Latest news with #ParkinsonsUK
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Ozzy Osbourne: What is Parkinson's disease?
Ozzy Osbourne has died, more than five years after revealing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after spending 12 months in 'constant' pain. – What is Parkinson's? Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain that create the chemical dopamine. – What are the symptoms? People begin to develop symptoms of Parkinson's when the brain is no longer able to make enough dopamine to adequately control movement. The three main symptoms are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness). Subtle changes in a person's walking pattern could be an early sign of Parkinson's disease. Some people develop very small handwriting, a loss in their sense of smell, nerve pain or insomnia. Symptoms usually develop slowly over several years. – Can it be treated? There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease. Treatments include drugs such as levodopa, dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors. Levodopa is absorbed by the nerve cells in the brain and turned into dopamine. Increasing the levels of dopamine in this way usually cuts down problems with movement. Other therapies include physiotherapy and, in some cases, surgery. – What does Parkinson's UK say? Chief executive Caroline Rassell said: 'News of Ozzy Osbourne's death, so soon after his celebratory homecoming show, will come as a shock to so many. 'By speaking openly about both his diagnosis and life with Parkinson's, Ozzy and all his family helped so many families in the same situation. 'They normalised tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that's on the rise and affecting more people every day. 'All of our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends and fans worldwide. His memory and the impact he left on the world will live on in all of them.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I took the DWP to court and won - but it was the worst time of my life
A man fighting to claim PIP at a court tribunal said it was "the worst two hours of my life" as he spoke about his struggles claiming benefits while dealing with Parkinson's. Steve Johnson, a self-employed farmer based near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, took the DWP to court to fight for his entitlement to disability benefit PIP after he was diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition in 2020. Johnson, who also cares for his wife Gilly, who lives with MS, currently receives universal credit and the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP). When he first applied for PIP, he was awarded zero points. He felt the assessment assumed that because he worked in agriculture, he must be physically fit. However, he was struggling with his symptoms of Parkinson's, such a his right-sided tremor, difficulties sleeping, and loss of strength. Charities like Parkinson's UK have raised significant concerns about how recent and proposed government benefit cuts could disproportionately affect people with conditions like Parkinson's because symptoms can present differently from one day to the next. Current benefit assessments are often under scrutiny for failing to understand or account for fluctuating conditions like Parkinson's, leading to people like Steve being refused PIP payments by the DWP. While PIP payments avoided the chopping block in the latest round of government cuts, the disability benefit is up for investigation next Autumn, when the government will explore the impact of restricting the eligibility criteria for the payment. Success rates for taking the DWP to tribunal for PIP appeals are consistently high, with around 60-70% of cases assessed at court overturning the DWP's decision, Johnson said the stress of the process significantly worsened his symptoms. He told Yahoo News: 'My stress levels went through the roof. It just made my symptoms 10 times worse.' 'They twisted everything I said' Speaking about applying for PIP, Johnson told Yahoo News: "I applied for PIP with some assistance. I had a telephone assessment and I got one of the most upsetting letters back I've ever read. "They twisted everything I said. There's several times in this refusal letter that said, because I cared for my wife, I must be all right. Because I worked in agriculture, I must be all right. "My GP was incensed. He read the letter and said, do they have any idea what Parkinson's is? He then wrote to them to back me up. "My mandatory reconsideration came back, even with extra evidence, And it was just a cut and paste. It was just a generic, computer says no response. It didn't even mention Parkinson's. Left