Jews in the D 52 | OCTOBER 31 • 2019 to stop or slow its progression,” says Dr. Aaron Ellenbogen, movement disorder special- ist at QUEST Research Institute in Farmington Hills. “Quest has been researching Parkinson’ s disease for more than 15 years, frequently conducting clinical trials for pharmaceuti- cal companies regarding their development of new drugs. “Based on the knowledge that people don’ t respond to medical treatments the same way, a new approach, called tailored medicine, emphasizes treating people with certain conditions using personalized plans,” Ellenbogen says. It is thought that up to 15 percent of Ashkenazi Jewish patients with PD may carry one or more of the gene muta- tions that increase the risk of acquiring the disease. Current research is inves- tigating new therapies for PD patients with these gene mutations. This personalized medicine could have benefits for everyone with PD. QUEST Research Institute is currently enrolling for one of these trials, testing people with PD for free if they have Ashkenazi heritage or family history. To learn more, call (248) 957-8940. Ellenbogen continued from page 51 SOME PD SYMPTOMS: • Tremor or shaking • Slowed movement • Rigid muscles • Stooped posture and balance problems • Loss of automatic movements such as blinking or swinging arms when walking • Speech changes such as speaking softly, slurring words Panel to Discuss Different Religions’ Perspectives on Organ Donation Throughout the U.S., thou- sands of severely ill individuals await donated organs to alle- viate their chronic illnesses or injuries. The wait can be long and not everyone survives until an appropriate organ is available for transplantation. Donating an organ is not an easy deci- sion, and the views of various religions toward organ dona- tion vary. The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit will present a panel discussion, “Organ Donation Across the Faith Traditions, ” from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at St. John’ s Episcopal Church, 26998 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak. Ramonia Chapmen from Gift of Life Michigan will moderate the panel fea- turing representatives of many faiths: Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, Islamic Center of America, Dearborn; Shama Mehta, board-cer- tified Hindu chaplain; Jill Abromowitz Gutmann, Jewish expert on bioeth- ics; Rev. Ronald Copeland, organ recipient, New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, Detroit; and Father Richard Leliaert, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish. Program co-sponsors include Gift of Life Michigan, WISDOM (Women’ s Interfaith Solution for Dialogue and Outreach in Metro Detroit) and the InterFaith Health and Hope Coalition. The event is free of charge. RSVP in advance at detroitinterfaithcouncil.com. For details, contact gailkatz@comcast.net or at (248) 978-6664. Ask Dr. Vieder For more health information, visit the Ask Dr. Vieder page at LakesUrgentCare.com Dr. Sanford Vieder, DO, FACEP, FACOEP, Medical Director at Lakes Urgent Care, West Bloomfi eld/Livonia I am trying to quit smoking and have been using an E-cigarette product as a substitute. Now I’m hearing that this is not such a safe alternative. What are the latest fi ndings on vaping? Unauthorized vaping products regularly enter the market, and underage sales too frequently occur in stores and online. Some experts believe vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. But much is unknown about the long-term health consequences of vaping. Unlike traditional cigarettes, E-cigarettes don’ t contain tobacco, don’ t involve combustion and contain fewer ingredients. A 2018 analysis of more than 800 peer-reviewed scientifi c studies suggests that “E-cigarettes are likely to be far less harmful than combustible tobacco cigarettes.” While vaping exposes users to some toxicants, the vapor has “fewer numbers and lower levels of most toxicants” than cigarette smoke. However, E-cigarettes have not received FDA approval as a medical smoking cessation device. What are the potential health risks of vaping? E-cigarettes are undeniably harmful, exposing users to numerous toxic and carcinogenic substances that may lead to adverse health effects. But they virtually eliminate exposure to carbon monoxide, tar and many of the 7,000 chemicals that contribute to cigarettes’ lethality. In short, E-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking, but they are by no means safe! As of last week, the CDC has reported a total of 29 vaping related deaths across the US, in contrast to nearly half a million cigarette related deaths annually. Vaping products from reputable, regulated manufacturers may indeed be measurably safer than traditional cigarettes, but there is simply not enough experience or research to know the ultimate health impact vaping will have on users. The simple and safe answer is, don’ t smoke cigarettes and don’ t vape. I know that smoking is detrimental to my health. If I have to stop vaping, what other safer alternatives do you recommend? It is true that most smokers who try E-cigarettes continue to smoke, but that does not mean that E-cigarettes are an ineffective cessation aid. Most smokers who try FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies also continue to smoke, but such products are still offi cially deemed “effective.” The best source of advice and guidance to quit smoking cigarettes or discontinue the use of vaping products will be your primary care physician. There is certainly not a “one fi ts all” approach but keep trying to quit if you are a smoker or vaper! care physician. There is certainly not a “one fi ts all” approach but keep trying to quit if you are a smoker or vaper!