In The News
Volunteers from ‘all walks of life’ encouraged to take part in new Parkinson’s trial
11 January 2022
With 10 million people worldwide diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a research team from Exeter University is inviting people from “all walks of life” to take part in a series of trials to find new ways of understanding what happens in Parkinson’s before and after it is diagnosed and explore the role sleep plays in the development of the disease.
£6 million-funded studies into Parkinson’s disease seek participants
6 January 2022
A major £2.6 million programme grant from The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) will fund a research team led by the University of Exeter for two studies to find new ways of understanding what happens in Parkinson’s before and after it is diagnosed and to explore the role of genes in the evolution of Parkinson’s.
World-leading Neuroimaging expert will optimise Exeter’s £10 million new centre
5 May 2020
Marios Politis has been appointed Professor of Neurology and Director of the Mireille Gillings Neuroimaging Centre at the University of Exeter Medical School. His research involves using cutting edge PET and MRI scanners to understand how the brain works, and to gain insight into how best to prevent and treat diseases including dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Standard brain scans could predict cognitive decline in Parkinson’s
March 2018
King’s College London researchers have developed a method that could predict which Parkinson’s patients will experience cognitive decline, before they show any symptoms of memory problems. The method uses widely available MRI scanning technology and could potentially be a cheap and easy-to-implement tool for doctors.
The Relationship Between Diabetes and Parkinson’s Disease
January 2018
Recent studies have highlighted the potential connection between Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a very common condition, and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). These studies raised a number of questions about the interrelation between these disorders. The main points in the current discussion are whether there are common pathophysiological mechanisms in diabetes and PD and whether this association may create new therapeutic opportunities for PD. We have asked two experts in the field, Tom Foltynie and Marios Politis, to provide their point of view. A seasoned clinical neurologist and movement disorder expert, Eduardo Tolosa, provides a final commentary.
Dr Marios Politis awarded research grant from Parkinson’s UK
20 March 2013
Dr Marios Politis has been awarded a £200,000 research grant for an 18 month study into new treatments for dyskinesia.
Levodopa is currently the main drug used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s. It works well at first but can produce significant side effects. More than 1 in 3 people who take it for more than five years develop dyskinesia – uncontrolled jerky movements that seriously affect quality of life.
Dr Marios Politis wins Investigator Award
15 July 2012
In June, Clinical Lecturer in Neurology Dr Marios Politis was awarded one of three prestigious Investigator Awards at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders.
Reversal of Fortune
6 July 2010
Researchers in the CSC Neurology Group have overcome a major obstacle in the development of a transplant treatment which could relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, according to new research published today. They hope this discovery will lead to a resurgence in clinical trials in this area.
Study reveals roots of Parkinson’s disease in the brain
Researchers from Greece, Great Britain and Italy have uncovered the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease in the brain, many years before patients show any symptoms. The results, published in journal The Lancet Neurology, challenge the traditional view of the disease and could potentially lead to screening tools for identifying people at greatest risk.