Dystonia Canada News

Las Angeles: Patients suffering from dystonia, an uncommon yet potentially crippling movement disorder, get better results if they begin deep brain stimulation therapy sooner rather than later, according to an international study published in the March issue of the Journal of Neurology. More

The toll taken by brain disorders of injury is more than cancer and cardiovascular disease combined, affecting over 30 percent of Canadians. It's plausible that every family in Canada has been touched by a brain condition.  Improving our knowledge about brain health, our recognition of brain conditions and our understanding of how to be  helpful to those around us is fundamental to reducing the stigma, discrimination and isolation that many Canadians experience every day.

March 2011 marks Canada's first National Brain Awareness Month, an important first step in raising awareness about brain health and the issues fcing millions of Canadians living with brain conditions today.More

Three years ago, The Doctors met Alex, a young woman diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes the muscles to contract and spasm uncontrollably. The contractions force the body into repetitive and often twisting movements, as well as awkward, irregular postures, which halted Alex's career as a dance teacher.

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION- Placing MRI into operating room benefits patients By: Jen Skerritt

For now, procedure will be used on neurosurgery patients undergoing procedures such as deep-brain stimulation, where a surgeon implants a device that emits electrical impulses to treat tremors, dystonia or Parkinson's disease.

Posted By RACHEL PUNCH, THE SUDBURY STAR: Mother of three Corinne Fewster-Gagne knew something was wrong with her infant son when he was about three-months-old."If he was awake, he was crying," Fewster-Gagne said. His fists and arms were clenched tight and weren't moving. "If I put him under a mobile he would just lay there all stiff. I knew something was wrong," Fewster-Gagne said.

Treating worms with ampicillin helps restore normal movement TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Discovery of an antibiotic's capacity to improve cell function in laboratory tests is providing movement disorder researchers with leads to more desirable molecules with potentially similar traits, according to University of Alabama scientists co-authoring a paper publishing March 10 in the journal Disease Models & Mechanisms.

"It's our hope that this discovery serves as the impetus for a proper clinical trial to evaluate the potential of drugs like ampicillin for early-onset torsion dystonia," said Dr. Guy Caldwell, associate professor of biological sciences at The University of Alabama.

By Doug Ward, Vancouver SunMarch 11, 2010

'Spark becomes flame': The torch makes its entrance into            Vancouver. Twenty-two carriers make the circuit around Riley Park

Edmonton, Connie Zalmanowitz DMRF Canada Board Member announces a unique Introduction to Yoga for those Living with Dystonia program.  This program has been made possible through the efforts of  the Edmonton Support Group and the Alberta Government. The classes will be held  January 23, 2010, February 20, March 27, April 17, May 29.1:30 p.m.  to 3:30 p.m. For more information CLICK HERE

Robert Chen, MA, MBBChir, MSc, FRCPC , Toronto Western Hospital has been awarded a two year research grant through the DMRF research program. Title: Effects of internal globus pallidus deep brain stimulation for dystonia on cortical circuits and plasticity.

Guy Dixon From Saturday's Globe and Mail For many years, Liona Boyd had something distressing happening to her hand, specifically to her right middle finger, and it was only getting worse.