Congress scientific program to highlight new developments in Parkinson's disease

The 7th International Congress on Mental Dysfunction & Other Non-Motor Features in Parkinson's Disease (MDPD 2010), to be held in Barcelona, December 9 - 12, 2010, aims to provide specialists with the latest developments in the understanding of cognitive and psychiatric aspects of the disease.

The congress scientific program covers many topics including brain diseases and how they contribute to cognitive decline and the biochemical and genetic factors involved; and the underlying mechanisms of non-motor problems, their related therapies, and whether they are markers of the disease pathology.

In a recent interview, Professor Amos Korczyn, MDPD 2010 Congress Co-Chairman said, "Our aim is to discuss the new developments and solutions in the understanding of cognitive and psychiatric aspects in Parkinson's disease and related disorders. The overlap with Alzheimer's disease will be a central issue, as will the neurochemical changes seen in these disorders. Aspects of both diseases will be discussed in detail." He also highlighted the main pathologies of Parkinson's disease, which will be presented: "There are non-motor problems, mostly mental, associated with Parkinson's such as depression, sensory problems, pain, autonomic dysfunction (gastrointestinal), and olfactory problems including an early loss of one's sense of smell. These changes are not just an outcome of physical impairment, but are part of the underlying disease pathology."

Korczyn continued, that "MDPD's faculty members will present new drugs that can change the dire prognosis of this disease, as well as newly discovered genetic factors which usually lead to early onset of Parkinson's. It is the definition of these genes that allows for the early identification of people at risk, cause mechanisms to be better understood, and screening programs to be developed."

The importance of new research in the field is clear given that about one percent of the world's population over the age of 65 suffers from Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, the magnitude of the world's aging population coupled with the long-term nature of the disease worsens the forecast.

As Korczyn explained, "If we better understand the risk factors and cause-mechanisms, and are able to identify the disease early, we can have more influence on the biology. Lifestyle changes are also paramount in potential prevention of Parkinson's disease, such as regular physical activity, one's diet - drinking tea and coffee may delay onset of the disease. Most interestingly, smoking may actually delay the disease onset (although nobody actually recommends smoking.)"

This year's location of MDPD 2010 in Barcelona, Spain, is particularly relevant, as mutations in the LRRK2 gene associated with Parkinson's have been found to be prevalent in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. Aside from its medical pertinence, as Korczyn describes it, "Barcelona, the city of art and culture, will provide an exquisite background for an open exchange of ideas and presentation of new research findings."

MDPD is endorsed by the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Parkinson's disease and Related Disorders.