without an option, Johnson decided to take his PIP case to tribunal. While the farmer was advised that he had a very strong case, he didn't realise how nerve-racking it would be. He said: "It was so hard. I remember trying to drink a glass of water because my throat was dry, and then my tremor went into overdrive. At one point, his home was pulled up on Google Maps by the court while he was questioned about walking to the local shop. "They said, according to Google Maps, your local village shop its 750 metres away. Could you get to the village shop? Could you walk?," he explained. "I said, I don't know, I've not walked to the village shop two or three years now. "They made me give an answer on a guess. All of a sudden, a guess was taken as a definitive answer. "I was just mentally, physically, emotionally, absolutely drained," he added. A few days later, Johnson found out his appeal was successful. "We didn't get the decision there and then we got a letter a few days later and sure enough, they've given me the full 12 points for daily living, and four for mobility," he said. While Johnson was overjoyed to finally have the support, the experience took its toll. "It was two hours of the worst time of my life," he added. 'It's like a hidden trap door' Sadly, the farmer's benefits battle is far from over. Now, he is fighting to challenge the DWP after his transitional protection was removed from his universal credit payments when his income dipped. When a person is taken off a legacy benefit — like working tax credits, in Steve's case — and moved onto universal credit, they have a 12-month guarantee that they will not be worse off when they move to the new system. But as Johnson explains, self-employed farmers experience "feast or famine", so his income can vary significantly from month to month. Earlier this year, the farmer was alarmed to discover his universal credit benefits support dried up, and in his worst month, he received zero support. He told Yahoo News: "We went through three months of where I wasn't doing enough work, I wasn't selling cattle, but I had to pay the contractors. So I had a lot of bills and so I had a negative bank balance. "But it triggered this lower threshold rule, where the DWP apparently says if your income dips below a certain level — which they don't tell you about this until it happens — the government takes off your transitional protection. "We went from getting £986 to £800, then zero the next month." Steve is hoping to take part in a mass appeal investigating the impact of lower income threshold issues affecting transitional protection. "To me, it is fraud. How come the DWP are not carrying on my profits but my losses are included in my totals? "It's like a hidden trap door they don't really talk about. Then when I started challenging it, I was told it's in my claimant commitment. "It isn't in my commitment at all, it's only written in the law itself. It's hidden." 'We'll keep fighting' While Johnson receives the universal credit health top-up, people with Parkinson's hoping for support after April 2026 are likely to see their support halved under the government's welfare bill, Parkinson's UK has warned. While the government said 200,000 people with severe conditions will still be entitled to the higher rate of universal credit health top up once the payments are cut £97 p/w in April 2026 to £50 p/w, there are fears Parkinson's patients will not qualify as severe because of a lack of understanding about how Parkinson's affects day to day life. As the chart below illustrates, those with neurological conditions will be among the hardest hit should the PIP cuts go ahead next year, with around 38% of claimants projected to be affected. "The government's decision to cut universal credit costs is appalling. We believe that, despite the government's claims, savings are being made by effectively making people with Parkinson's ineligible for the higher rate health element," Juliet Tizzard, the director of external relations at Parkinson's UK, told Yahoo News. "The bill clearly states that someone must be constantly unable to do certain tasks to qualify. This will penalise people with Parkinson's, whose symptoms come and go. Until we can be certain that people with fluctuating conditions will not be penalised, we'll continue campaigning for a fair system. "We're thankful to the MPs who tried to stop the changes to universal credit, and for every campaigner who raised their voice. "We stopped the cuts to PIP, and while we're disappointed by the result today, this setback won't stop us. We'll keep fighting for better support, care and treatment for the Parkinson's community." The government has been approached for comment.
