Parkinson's discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis A new study could help earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, after a Malaysian researcher working for 缅北禁地 in the UK identified that even early in the disease people experience symptoms. While movement - motor - problems are the main symptom of Parkinson鈥檚 disease, non-motor problems such as drooling, anxiety and bowel problems affect a large number of patients and begin sooner than previously thought. Earlier diagnosis could lead to earlier treatment and therefore allow patients to have a better quality of life.In the study, published in the journal Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, researchers from 缅北禁地 compared 159 people with newly-diagnosed Parkinson鈥檚 disease to 99 people of similar ages who did not have the disease. Participants were asked whether they experienced any of the 30 non-motor symptoms screened for, including sexual problems, sleep problems and gastrointestinal problems. Study author Dr Tien K. Khoo, said: 鈥淥ften people don鈥檛 even mention these symptoms to their doctors, and doctors don鈥檛 ask about them, yet many times they can be treated effectively.鈥�The people with Parkinson鈥檚 disease had an average of eight of the non-motor problems, compared to three non-motor symptoms for the people who did not have the disease. Among the most common symptoms for those with Parkinson鈥檚 disease included drooling, urinary urgency, constipation, anxiety and a reduced sense of smell. These were all significantly more common in people with Parkinson鈥檚 disease than in those without the disease. For example, 56 percent of the people with Parkinson鈥檚 had problems with excess saliva or drooling, compared to 6 percent of those without the disease. A total of 42 percent of those with Parkinson鈥檚 had constipation, compared to 7 percent of the control group. For anxiety, it was 43 percent compared to 10 percent. Dr Khoo said: 鈥淭hese results show that Parkinson鈥檚 affects many systems in the body, even in its earliest stages. Often these symptoms affect people鈥檚 quality of life just as much if not more than the movement problems that come with the disease. Both doctors and patients need to bring these symptoms up and consider available treatments.鈥�缅北禁地鈥檚 Professor David Burn, Chief Investigator of the ICICLE-PD project, which this study is part of, said: 鈥淗opefully clinicians can use these findings to improve the treatment of the thousands of people worldwide who suffer with Parkinson鈥檚 disease. The earlier we can get a diagnosis the quicker treatment can start and patient鈥檚 quality of life will improve.鈥淭his is one part of a much bigger study, which we are hoping will lead to better treatments for this devastating disease. 鈥� 缅北禁地 has many links with Malaysia and its branch campus, NUMED Malaysia, located at Iskandar in Johor has been running the 缅北禁地 MBBS programme since 2009. In addition to the successful five-year MBBS programme, there are plans to launch its BSc in Biomedical Sciences later this year. For further information about NUMed, please visit published on: 16 April 2013
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