Checking for heart damage may predict risk of Pakinson's later
New York, July 14 : Examining stress and inflammation in the heart may be key to predicting risk of Parkinson's disease, say researchers, as it may help physicians test new therapies and delay the progression of the disorder.
According to researchers, by the time Parkinson's patients are diagnosed -- typically based on the tremors and motor-control symptoms -- about 60 per cent of them also have serious damage to the heart's connections to the sympathetic nervous system.
When healthy, those nerves spur the heart to accelerate its pumping to match quick changes in activity and blood pressure.
"This neural degeneration in the heart means patients' bodies are less prepared to respond to stress and to simple changes like standing up. They have increased risk for fatigue, fainting and falling that can cause injury and complicate other symptoms of the disease," said Marina Emborg, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US.
For the study, published in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease, the teams used rhesus macaque monkeys as models for Parkinson's symptoms, who received neurotoxin doses that caused damage to the nerves in their hearts in the same way as Parkinson's affects human patients.
The team found that tracing the progression of nerve damage and the progression of potential causes of that damage, the radioligands can also be used to test the efficacy of new treatments to protect the neurons that regulate the activity of the patients' hearts.
"We know there is damage in the heart in Parkinson's, but we haven't been able to look at exactly what's causing it. Now we can visualize in detail where inflammation and oxidative stress are happening in the heart, and how that relates to how Parkinson's patients lose those neuronal connections in the heart," said lead author Jeanette Metzger, from the varsity.
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96% of northeast migrants feel safe in Bengaluru: Study
Half of respondents say northeastern members are more united in B'luru than in their native place
Bengaluru: Amid ongoing allegations of discrimination against outsiders in Bengaluru based on language, a recent research by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) has found that 96% of migrant workers from northeastern states feel safe in the city, describing it as a migrant-friendly place.
The research, as cited by Deccan Herald on Wednesday, aimed to document the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of northeastern migrants living in Bengaluru. The study, titled "Gender and Identity: With Reference to the North-Eastern Migrants in Bengaluru," was authored by Dr Channamma Kambara and Dr Malini L. Tantri of ISEC. It surveyed 796 migrants from various northeastern states.
The migrants highlighted Bengaluru's job opportunities, good climate, and friendly, accommodative environment. They said the capital city offers safety and acceptance, with relatively low levels of discrimination and racism. Many expressed satisfaction with work culture, access to services, and food options.
Interestingly, the research found that 52% of respondents felt that there is greater unity among northeastern members in Bengaluru compared to their native states.
The study also revealed that a significant number of migrants, particularly women, showed a preference for settling down in Bengaluru.
However, about 28% of respondents reported facing subtle discrimination at the workplace, primarily linked to language barriers, pay disparity, gender bias, and religion.
"Nonetheless, the migrants also attend various cultural, social and festive events where they are not discriminated except that the migrants cannot follow the language and culture," the research noted.