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Busy week for the Rotary Club of Dumfries
The club's Am-Am golf competition took place at Dumfries and County Golf Club on Tuesday and on Friday there was a visit from the Guid Nychburris principals. It was a busy week for the Rotary Club of Dumfries with their Am-Am taking place on Wednesday at Dumfries and County Golf Club and the Guid Nychburris principals visiting the club's lunch meeting on Friday. The Am-Am was blessed with fine weather and the 31 teams found the course in wonderful condition. There were the usual prizes for the teams with the best score, nearest the pin on certain holes and longest drive on certain holes. One prize which caught the eye was for the best team score on the 14th hole which was won with a super score of 10, which suggests two pars and two birdies. Wouldn't it be lovely if it was 3 holes-in-one and a seven. A well supported raffle was held during the day and helped to swell the coffers to a total of £4,500 which will be split between the nominated charities of the local branches of Parkinsons UK and Alzheimers Scotland . On Friday, a tradition that has been going since pre-war days, was a visit from the Principals of Guid Nychburris. The club was delighted to welcome Will and Lynsey and their Lynors Fergus, Jack, Rory and Ross and hear a bit about them and how they are enjoying their duties. Among the members there is a previous Cornet from the 1960s and a Lynor from the 1980s and among the guests were two former Cornet's lasses from 1964 and 1975. It was lovely to think that present Cornet's Lass Lynsey might pay the club a visit in the year 2075.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Couple's annual walk to raise funds for Parkinson's research
A Pembrokeshire couple has raised more than £50,000 for Parkinson's research through annual charity walks. Bob Ratcliffe and his wife, Jane, have been organising a number of walks for Parkinson's since 2011, in memory of Mr Ratcliffe's father, who lived with the condition. The walks started after Mr Ratcliffe's father died in 2010, having donated his brain and spinal column for Parkinson's research. The couple is now urging walkers across Pembrokeshire to join the 2025 Haverfordwest Walk for Parkinson's event on Saturday, June 7, to raise more funds for Parkinson's UK. Registration for the 7.8km circular walk, which costs £15 to enter, will begin at 10am at Haverfordwest Cricket Club. The walk will have planned refreshment stops and welcomes participants at any pace, including those with dogs on leads. Mr Ratcliffe said: "This is the fourth year of the Haverfordwest Walk and we are looking forward to it being the biggest and best yet. "We hope to have a fabulous surprise for walkers and passers-by in Castle Square around noon. "Please come along and get involved in the walk, even if you can't manage the full route." The event has the support of Haverfordwest Rotary, and donations of raffle prizes are always appreciated. Parkinson's is a complex brain condition that worsens over time, affecting 153,000 people in the UK, including around 8,300 in Wales. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and currently, there is no cure. Keri McKie, Wales community fundraiser at Parkinson's UK Cymru, said: "We are so grateful to Bob for organising this event again this year. "Parkinson's is a complex condition, and it's different for everyone. "It's important we continue to take vital steps in helping to fund vital research and make a difference to the 8,300 people living with the condition in Wales. "We hope that Bob's tireless fundraising inspires more people to support Parkinson's UK. "Whether or not you're living with Parkinson's and whatever your age or fitness level, we're sure there'll be a warm welcome for you in Haverfordwest for the walk." To sign up for the walk, visit the Eventbrite page or register on the day. For further details, contact Bob on 07887 707496 or email bobratcliffe@
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First patients dosed in final cohort of Phase 1b clinical trial of HER-096 for Parkinson's disease
Herantis Pharma Plc – Press release First patients dosed in final cohort of Phase 1b clinical trial of HER-096 for Parkinson's disease HER-096 is a first-in-class agent in development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease with disease modifying potential and convenient subcutaneous administration Successful completion of the first patient cohort in Part 2 of the trial and approval to proceed from the Data and Safety Monitoring Board Primary objective is to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of repeated subcutaneous doses of HER-096; the trial will also evaluate selected biomarkers, discover and identify novel treatment response biomarkers and monitor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease Topline data from Phase 1b trial is expected in September 2025 Trial funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) and Parkinson's UK Espoo, Finland, 13 May 2025: Herantis Pharma Plc ("Herantis"), a company developing disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's disease, today announced the first patients have been dosed in the final cohort of its Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of HER-096 in patients with Parkinson's disease. Commenting on the study Antti Vuolanto, CEO of Herantis Pharma said: 'Parkinson's disease is a life altering condition, and there is an urgent need for new treatments that can halt or slow its progression. We are highly encouraged by the potential of HER-096. Its disease-modifying properties combined with its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier makes it a compelling candidate to become a transformative therapy for Parkinson's that addresses the underlying disease, not just the symptoms. We remain focused on completing the final cohort of this Phase 1b trial and expect to report topline data in September 2025.' Parkinson's disease is a devastating neurological condition affecting around 10 million people worldwide, for which there is currently no cure. Existing treatments only address the symptoms and are often associated with significant side effects. HER-096 is a first-in-class synthetic peptidomimetic designed to mimic the activity of cerebral dopamine neurotropic