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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
NEW DRUG MAY BRING PEOPLE OUT FROM BEHIND ‘PARKINSON’S MASK’
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My father was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease. He is expressionless all day. My preschooler is frightened by
his grandfather’s unresponsiveness, and thinks grandpa "died in his
chair.” I have heard about a new drug for Parkinson’s that is effective
in the early stages of the disease. What is it, and is it available for
patients like my father? — Somerset, N.J.
ANSWER: My grandfather had Parkinson’s disease, and I certainly
remember how sad it was to see him so unresponsive — behind the “Parkinson’s
mask.” While there is not yet a cure for Parkinson’s, there are medications
that may help people “return” from the mask stage, and new research is
producing some promising leads. Let me start with some background on this
tragic disease.
Parkinson’s affects approximately 1 million people in the United States.
It is an irreversible, progressive degeneration of the nerve cells in
the part of the brain that controls the muscles. The exact cause of the
disease is unknown. The specific nerve cells that degenerate and die make
dopamine, a chemical that is vital for transporting nerve signals.
Without adequate levels of dopamine, muscles don’t respond, and movement
is impaired. One result of this impaired nerve transmission is the symptom
you describe — the “mask” — an expressionless face. Other symptoms include
a slowed, shuffling gait; tremors; and impaired speaking, eating and swallowing.
The encouraging news to which you may be referring is the therapeutic
power of early drug intervention. In a 2004 major multicenter clinical
trial, patients with early Parkinson’s disease were treated for one year
with an experimental drug called Rasagiline. These patients had superior
motor skills, were better able to execute daily living actions and had
a higher level of mental functioning when compared to a group of Parkinson’s
disease patients for whom treatment with Rasagiline was delayed for six
months.
The Food and Drug Administration is likely to approve Rasagiline soon.
However, this drug is not a cure, it is just one of many that may improve
symptoms. You should talk to your father’s physician about it and all
medication options that may improve his symptoms. If research trials interest
you, ask his physician about what is available and appropriate, or seek
out an advanced medical center to learn more.
— Charles Adler, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Additional Resources:
Treatment of
Parkinson's Disease
Appointment
Information
More Information
on Parkinson's Disease
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Who was Raymond Rife? Did he discover a cure
for cancer? Why isn’t Mayo Clinic using this process? — Fort Wayne, Ind.
ANSWER: Raymond Rife (1888-1971) was an American scientist who
believed that viruses caused cancer. Among his many inventions was a frequency
generator that he believed cured cancer and other ailments.
Some Internet sites tout Rife’s approach as miraculous. Reputable cancer
and health information sites — among them Mayo Clinic, M.D. Anderson,
Johns Hopkins, the American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control
and the National Cancer Institute — don’t even mention Rife’s approach.
People who have sold treatments based on Rife’s ideas have been prosecuted
for fraud.
While there is no evidence that Rife’s invention cures cancer, some of
his ideas have merit. There is evidence that some cancers, including carcinoma
of the cervix, are caused by viruses.
There’s also some merit to Rife’s approach to treatment. In the last 10
years, doctors have found that targeted radiofrequency treatments can
alleviate the pain related to cancer that has spread to the bone.
— Charles Erlichman, M.D., Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
Treatment of Cancer
Appointment
Information
More
Information on Cancer
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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org,
or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite
114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2004 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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