Page 20 - PULSE@UM 2nd Issue 2019

research spotlight

small vessel disease and osteoporosis • Complementary and alternative COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES
may be even more highly prevalent in treatments are even more widely used in
WPR populations, with major implications the WPR than in the West, reflecting many 50 KELUARGA SIHAT PROGRAM: A COMMUNITY PROJECT IN TAMAN
on disease causation and/or disease factors including cultural history and MEDAN CAHAYA
course. These areas are only beginning easy access. Some popular approaches
to be appreciated by the PD clinical and such as tai chi, acupuncture, and herbal
research communities and deserve to be preparations were discussed, as well
highlighted. as the need for these treatments to be
tested in the same rigorous manner as
• There are major gaps in multiple areas in for conventional therapies to provide an
the WPR, including poor awareness and evidence-based rationale for their use.
knowledge of PD (such as confusing PD
for ageing, poor recognition of non-motor • The authors provided numerous specific
symptoms, and beliefs that alternative suggestions on how the field can move
treatments can “cure” PD), which could forward in terms of further research; short
result in people living with PD not seeking and medium-term priorities for care and
medical care, or leading them to obtain opportunities for improvements in training
unproven, costly and potentially harmful and advocacy in the region were also
treatments. covered.

• Healthcare resources are insufficient with Importantly, this work showcases the
a shortage of neurologists, PD specialists, collaborative potential between research
and neurosurgeons with expertise in deep groups in this region and elsewhere. Another
brain stimulation (DBS). There is poor high-impact paper led by collaborators at
or no access to potentially life-changing the University of Tokyo (Figure 3) involving ASSOC PROF MOY FOONG MING non-communicable diseases, to reduce the
treatments such as dopaminergic Malaysian cases provided by Prof. Lim and DEPT OF SOCIAL & PREVENTIVE MEDICINE burden on the government’s health facilities,
infusions and DBS in many WPR countries. Assoc. Prof. Tan is currently in press with which subsequently free up resources spent
Even levodopa - introduced into clinical use Nature Genetics (Ishiura, 2019), and a meta- he “50 Keluarga Sihat Program” is a on preventable diseases to be more effectively
more than 50 years ago - is not universally genome wide association study (meta-GWAS) Tcommunity program under the P105 used for other needs.
available in some countries. of Asian PD led by close collaborators in Health thrust. The Health thrust is one
Singapore is currently in submission with of the six key thrusts (Health, Democracy, Recently, our beloved Dean, Professor Dato’ Dr
• There is a paucity of PD-related clinical Lancet Neurology. The Nature Genetics paper Empowering Youths, Empowering Women, Adeeba Kamarulzaman was invited to lead the
trials in the WPR, highlighting a major gap describes a new mechanism by which certain Housing and Transportation, and Environment) Health thrust to build a sustainable community
in PD research currently, given that there genetic mutations (trinucleotide repeat under the P105 “Dignity for all” by Yang program with the expertise from the University
are likely to be inter-ethnic differences in expansions) can cause disease. The full Berhormat Maria Chin Abdullah, a member of of Malaya (UM). One of the main activities
drug metabolism, therapeutic responses details are currently under embargo, pending parliament of Petaling Jaya city. The vision carried out under the Health thrust is the “50
and adverse effects. An example of this, online publication. of the P105 Health thrust is “Empowering Keluarga Sihat Program” conducted in the
with respect to entacapone (a very widely residents to take ownership of their life” Program Perumahan Rakyat Taman Medan
used PD medication), was highlighted. translating into cleanliness, good eating and Cahaya. The program was designed based on
fitness habits for self, family and community. the household survey and needs assessment
The ultimate aim is to prevent and manage that carried out by UM medical students

20 21