factor (CDNF) protein, with the capability of effectively crossing the blood-brain barrier allowing for convenient subcutaneous administration. With a multi-modal mechanism of action, HER-096 has the potential to protect against the neuronal degeneration and cell death that cause the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. About the Phase 1b study The Phase 1b clinical study consists of two parts. In Part 1, eight healthy volunteers received a single 300 mg subcutaneous dose of HER-096 to assess its safety and pharmacokinetic properties. Encouraging pharmacokinetic data from this phase were announced on 28 January 2025 here Part 2 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled part of the trial in patients with Parkinson's disease, divided into two cohorts. In the first cohort, 12 patients were dosed twice weekly over a four-week period. Of these eight patients received 200 mg of HER-096 and four received placebo. Based on a review of the data, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommended proceeding to the final cohort. In the final cohort, patients will receive 300 mg doses of HER-096 or placebo twice weekly over a four-week period. The primary objective of the Phase 1b trial is to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of repeated subcutaneous doses of HER-096. Part 2 will also evaluate selected biomarkers and aims to identify novel treatment-response biomarkers in patients with Parkinson's disease. Symptom progression will be monitored using both Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and with a wearable recording device. Topline results are expected in September 2025. This trial is funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) and Parkinson's UK. It is being conducted in Turku and Helsinki, Finland by the contract research organization Clinical Research Services Turku – CRST Oy. The Phase 1b trial builds on positive results from the Phase 1a trial, which demonstrated a good safety and tolerability profile, along with effective blood-brain barrier penetration of subcutaneously administered HER-096 in healthy volunteers. More information about the trial can be found on the website: The trial is registered at here: About HER-096 HER-096 is an engineered peptidomimetic molecule designed to mimic the activity of CDNF, a protein that promotes cell survival and functional recovery of neurons. HER-096 modulates the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway, which plays a critical role in restoring the cell protein balance (proteostasis) and preventing the processes leading to cytotoxic protein aggregation and neuronal cell death in the brain. In addition, HER-096 reduces inflammation in the affected brain area and can effectively pass the blood-brain barrier enabling convenient subcutaneous administration. With its multimodal mechanism of action, HER-096 has the potential to stop the progression of Parkinson's disease and significantly improve patients' quality of life. For more information, please contact: Tone Kvåle, CFOTel: +47 915 19576Email: ir@ ICR Healthcare Mary-Jane Elliott, Sarah Elton-Farr, Stephanie CuthbertTel: +44 20 3709 5700Email: herantispharma@ Certified Advisor: UB Corporate Finance LtdTel.: +358 9 25 380 225E-mail: ubcf@ About Herantis Pharma Plc Herantis Pharma Plc is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing disease modifying therapies for Parkinson's disease. Herantis' lead product HER-096, is an advanced small synthetic chemical peptidomimetic molecule developed based on the active site of the CDNF protein. It combines the compelling mechanism of action of CDNF with the convenience of subcutaneous administration. The primary aim of the ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial is to show that repeated subcutaneous doses of HER-096 are safe and well-tolerated in patients with Parkinson's disease. The Phase 1a clinical trial demonstrated a good safety and tolerability profile, and efficient blood-brain barrier penetration of subcutaneously administered HER-096 in healthy volunteers. Herantis is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland. Company website: Forward-looking statements This release includes forward-looking statements which are not historical facts but statements regarding future expectations instead. These forward-looking statements include without limitation, those regarding Herantis' future financial position and results of operations, the Company's strategy, objectives, future developments in the markets in which the Company participates or is seeking to participate or anticipated regulatory changes in the markets in which the Company operates or intends to operate. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as 'aim,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'forecast,' 'guidance,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'projected,' 'should' or 'will' or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on numerous assumptions. The Company's actual results of operations, including the Company's financial condition and liquidity and the development of the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from (and be more negative than) those made in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements contained in this company release. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to risks associated with implementation of Herantis' strategy, risks and uncertainties associated with the development and/or approval of Herantis' drug candidates, ongoing and future clinical trials and expected trial results, the ability to commercialize drug candidates, technology changes and new products in Herantis' potential market and industry, Herantis' freedom to operate in respect of the products it develops (which freedom may be limited, e.g., by competitors' patents), the ability to develop new products and enhance existing products, the impact of competition, changes in general economy and industry conditions, and legislative, regulatory and political factors. In addition, even if Herantis' historical results of operations, including the Company's financial condition and liquidity and the development of the industry in which the Company operates, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this company release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
