Parkinson’s disease is a relentless, ruthless neurodegenerative disorder that often strikes in the early “golden years”, around 60 years of age, but sometimes much earlier. It progressively robs its victims of every capability that makes life enjoyable, from their ability to move, talk, eat by mouth, and in the worst cases, decreasing their cognitive abilities. … Continue reading Good, bad, useful? Reflections on animal models for Parkinson’s disease research
Tag: Parkinson’s
A Brief History of Deep Brain Stimulation
An on-going campaign against the use non-human primates to study Parkinson's disease (PD) at the University of British Columbia prompted me to summarize some basic facts about the work and the history of a successful therapy was developed. Why is the work done? In the U.S. alone there are between 500,000 and 1 million people living … Continue reading A Brief History of Deep Brain Stimulation
Interview with a Primate Researcher
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center Director Jon Levine has kindly allowed us to reproduce a piece previously posted in On Wisconsin. Question and Answer with Wisconsin National Primate Research Center Director Jon Levine Work flows from “the best of reasons,” says new director of primate research center. Administering a big research center at the forefront … Continue reading Interview with a Primate Researcher
From Science Fiction to Science Fact
The ability to regrow limbs lost through accident or the action of their nemesis is a power usually thought of as belonging only to comic-book heroes, but in nature the ability to regenerate tissues and even whole limbs is surprisingly widespread across the plant and animal kingdoms. While in the womb mammals such as humans … Continue reading From Science Fiction to Science Fact
Speaking of Research 