Good news from Canada as Senator Jane Cordy calls for government action to provide services for those affected by neurovascular disorders.

Thank you Senator Jane Cordy for asking the following question in the Senate this week!!!

QUESTION PERIOD

Health

Medical Treatment

Hon. Jane Cordy: Senator Harder, these are questions that I planned on asking Minister Philpott when she was in the chamber last week. Because we ran out of time, I will ask you. If you aren't able to answer because the questions are specific to health policy, I ask that you provide delayed answers from the minister's office.

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We know that a number of independent researchers have public findings of the past year that show the discovery of a lymphatic system in the brain. The studies were conducted at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine and the University of Helsinki. Researchers at the University of Rochester have also published findings on how the brain cleanses itself. These discoveries are important to help us understand and treat diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, ALS and dementia. This research calls into question the so-called anti-immune-suppressant drug treatment that neurologists have used to treat multiple sclerosis. In fact, these findings seem to validate Dr. Zamboni's theory that blood flow to the brain matters.

Canadians living with these neurological conditions are looking to the government to provide leadership to encourage promising alternative treatments and promote best medical practices. Will the federal government encourage the provincial and territorial health ministers to provide access to testing of the jugular, vertebral and azygos veins for people with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, ALS and dementia? Currently, Canadians living with MS have to go outside of the country to get a Doppler ultrasound that is available to people who do not suffer from multiple sclerosis.

Hon. Peter Harder (Government Representative in the Senate): I thank the honourable senator for her question. As her preamble suggested, I will bring this to the attention of the minister and provide a response.

Senator Cordy: If you could also bring the following to the minister: Will the government provide funding for research into the vascular connection to all neurological diseases? As part of this research, will the government collect the data from those multiple sclerosis patients who have had venous angioplasty done in order to increase blood flow to the brain, keeping in mind the data should be collected both before and after the procedure has been done, because collecting the data prior to treatment will help baselines so that the data collected as a follow-up will be more useful.

Senator Harder: I will add that to my inquiry of the minister.