4^th World Congress on Parkinsons & Huntington Disease August 29-30, 2018 Zurich, Switzerland

Karina Karolina Kedzior is an Associate Professor of Research Methods in Psychology at the University of Bremen, Germany. Ilkay Kaplan is a 4th semester Bachelor of Psychology student at the University of Bremen, Germany.

Background:\r\nThe application of Tai Chi for management of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) has been assessed in a number of systematic reviews. The current study aims to synthesise the results from systematic reviews regarding the effects of Tai Chi on well-being in PD.\r\n\r\nMethods:\r\nThe search of PubMed and PsycInfo in February 2018 identified k=10 systematic reviews with PD, Tai Chi, and review in titles or abstracts, published in 2008-2017. The primary study designs and the outcomes (motor and non-motor symptoms assessed using various standardised scales) after 4-24 weeks of Tai Chi training were coded from each review. The review quality was assessed using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) scale (0- minimum to 11- maximum quality). \r\n\r\nResults:\r\nThe k=10 reviews included data from up to 13 primary studies (9/13 were single-blind, randomised controlled trials). Relative to non-active control conditions, Tai Chi consistently reduced the motor symptom severity and improved balance but had little effects on mobility. Tai Chi also had some positive effects on various measures of quality of life. Meta-analyses with data from k=5-7 primary studies showed that the reduction in motor symptom severity was moderate after Tai Chi relative to control conditions (non-active or active exercise). Review quality was acceptable with a mean AMSTAR score (±SD) of 7±2 (range: 3-9).\r\n\r\nConclusions:\r\nTai Chi appears to affect well-being by reducing motor symptom severity and improving balance in PD. However, the magnitude of these benefits remains unclear due to incomplete blinding or randomisation, heterogeneous control conditions and outcome assessment methods.\r\n

Ian James Martins is an Editor/Reveiwer for Open Acess Pub/MDPI journals. Appointed as the Chief Editor for International Journal of Diabetes Research (2014-2018), Research and Reviews: Neuroscience (2016-2018) and Journal of Diabetes and Clinical Studies (2017-2018). BIT Member (BIT Congress. Inc). Scientist for Science Advisory Board (USA) and Academic with Academia.edu. H-index of 43, (ResearchGate STATs (23), Mendeley STATS (20). Scientific research citations accumulated to >3300. Lifetime Membership by International Agency for Standards and Ratings as Fellow. Winner (World Academic Championship -2017) in Diabetes and Medical Science (Nutrition). Conferred with the RICHARD KUHN RESEARCH AWARD-2015 ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM.

Epidemiological studies indicate that diabetes Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are closely linked with dysregulated cholesterol pathways that involve molecular genetics, cell biology and insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of these diseases. In Parkinson’s disease the α-synculein protein is an amyloidogenic protein shown to bind to cholesterol. The binding of AD amyloid beta (A) has been associated with cholesterol in membranes with the regulation of liver A metabolism regulated by plasma cholesterol levels. The peripheral sink abeta hypothesis is closely associated with cholesterol regulation and possibly connected to the metabolism of A and α-synuclein protein in diabetes, AD, PD and Huntington’s disease. Interests in proteins and their interactions with membrane lipids in neurodegenerative diseases have accelerated with the existence A and α-synuclein pathologies in individuals with neurodegeneration. The role of molecular genetics with relevance to neurological diseases has gained major interest in anti-aging genes that determine circadian rhythm, insulin resistance and protein aggregation. Diets that activate these genes have become important to control cellular cholesterol, alpha synuclein and amyloid beta levels that may slow down the progression of PD. These genes may regulate immune responses that are connected to mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Drug therapy in Parkinson’s disease has become of importance to clinical drug research with activation of genes essential to maintain cholesterol metabolism and the pharmacy of drugs.