Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Rajendra D Badgaiyan
University of Richmond, USA
Keynote: Novel neuroimaging technique to study Parkinson’s disease
Biography:
Rajendra D. Badgaiyan, MD, is a psychiatrist and cognitive neuroscientist. He is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Richmond University Medical Center, and Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. He received formal training in psychiatry, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, molecular imaging and neuroimaging. He was awarded the prestigious BK Anand National Research Prize in India and Solomon Award of Harvard Medical School. His research is focused on the study of neural and neurochemical mechanisms that control human brain functions. He developed the single scan dynamic molecular imaging technique (SDMIT) to detect, map, and measure neurotransmitters released acutely in the human brain during task performance. This technique is now used in laboratories all over the world. Using this technique, he studies dopaminergic control of human cognition and behavior. He is also interested in learning the nature of dysregulated dopamine neurotransmission in psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions. His research is funded by NIMH, NINDS, VA, and various foundations. Previously he served in the faculty of Harvard Medical School, SUNY Buffalo and University of Minnesota. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.
Abstract:
Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is mostly clinical. As a result, it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis at an early stage. Because of the subjective nature of clinical diagnosis, many patients are misdiagnosed at an early stage. Because of this, treatment gets delayed and the disease progression cannot be slowed down. It is therefore important to have a diagnostic technique that helps us make an early diagnosis. A new imaging technique that we recently developed could be useful. The technique called single scan dynamic molecular imaging technique (SDMIT) uses positron emission tomography (PET) to detect, map and measure dopamine released acutely during a cognitive or behavioral processing. It exploits the competition between dopamine and its receptor ligand for occupancy of the same receptor site. In this technique after patients are positioned in the PET camera, a radio-labeled dopamine ligand is injected intravenously and the PET data acquisition started. These data are used by a receptor kinetic model to detect, map and measure dopamine released dynamically in different brain areas. The patients were asked to perform a behavioral or cognitive task while in the scanner and the amount of dopamine released in different brain areas measured. By comparing this data with data acquired previously in age-matched healthy volunteers during performance of a similar task, it is possible to determine whether dopamine neurotransmission is dysregulated in the patients and whether the dysregulation is responsible for clinical symptoms. Finding of a significant dysregulation in dopamine neurotransmission would confirm diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Since this technique measures dopamine released under conditions of cognitive and behavioral stress, it can detect changes at a very early stage, when dysregulation of dopamine neurotransmission is not expressed at rest but manifests under conditions of cognitive/behavioral overload.
Keynote Forum
John M Baumann
University of Louisville, USA
Keynote: Complete communication of the potential medical and non-medical effects of parkinson’s on newly diagnosed patients by neurologists and movement disorder specialists
Biography:
John Baumann graduated from Cornell Law School in 1986 and, in 2002, at 41 years old, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. John worked as an Attorney until 2012 and, from 2004 to 2012, taught at the University of Louisville. In 2008, he reinvented himself into a inspiring success speaker. He has inspired audiences in France, Malaysia, and across the United States and Canada. His book is entitled, Decide Success–You Ain’t Dead Yet. He also collaberated on a book with Deepak Chopra.
Abstract:
Most people are not prepared to do what they need to do when they are told that they have a progressive, degenerative, incurable chronic disease (for example, Parkinson’s). Doctors should take on a meaningful role in the discussion of not just all possible medical ramifications, but also non-medical issues. These include encouraging patients to locate and obtain information from a Parkinson’s support center in your area. Discuss with your support center how to tell your family (one of the emotional heartbreaking things you will ever do). If you are still working, ask your support center if they have the names of employment lawyers that have experience with Parkinson’s. Discuss what rights you now have and which ones you think you might have, but don’t. You should discuss if, when, and how you will inform your employer. Ask the local center if they have a list of benefits lawyers. Realize that you are experiencing a shock to your system and you may not be able to make decisions as well as you did before. This is a hard one to accept. You may need to run your decisions by someone you trust before taking action. Meet with your, or find a, financial advisor. You will need to plan ahead so that you don’t run out of money after you are unable to work in your profession. This should be balanced with enjoying the limited number of years that you will have to ability to do the things that you always wanted to do: travel, etc. Parkinson’s may have an effect on your ability to multi-task and your short-term memory. Maybe turn some responsibilities over to your trusted care partner or financial advisor. Recognize that, although Parkinson’s is a progressive, degenerative disease, eating a healthy diet and extensive exercise appears, in some individuals, to slow the manifestations of the disease. So, get a plan together, maybe with the assistance of your local support center, nutritionist and fitness trainer to improve your lifestyle and stick to it. Finally, it is time to deal with the feelings that you repressed in order to get through the practical issues. You will need a good therapist. Again, contacting your local support center for a list of doctors familiar with PD is a great start.
Keynote Forum
Tyrone Genade
Northwestern College, USA
Keynote: Nothobranchius furzeri: A new model organism of alpha-synucleinopathy
Biography:
Tyrone Genade completed his PhD and Post-doctoral studies at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in the Department of Human Biology. His research subject is neurodegeneration and aging of the short-lived Nothobranchius killifish. He currently teaches Anatomy, Physiology and Zoology at Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa). He is Executive Editor of Killi-Data News: A quaterly review of killifish research
Abstract:
Nothobranchius furzeri is a fish with an average lifespan of 9 to 12 weeks and which is proving useful in aging research. In aging it demonstrates both pronounced neurodegeneration and several motor deficits. Analyses of brain protein extracts show an age-related accumulation of soluble alpha-synuclein oligomer in the brains of the fish. There is evidence that soluble alpha-synuclein oligomers are neurotoxic and cause dopaminergic neuron loss in Parkinson’s disease. Histological analysis with the SNL-4 antibody has demonstrated alpha-synucleinopathy in several Nothobranchius brain regions; notably the olfactory bulb and brain stem. Furthermore, supplementing the fish's food with NT-020 extended lifespan and reduced the soluble alpha-synuclein oligomer burden. The authors also hypothesize that the observed neurodegeneration may in part be attributed to several amino acid substitutions in the PARK7 gene (coding for DJ-1); one of which is at the clinically relevant 172 lysine residue.