October 2011

New Monitoring Device May Aid
in Tailored Treatment

Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies, formerly a division of Cleveland Medical Devices, has received two federal grants totaling nearly $2 million. The grants enable Great Lakes to further develop its technologies for home-based monitoring of patients suffering from movement disorders. The larger grant from the National Institute on Aging, $1.7 million in Phase II funding, will go toward the development of ETSense�. This portable essential tremor monitor will classify tremor type and rate tremor severity continuously throughout the day while a patient performs typical activities. This should help clinicians to better prescribe treatment and aid in the development of novel therapeutic interventions.

In May 2010, the IETF distributed a research study notice to its members in the Cleveland area to assist ET research by Cleveland Medical Devices. Information gathered from participants in this data collection study was instrumental in the development of the portable essential tremor monitor that was awarded this grant. Follow this link for more information about the grant.

Free ET Seminars - The Home Stretch

Every year the IETF facilitates twenty or more free educational seminars all over the United States. As we approach the holiday season, our seminar season is slowly winding down. However, we still have five sessions left and if you are in Nevada, California, Michigan or Florida you still have a chance to come out and learn more with us.

� Reno, NV (Flyer) (Map) Thursday, October 27

� Santa Barbara, CA (Flyer) (Map) Saturday, October 29
� Las Vegas, NV (Flyer) (Map) Saturday, November 5

� Ann Arbor, MI (Flyer) (Map) Thursday, November 17

� Jacksonville, FL (Flyer) (Map) Saturday, November 19

Call us toll free at 888.387.3667 or click hereto register.

DaTscan� Makes Diagnosis Easier

DaTscan� is the first objective diagnostic tool approved by the FDA to be used for telling the difference between Parkinsonian syndromes and other movement disorders like essential tremor. DaTscan� is an imaging drug that is injected into the bloodstream to help assess dopamine, one of the chemicals involved in controlling movement. A special device, called a gamma camera, then takes pictures of the brain; looking for the telltale signs of reduced uptake of the imaging drug in certain dopaminergic areas of the brain. Although DaTscan� cannot diagnose ET, it can be used to rule out a Parkinsonian syndrome.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, approximately 50,000 new cases of Parkinson's disease are diagnosed in the United States each year. Unfortunately, the symptoms of PD are very similar to symptoms of other movement disorders, such as ET, and both are often misdiagnosed. Now, this FDA-approved imaging procedure can confirm the presence of Parkinsonian syndromes.

Only a doctor can prescribe DaTscan� and it is not available in all areas. Look here to locate a DaTscan� imaging center.

Research Study Announcement

Brigham Young University is currently recruiting patients with essential tremor to participate in a research study investigating the control of upper limb movements. The goal of this research is to better understand the movement impairments associated with essential tremor and improve assistive and rehabilitative devices for patients with ET.

Subjects who participate in this research will be asked to make a number of upper limb movements under different conditions, freely or in interaction with objects or a robot, while researchers record various movement characteristics such as motion, force, and/or muscle activity.

The research consists of one session lasting less than 2 hours, is completely non-invasive, and is performed in the research laboratory of Steven Charles, Ph.D., on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Only those who are 18 or older are eligible to participate.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact Dr. Charles at skcharles@byu.edu or (801) 422-7369.

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