smartphone or tablet.

This will be a move toward more naturalistic data collection. In this setting, we can look into more complex movement types from a much larger amount of data because patients can essentially do this more frequently without the need to come to the clinic for a visit.

When will the video capture system be put into clinical use?

Little: I'm hopeful that within five years this type of approach will be more common in clinical practice. I think we are at this transformational point, moving from old-fashioned, subjective views of patients to digital transformation. Having more data will enable our models to have even better accuracy.

Currently, this system has been tested and validated in the research laboratory, but the hope is that it can be taken forward through regulatory evaluation to be used clinically and be more widespread.

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Cycle London to Bruges

Ride from london to the canals and cobbled streets of bruges. t ogether we can find a cure for parkinson's..

London to Bruges

7 to 10 June 2025 6 to 9 September 2025

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Sign up now on the Discover Adventure website

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You have 3 sign up options to choose from. If you choose an option that has a minimum fundraising amount, you’ll need to pay 80% of this 10 weeks before the trip, then the other 20% within 2 weeks of your return. Our Events team is on hand for any fundraising support and advice you need.

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Ride from London to the canals and cobbled streets of Bruges in Belgium, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and known as the ‘Venice of the North.’ A wonderful cycling experience through the bike-friendly Low Countries.

This trip is booked through Discover Adventure. For more information, including other dates you can take part, visit the event information page on Discover Adventure's website.

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Get in touch with us at  [email protected]   or call 020 7963 3912.

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Parkinson's UK is the operating name of the Parkinson's Disease Society of the United Kingdom. 

A registered charity in England and Wales (258197) and in Scotland (SC037554).

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2024 roundup of Excellence Network conferences and events

The first 6 months of 2024 has been a busy time across the Excellence Network. We’ve supported our Excellence Hubs and regional networks to deliver many in-person and virtual events and have attended several external conferences.

Read on for a round up and to hear what events are in store for the rest of this year.

What we’ve done and where we’ve been

From mental health to DBS to pharmacy to speech and language therapy, there’s been several Excellence Network Hub events taking place this year. In total, we brought around 260 professionals together, both in person and online.

Alongside this, we also spoke to many health and care professionals while exhibiting and speaking at several conferences across the country, including the RCN Congress and Clinical Pharmacy Congress early this summer.

What’s coming up for the rest of 2024?

• The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) Falls conference (6 September, Nottingham)

An international conference on falls and postural stability, aimed at all clinicians and healthcare professionals working with older people in acute and community settings. We will be attending on the day, so visit the Excellence Network on stand 4 to speak to a member of the team.

Register to attend the event here .

• Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Excellence Network (CEN) in-person meeting (24 September, Birmingham)

The  Speech and Language Therapy Parkinson’s Clinical Excellence Network (CEN)  formed earlier this year and will be hosting their first in-person meeting, focused on bringing speech and language therapists together to share key updates and future developments. This event is now sold out but the CEN will be holding another virtual meeting next year, so watch this space. Email  [email protected] to join the SLT CEN.

• Acute & General Medicine (1 and 2 October, London)

Acute & General Medicine is the leading conference for all doctors involved in emergency, acute and advanced internal medicine. Visit the Excellence Network on stand A22 to find out how we can support you.

Find out more and book your place at Acute & General Medicine here.

• Northern Ireland Excellence Network conference (9 October, Belfast)

Hosted by the Northern Ireland Parkinson's Excellence Network , this event will bring together healthcare professionals working or with an interest in Parkinson's from across Northern Ireland.

Register to attend the event here.

• Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) (16 and 17 October, Belfast)

NICON will bring together health and social care leaders and partners, to discuss how to secure the best health and care outcomes for Northern Ireland. We’re pleased to be exhibiting at NICON again this year, so visit us on  stand 11 to speak to a member of the team.

Learn more about the event and book your place here.

• Therapy Expo (27 and 28 November, Birmingham)

The Therapy Expo gives therapy professionals the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date treatment techniques and discover service improvement and business development ideas, as well as the chance to network with colleagues from across the UK. Once again, the Excellence Network will be attending across both days so visit us on stand  TH43 to speak to us about how we can support you.

Book your place at Therapy Expo here.

More event appearances are in the pipeline for Autumn and Winter, so look out for announcements in future Excellence Network e-newsletters and on  X (Twitter) (@ParkinsonsEN) .

More news for professionals

Keep up to date with what’s happening around the Excellence Network.