Jewish Ledger
Could Israel hold the key to solving the Parkinson’s puzzle?
By Abigail Klein Leichman
It was in1917 that James Parkinson first described the syndrome now known as Parkinson’s disease – a complex, progressive neurological disorder affecting up to 10 million people. And it is fast growing in prevalence worldwide.
The disease is most often diagnosed in people over 60, more often males. Classic symptoms include tremor in about 60 percent of cases, rigidity, poor posture and slow movement.
But several decades before diagnosis, subtler symptoms like sleep disturbances and loss of smell often appear together with constipation and erectile dysfunction.
Why Israel is becoming a hub for Parkinson’s research
Why Israel is becoming a hub for Parkinson’s research
A high rate of genetic Parkinson’s makes Israel a perfect lab for finding ways to prevent, stop and even cure this fast-growing neurological disorder.
Tubes at a laboratory at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center. Photo by FLASH90
Parkinson’s disease is a complex, progressive neurological disorder affecting up to 10 million people. And it is fast growing in prevalence worldwide.
April 11, the birthday of James Parkinson who first described this syndrome in 1817 kicks off World Parkinson’s Awareness Week.
The disease is most often diagnosed in people over 60, more often males. Classic symptoms include tremor in about 60 percent of cases, rigidity, poor posture and slow movement.