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We cover a lot of new research on the website ParkinsonsNewsToday.com but I’m curious to know – what are some Parkinson’s research projects you’re most excited about? Why? Feel free to share links in the comments to news stories if you have them!
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Check out this latest research from UCSD.
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I was also going to post about the UCSD study (posted above by Bob Hodgson) that popped up last week on numerous health news feeds … This does appear to be very exciting news in that the researchers accidentally got mice to regenerate dopamine-producing neuron cells … all the mice recovered from their PD symptoms which never came back for the duration of their lives … When you think about the science of Parkinson’s as we know it, this might be groundbreaking …
I exchanged emails with the co-author, Dr. William Mobley. I asked how long before they can start clinical trials. He said “years.”
I would love to hear from anyone who knows more about the research trial process, the different phases and the kinds of hurdles involved, financial and regulatory that are involved.
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Good morning all….I have recently joined this forum and would like to make a general comment about PD research. I have been studying and teaching about the chemical causes of PD for over 30 years. It breaks my heart to read posts like the above where patients get their hopes up when new dopamine replacement research is published. Please review these types of studies with one very important caveat: The animal models used in these studies (the UCSD one cited above included) utilize an acute DA-depletion model – 6OHDA or MPTP – where the toxin that killed the DA cells initially is completely absent from the brain when the new cells are introduced (either into the Substantia nigra or the Striatum). PD in humans is associated with a progressive, CHRONIC loss of dopamine cells, meaning that something has been killing these cells for many years (often decades). The toxic environment responsible for contributing to the cell death still exists and if you put new DA-producing cells into this environment they will most likely die also….It’s like adding more logs to the firepit, the fire gets intense for a little bit, but the fire is still there and the logs will burn away.
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@Jennifer Blackstone…I think that neurotrophic factors (CDNF and GDNF) are key in managing the chemical reactions involved in neurodegeneration.
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Exercise apparently helps in Parkinson’s by increasing the release of neurotrophic factors as mentioned above….making exercise a key component to the puzzle. One problem apparently is that every time the research scientists come up with an important basic science research modification, it takes years for the new information to translate clinically as new clinical trials are needed. So if you are a few years into a clinical trial and then find something better, you just can’t switch it out…. Bottom line is there can be a huge lag (as in multiple years) between the basic science research breakthroughs and the actual clinical applications. Finally, COVID slowed everything to a near halt making 2020 essentially a lost year. Sorry if that is too negative, I have PD but also think it is important to keep it real…
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I was recently tested for genetic mutations to see if I carry the lrrk2 gene; I do. This now means I’m eligible to be part of a study by Denali Therapeutics that seeks to repair that genetic defect (at least that’s how I understood my doctor’s explanation).
I’m still unclear about other details as are the people at Cedars Sinai in LA who I’m working with … No one seems to know if what phase this will be and when it will start. The study coordinator at Cedars was confident that my doc’s patients who qualify will be entered into the study ….
Eligibility criteria are a PD Diagnosis, LRRK2 gene and Ashkenazi Jewish descent …
If anyone else has more details on this, I would appreciate hearing from you …
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Awesome link summariing all active trials related to disease modifying therapies and symptomatic therapy
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