Cure for Parkinson's disease?

Published on June 11, 2007 at 8:03 PM · 7 Comments

Scientists in the U.S. say they have discovered a drug that slows and might even stop the progression of Parkinson's disease.

A team of researchers at Northwestern University have found in a new study that the blood pressure drug isradipine slowed down the progress of Parkinson's disease in genetically altered lab mice, and in some cases prevented it from occurring.

Isradipine is commonly prescribed to patients to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and to prevent a stroke.

The researchers, led by Professor D. James Surmeier, found the drug rejuvenates aging dopamine cells, whose death in the brain causes the symptoms of the disease; dopamine is a critical chemical messenger in the brain that affects a person's ability to direct his movements.

Parkinson's disease is fatal and there is at present no cure for it.

Dr. Surmeier says they hope the drug will protect dopamine neurons, so that if taken early enough, it will prevent Parkinson's disease, even in those at risk.

Surmeier says isradipine could be taken in much the same way as aspirin is taken to protect the heart and might also significantly benefit people who already have Parkinson's disease.

Surmeier's team found that the drug protected dopamine neurons from toxins that would normally kill them by restoring the neurons to a younger state in which they are less vulnerable.

Further research plans to test the drug on humans.

Parkinson's disease is the second leading degenerative brain disease in the United States, effecting more than 1 million people.

Dr. D. James Surmeier is the Nathan Smith Davis Professor and chair of physiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

The study is published in the online edition of the journal Nature.

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Posted in: Medical Research News | Medical Research News

Tags: Aspirin, Aspirin, Blood Pressure, Blood Pressure, Brain, Brain, Dopamine, Dopamine, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Neuron, Neuron, Parkinson's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Physiology, Physiology, Stroke, Stroke

Parkinson's disease?

srini

says:

September 29, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Hi, my dad has a symptoms of early Parkinson's diseases for the past couple of years. Adding to it he is now taking Ropark 0.5mg, Syndopa and Selegine 0.5mg on a day to day basis, where in now he is having some shivering and when consulted the Neurologist he suggested us to start Physiotherapy and things was getting fine and it was continued for a month and after the shiverring of hands is getting more and more.

Can you please help me what has to be done from here.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Warm Regards,
Srini
Mobile:+91-9980523039

Reply »

medtronic activa

karla says:

April 23, 2011 at 9:16 AM

My dad has Parkinson's disease and he improved a lot with the surgery he had. Look into Medtronic Activa stimulators.
Good luck!!

Reply »

Parkinson's

Kunal Kalbande

October 13, 2009 at 1:03 PM

Hi Srini, My dad has the same problem, instead of shivering he has slow movements and faces problems with the mobility. Even he takes Syndopa Plus (half tab) twice a day. I was about to start Physiotherapy for him as well but after reading your blog I started thinking about. May be I will have to go to my Dr back and consult him for any other and proper options. So far I could not find any cure or treatment on the Internet and not from my Dr. either. May be small exercise could help!!!!! My dad got a mild stroke 10 years ago which has become a major cause of Parkinson's. Diabetics and Hypertension are the other major reasons!!!!!

Thanks
Kunal

Help for Parkinson's Fatigue

Rajendra khadpe

December 20, 2009 at 8:28 AM

Hi, my mother is suffering from Parkinson's, she is 69 years old takes every day Entacom plus 100 &Epitrill but still she feels tiredness quickly. We need help to cure her. Rajendra, Cell 9987239082

Parkinson's Be Positive

emz

May 10, 2010 at 7:14 AM

Cures for Parkinsons are being developed, but there is nothing official as yet. In 10 years time hopefully it will be a positive outcome for Parkinson's sufferer's. In Wales and the Uk researchers are working on a drug containing an extract from Daffodils, they claim it will reverse the effects of Parkinson's by 5 - 6 years, but there is so many legal issues regarding its production. My dad has Parkinson's Disease and I have accepted that his condition will worsen over time - may be months or years, he could also have Alzheimer's as well, he doesn't now but he could get it as it effects the same part of the brain. I think his case is hereditory due to his sisters getting Alzheimer's. Be positive people and make the most of the time you have with your friends and family, sometimes looking for a cure only leads to upset, if it's going to happen it'll happen.

Tom Hennessy

May 11, 2010 at 9:14 PM

This is the result in a problem which closely resembles Parkinson's.

"We report the results of iron chelating treatment with deferiprone in a 61-year-old woman with signs and symptoms of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). After 6 months of therapy the patient's gait had improved and a reduction in the incidence of choreic dyskinesias was observed. Her gait returned to normal after an additional 2 months of therapy, at which time there was a further reduction in involuntary movements and a partial resolution of the blepharospasm."

Please help Parkinson's disease

rahul khanna

October 3, 2011 at 4:49 PM

Hi all, I am only 24 years old and suffering from Parkinson's disease. I have all the symptoms of that disease, it's genetic, my mom also had PD and died of it at age of 42. Please help me if there is any cure for PD please let me know.