Sophisticated medical device Parkinson’s KinetiGraph could revolutionise management of Parkinson’s disease
Technology to be trialled in Parkinson’s services in UK as part of 12-month pilot project
Enables remote monitoring of Parkinson’s symptoms for the first time
25 September 2014: An innovative medical device designed in Australia to improve management of Parkinson’s disease will be made available in the United Kingdom, as part of a 12-month pilot project.
Lead Parkinson’s research and support charity Parkinson’s UK will enable access to the medical device, known as the Parkinson’s KinetiGraph (PKG), for up to 200 people living with Parkinson’s throughout the UK.
The PKG is a wrist worn technology that automatically records highly specific movement data and information about medication concordance. This valuable information can assist treating clinicians to more accurately monitor symptoms and better manage the condition.
Global Kinetics Corporation Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr Andrew Maxwell said: “Our company was founded by leading Australian neurologists and brain researchers who recognised that clinicians require actionable information to inform patient management.
“GKC has long held the view that measurement matters in Parkinson’s, and this will allow clinicians to provide optimal treatment, leading to better quality of life for patients and superior health cost outcomes.”
As part of the pilot program, patients will wear the technology for 10 days prior to specialist consultation, to allow information about their symptoms and their impact on daily life to be tracked.
Steve Ford, Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK commented: “This is a new way of managing Parkinson’s and we eagerly await the outcome of this important evaluation program.
“Mobile health technologies provide a new opportunity to monitor and manage this debilitating movement disorder affecting an estimated 127,000 people in the UK alone.
“Tools that are able to provide more objective information about how symptoms actually affect people in their everyday lives can assist clinicians in planning more suitable medication regimes. Our aim is for people living with the condition to receive the best possible treatment that best manages symptoms affecting quality of life.”
The PKG technology, developed by Australian neurologists at Global Kinetics Corporation, has been validated and used in premier movement disorder centres across Europe, Australia and Asia.
Mr Maxwell said Parkinson’s UK is a highly influential patient focused organisation, committed to helping people with Parkinson’s live the best possible quality of life.
He said he was confident that the PKG would become a routine management tool throughout the United Kingdom. “We know this technology is highly effective at monitoring the key movement disorder symptoms of Parkinson’s, dyskinesia and bradykinesia,” he said.
“When clinicians have this information they can tailor medication regimes for optimal symptom management and ultimately enable improved quality of life. We look forward, in time, to making this important PKG technology available and accessible throughout the UK.”
Ends.
For more information on the Parkinson’s Kinetigraph please go to www.globalkineticscorporation.com.au Further Interviews:
• Becks Openshaw is available at Parkinson’s UK on +44 20 7963 9351
• Global Kinetics Corporation Chief Executive Officer Andrew Maxwell is available through Emma Power at Monsoon Communications on 0419 149 525.
About Global Kinetics Corporation
Global Kinetics Corporation (GKC) is a privately held technology company headquartered in Australia focused on globally commercialising its innovative movement disorder technology, specifically for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. The company’s lead product is the Parkinson’s Kinetigraph (PKG), a first in class medical technology enabling neurologists to better manage the key disabling movement symptoms of Parkinson’s.
The PKG is a wrist worn device that automatically records motion data to assist doctors in their diagnosis and treatment of symptoms. This objective movement data recorded over 6 days, is downloaded within minutes and assists doctors to analyse disease progression and treatment response. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the brain’s frontal lobe, which controls impulsive and non-impulsive movement. An estimated 6 million people around the world are affected. The main motor (or movement) related symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are bradykinesia, rigidity, tremors and postural instability. Other non-movement symptoms may be experienced such as speech and swallowing difficulties, cognitive impairment or behavioural change and sleep disturbance.
About Parkinson’s UK
Every hour, someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson’s. It affects 127,000 people in the UK - which is around one in 500 of the population. One in 20 people are under 40 when they are diagnosed. Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition, for which there currently is no cure. The main symptoms of the condition are tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity. Parkinson’s UK is the UK’s leading charity supporting those with the condition. Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning. For advice, information and support, visit www.parkinsons.org.uk or call our free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.
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