Mayo Clinic tests low-dose radiation to slow Parkinson’s progression

Researchers at Mayo Clinic are testing whether low-dose radiation therapy can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease by reducing inflammation in affected areas of the brain.

According to Mayo Clinic, this is the first clinical trial (NCT07218952) to investigate low-dose radiation as an anti-inflammatory treatment approach in early-stage Parkinson’s. The study plans to enroll 20 people with early-stage Parkinson’s not linked to a known genetic cause. According to the registered trial criteria, participants must be ages 45 to 70. They will receive very low doses of radiation targeted to specific areas of the brain. The trial is enrolling participants by invitation only at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

“Instead of treating the symptoms patients experience, we’re investigating whether low-dose radiation can affect one of the underlying biological processes associated with the disease and therefore slow the worsening of symptoms,” Yasamin Sharifzadeh, MD, a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic and the trial’s principal investigator, said in a press release.

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Brain inflammation may play a role in Parkinson’s progression

Parkinson’s causes the gradual loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine, a brain chemical that helps control movement. This loss leads to symptoms such as tremors and slowed movements. Although the cause of Parkinson’s is not fully understood, researchers believe several biological changes may contribute to the disease. One is neuroinflammation, or inflammation in the brain.

Current treatments, including medications and procedures such as deep brain stimulation, can help manage symptoms. However, no available treatment can stop the disease from progressing.

“Parkinson’s disease is not a single uniform condition but rather a collection of related disease subtypes that may differ biologically,” said Rodolfo Savica, MD, PhD, a study investigator. “This diversity complicates the search for a universal treatment, but … inflammation appears to play a meaningful role across many forms of the disease.”

Radiation therapy is typically used at high doses to treat cancer. In this trial, researchers are testing whether much lower doses could have a different effect when directed at small areas of the brain thought to be involved in Parkinson’s development and progression.

“The goal is not to destroy brain tissue but to investigate whether radiation can reduce inflammatory processes in specific parts of the brain,” Sharifzadeh said.

Trial to use targeted radiation over five days

Before treatment, researchers will use MRI and dopamine transporter brain scans to identify areas for radiation and plan treatment for each participant. Participants will receive one radiation treatment a day for five consecutive days. Each session will last about 10–15 minutes.

Following treatment, investigators will track changes in inflammation markers and abnormal protein buildup for up to a year.

Researchers will also use brain imaging to assess dopamine loss and clinical evaluations to track patients’ Parkinson’s symptoms over time.

The main goal of the study is to investigate whether low-dose radiation can slow Parkinson’s progression. According to the registered trial information, researchers will look for a seven-point decrease in motor symptom scores after six months, measured using Part III of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). The study will also track changes in these motor scores and quality of life at three and six months.

According to Sharifzadeh, “The findings could help determine whether this approach should be studied further and add to our understanding of the foundational biological mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease.”