Parkinson’s Disease: New Insights into Pathophysiology and Rehabilitative Approaches
1Golgi Redaelli Institute, Milan, Italy
2University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
3John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
Parkinson’s Disease: New Insights into Pathophysiology and Rehabilitative Approaches
Description
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with major impact on patients' lives and on the society as a whole. Experimental studies have demonstrated that intensive exercise contributes to brain repair and perhaps reversing the progressive functional damage of this disease. New insights into the benefits of exercise in improving motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD suggest that physical activities may require specific characteristics to be of benefit.
Increasing attention is focused on pathophysiology of disease informing novel rehabilitative interventions and complementary strategies. For example, there is renewed interest in the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) supplementing drug and physiotherapy. Several TMS paradigms can modulate underlying cortical activity, and there is considerable interest in employing these paradigms as part of therapeutic or restorative therapy.
We invite overview and original papers describing current and expected challenges for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease and new insights into pathophysiology and rehabilitative approaches. Both experimental and theoretical papers are welcome.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease with a particular focus on metabolic, hormonal, and nondopaminergic neurochemistry
- Physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease to ameliorate motor and nonmotor symptoms
- Complementary approaches to traditional physical therapy
- Advances in technology to monitor and aid physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease