Garonne – Parkinson: Let’s talk research in Toulouse on November 9

Passionate researchers and practitioners will present their work and research projects, supported by the France Parkinson association, during interactive thematic conferences accessible to all those directly or indirectly affected by Parkinson’s in Toulouse on November 9. And as the research is also international, the two conferences will be offered in French and English, on site and broadcast online via the platform www.parlonsrecherche.fr. Each conference will be preceded on site by a time of educational and fun activities in a discovery space.

“Let’s talk research” in Toulouse

Saturday November 9, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Le Stadium, 1 All. Gabriel Biénès, 31000 Toulouse)
Parkinson’s beyond motor symptoms
Parkinson’s cannot be reduced to motor symptoms. How can we optimize the management of non-motor disorders such as pain? Can the different dimensions of a sick person’s personality guide towards more individualized treatment? Are connected objects useful in monitoring and diagnosing disease? How can we better support couples faced with illness?
Many questions to be answered by researchers.
Conference with Mathilde Boussac
Toulouse NeuroImaging Center (ToNIC), University of Toulouse
Personality assessment in Parkinson’s disease, an approach in personalized medicine
Florence SORDES
Toulouse Jean Jaurès University
What quality of life for caregivers of patients with Parkinson’s disease
Margherita FABBRI
Department of clinical pharmacology and neuroscience, CIC1436 Clinical Investigation Center, Toulouse University Hospital
Connected objects in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
Christine BREFEL-COURBON
Centre Expert Parkinson, CHU Toulouse
How to better manage pain in Parkinson’s disease?
Discovery area
“Introduction to research” course
Presentation of research posters by association scholarship holders
Microscopic observation of brain cells
Presentation of the Striatum board game
Discovery of France Parkinson’s local activities
Presentation of a tool to help with physical activity (walking) to Beatmove music
Registration, practical information and complete program on www.parlonsrecherche.fr

Research on Parkinson’s disease, a vital hope for patients

1 in 50 people will suffer from this disease during their lifetime, these latest estimates point to the need to find new therapeutic avenues for Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease which is experiencing the fastest growth in the world and now affects more than 270,000 people. In France. The cause: the very gradual disappearance of dopaminergic neurons, brain cells essential to the proper functioning of the human body. Parkinson’s disease has become the leading cause of motor disability after stroke.

Research on Parkinson’s disease brings together three axes which, in complementarity, make it possible to improve the understanding and management of the disease.

Fundamental research explores the biological mechanisms of the disease to understand its origins, and paves the way for the identification of new therapeutic targets.
Clinical research focuses on developing biomarkers, treatments and interventions for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Research in the humanities and social sciences studies the impact of the disease on the daily lives of people with the disease and their loved ones, exploring beneficial non-drug approaches.

For Marie Fuzzati, Scientific Director of France Parkinson, “beyond the interest in prevention and early diagnosis to limit the impact of the disease on the quality of life of patients, it is crucial to continue these research efforts multidisciplinary to slow the progression of Parkinson’s, which currently has no treatment other than symptomatic, to improve its care and to offer hope to sick people and their loved ones. Research on Parkinson’s disease offers prospects for improving quality of life and developing effective and ever more innovative therapies. This year, the France Parkinson association, thanks to the support of its donors, is supporting and financing 22 research projects. »

In 2024, the France Parkinson Scientific Council has selected 18 projects in medical, clinical and fundamental sciences :

• 8 financial support for research teams
• 8 scholarships for young researchers
• 2 doctoral scholarships for young researchers

Projects are spread across five major research axes:

1. Fundamental causes and mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease
2. Biomarkers
3. Neuro-protection
4. Motor symptoms
5. Non-motor symptoms

Furthermore, the Human and Social Sciences Council has allocated 4 financial supports in 2024 to projects addressing psychosocial intervention themes such as the training of professionals in EHPADs, the behavior of caregivers, associative commitment, as well as the use of cannabis-based medications.

Since 2010:
276 research projects funded by the association on knowledge and therapeutic strategies
17.5 M€ invested

France Parkinson, 40 years of fighting and supporting sick people

Created in 1984, the association is recognized as being of public utility and has the approval of users of the health system. It supports sick people and their loved ones by providing hotlines, organizing information meetings and discussion groups. A true social link, the departmental volunteer committees organize locally adapted physical activity sessions, fun and cultural activities as well as regular meetings; they offer support and training actions for sick people (Step by Step program) and for caregivers (A2PA program).

France Parkinson raises awareness and calls on the media to combat preconceived ideas about the disease. Its actions also aim to mobilize public authorities to improve care and assert the rights of those affected. The association develops programs to inform and train medico-social actors as well as health professionals involved in the care pathway. It also actively supports research by granting grants, financial support and major calls for tenders (GAO) for projects dedicated to Parkinson’s disease.
Today, France Parkinson has nearly 700 volunteers spread across 84 committees across France.

Moselle and Haute-Garonne, theater of France Parkinson’s research

The Parlons Recherche event will be held in Maizières-lès-Metz on Friday October 25, 2024 and in Toulouse on Saturday November 9, 2024.
These two “Let’s Talk Research” days highlight research stakeholders who work to improve the lives of patients or develop treatments to stop the progression of the disease. Funded by France Parkinson thanks to the generosity of its donors, these innovative research projects will be presented to the public during conferences, led by researchers. Free and open to all, these days are a unique opportunity to discover these promising new avenues, with the program: interactive conferences offered in French and English, privileged exchanges with researchers and discovery workshops. It is also possible to attend the conferences online, live, on the dedicated platform https://www.parlonsrecherche.fr/.
Replays will be available after the events.
Each day will be organized around a 2-hour conference during which researchers will present their projects and answer questions from the public present in the room and online. On site, it will be possible to visit the discovery area including various activities including the observation of nerve cells under a microscope; Striatum, a board game about illness; or even poster presentations by young researchers.