Research achievements: changing clinical practice
Our
research has transformed the diagnosis and care of people with
Parkinson's.
Our research achievements have shaped the development of the
NICE Guideline for Parkinson's. This is
used by NHS health professionals to give the best care and services
to people with Parkinson's.
Find out more:
Listen online
Professor Niall Quinn discusses how research
breakthroughs over the years have changed the way patients are
diagnosed - Listen here
Nurse specialist Kathy Magee explains the central
role nurses play in supporting people affected by Parkinson's -
Listen here
Getting the diagnosis right
In 1988, our researchers developed the UK Brain
Bank Criteria, a guide for diagnosing Parkinson's that remains the
global standard for diagnosis today.
"About 1 in 10 people with symptoms that look like
Parkinson's don't actually have Parkinson's – they have another
condition.
"The UK Brain Bank Criteria was developed by Parkinson's
UK-funded researchers 21 years ago. It is now used by specialists
around the world to maximise the accurate diagnosis of
Parkinson's."
Professor Carl Clarke,
Consultant Neurologist
Our research has also helped develop modern brain
imaging techniques that are used to clarify uncertain
diagnoses.
"In 1987, our research team proved that Parkinson's could be
diagnosed by looking at the function of people's brains with a
special scanner.
"We gave people a mildly radioactive form of the drug levodopa
and then scanned their brains. Pictures from the scans showed that
nerve cells in the brains of people with Parkinson's had started to
die and did not work properly."
Professor David Brooks,
Consultant Neurologist
back to top
Specialist nurses for
Parkinson's
Research funded by us has shown that specialist
Parkinson's nurses make a massive difference to people's
ability to cope with the condition.
Our research, campaigning and fundraising activities
have now achieved a UK-wide network of around 250 expert
nurses.
"Our research
was pivotal in establishing specialist Parkinson's nurses at the
centre of patient care.
"Specialist nurses are the crucial link between the person with
Parkinson's, their consultant and other healthcare professionals.
We showed that people with Parkinson's who received care from a
specialist nurse rated their quality of life as much better."
Sir Brian Jarman,
Former Head of the Department of Primary Health Care and General
Practice
back to top
The first Parkinson's
nurse
"I am proud to say that I was the UK's first specialist
Parkinson's nurse.
"Each person with Parkinson's has very different needs. My role
involved making sure my patients and their families understood the
condition, medicines and support available.
"By monitoring my patients closely, I helped them cope better
with their condition, health and day-to-day life."
Rosemary Maguire
Former Parkinson's nurse who received an MBE in 2009 for her
services to people with Parkinson's
back to top
- email
-
Share