Research Archives - Demoucelle

Interview with Shaun Martin PhD, Parkinson’s Disease researcher at KU Leuven

9 March 2020 - Humans touched by Parkinson’s / Research

We asked Shaun Martin PhD, a senior postdoctural scientist researching Parkinson’s Disease at KU Leuven, to tell us more about his role, motivation and research. His responses were both eye-opening and touching. Read his full interview here.

How a Belgian PhD student’s ‘Eureka’ moment could herald Parkinson’s breakthrough

9 March 2020 - Research

Sarah van Veen remembers the moment her lab experiment went blue, as if it was yesterday! It was September 2016 and she was two years into her biomedical science doctorate studying how a dysfunctional protein in brain cells contributed to the development of Parkinson’s Disease. “I wasn’t really expecting to see blue that … Continued

Portrait of Liesbeth Aerts – researcher in neurobiology at the VIB-KU Leuven

22 October 2019 - Humans touched by Parkinson’s / Research

A few years ago, Liesbeth attended a motivational seminar given by Patrick & Anne-Marie. Their positive attitude was so inspiring that she decided to help the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity.

Portrait of Patrick Cras, Professor of Neurology

12 September 2019 - Research

Portrait of Patrick Cras, Professor of Neurology & Head of Service at the UZ Antwerp.

Why Get Involved in Clinical Trials – Read Michael’s story

24 July 2019 - Living with Parkinson’s / Research

Since being diagnosed in 2013, Michael Broad has taken part in a number of clinical trials to help find ways of alleviating symptoms and slowing progression of Parkinson’s.

Making Strides for Walking and Balance Problems

2 July 2019 - Living with Parkinson’s / Research

We don’t typically think much about walking or keeping balance unless we have trouble with these activities. That’s because we don’t have to think about them, it’s automatic. Parkinson’s can interrupt these automatic connections and cause walking and balance problems, especially in people who live with the disease for many years.

Ask the MD: Predicting How Parkinson’s Will Progress

7 June 2019 - Research

After a Parkinson’s diagnosis, one of the first questions a person asks is, “What is going to happen to me?” People with Parkinson’s disease understandably want to know how their symptoms will change over time.

Ask the MD: Placebo and Parkinson’s

21 May 2019 - Research

Many clinical trials use a placebo comparison to evaluate the effect of a new drug or therapy. Some people get the active intervention and some get an inactive “fake” treatment that looks the same as the real thing. What is a placebo? Is it a good thing? Can a placebo make you feel worse? From Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research website.

Ask the MD: Depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease

29 April 2019 - Living with Parkinson’s / Research

Doctor Rachel Dolhun is movement disorder specialist and vice president of medical communications at the MJFF. In this video, she talks about depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease. How are depression and anxiety treated? What are the tips to manage depression and anxiety?

Trophic Factor Study Results: Placebo Effect?

12 March 2019 - Research

Results are in from a study of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a “brain fertilizer” that some scientists believe may help protect dopamine cells and improve Parkinson’s symptoms. Many news reports are citing the findings as miraculous, but the response could be due to placebo effect.