Time for Lyme and Lyme Disease Association Fund Clinical Study of Neurological Disorder in Chronic Lyme
Time for Lyme and Lyme Disease Association Fund Clinical Study of
Neurological Disorder in Chronic Lyme
Supporting Neuromuscular Center Research.
Greenwich, CT (PRWEB) December 7, 2007 -- Time for Lyme and the Lyme
Disease Association have finalized an agreement with the Neurology
Research Foundation (NRF) to support a research project to examine
dysautonomia, a devastating and sometimes life-threatening
neurological disorder, in Lyme disease.
The study will be led by the NRF's senior investigator, Dr. David S.
Younger, MD. -- a leading authority in the field of neurology research
who has participated in and authored more than 100 published studies
and peer-review journal articles on neurological disorders. The
investigation will involve the recruitment of a large cohort of
patients with early and chronic Lyme disease of the nervous system,
also known as Lyme neuroborreliosis over four years, with the majority
of the advocacy groups' funding to be used on the purchase of
necessary equipment to support the study. In a preliminary abstract
submitted to the American Academy of Neurology for publication, Dr.
Younger and colleagues noted the development of dysautonomia among
those so studied with early and chronic Lyme disease using the
strictest of criteria for case selection of the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) and New York State (NYS). The investigators concluded
that dysautonomia may be underestimated and under diagnosed in all
stages of Lyme neuroborreliosis.
"Time for Lyme is pleased to support this scientific investigation by
such a respected organization as the Neurology Research Foundation,"
explains Diane Blanchard, co-founder and president of Time for Lyme.
"We are galvanized by their support, as well as the support of the
Lyme Disease Association, in our hope that this study will bring us
closer to understanding and treating dysautonomia in chronic Lyme
disease patients," Blanchard adds.
Difficulties of Dysautonomia
The autonomic nervous system is a complex, fragile and crucial system
that regulates all automatic bodily functions, including respiration,
heart rate, {*filter*} pressure, digestion and kidney function, among
others. It is one of the main branches of the nervous system that is
frequently affected in late-stage chronic Lyme disease, causing
dysautonomia. According to the American Dysautonomia Institute,
symptoms of the disorder include fainting, extremely low {*filter*}
pressure (hypotension), light-headedness, dizziness, problems
concentrating, headaches, fatigue, heart palpitations, digestive
problems, exercise intolerance, insomnia, hot flashes, chills,
weakness, seizures, pain, and disability.
Dysautonomia is not only a manifestation of Lyme disease. In fact, it
is estimated that as many as 3 million Americans are afflicted with
dysautonomia, and there are potential treatments and cures especially
when recognized early and treated aggressively. "This disorder robs
millions of people of their quality of life, and endangers their
health and well-being on a daily basis," notes Debbie Siciliano, co-
founder of Time for Lyme. "Our organization is gratified to
participate in the collection of critical scientific data that not
only will help chronic Lyme disease patients, but may also benefit
dysautonomia sufferers in general," Siciliano concludes.
Time for Lyme has become a particularly proactive force in the area of
chronic Lyme disease research this year. "Chronic Lyme disease is all-
too real for the many thousands of patients who are living with its
symptoms," Blanchard explains. "With the support of top-notch
scientists like Dr. Younger among so many others, we are able to hope
for a better understanding of this insidious disease and, ultimately,
a cure."
About Time for Lyme
Time for Lyme is an organization dedicated to eliminating the
devastating effects of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness. Our
mission is to prevent the spread of disease, develop definitive
diagnostic tools and effective treatments, and to ultimately find a
cure for tick-borne illness by supporting research, education, and the
acquisition and dissemination of information. In addition, we will
continue to act as advocates for Lyme disease sufferers and their
families through support of legislative reform on the federal, state
and local levels. For more information on our organization, please
visit www.timeforlyme.org.
About the Neurology Research Foundation
The Neurology Research Foundation (NRF), a 501 (C) 3 public
foundation, was founded in 1995 out of a compassionate desire to help
the many individuals who suffer from debilitating and fatal
neuromuscular disorders.
Our mission is to advance progress toward cure and prevention of
neuromuscular disorders by providing support for promising research
projects, as well as the assistance of patients, their families, and
caregivers in coping with neuromuscular diseases by fostering support
groups, lectures, seminars, and other participatory forums.
For more information on our organization, please visit www.neurologyresearch.org.
