Scientists
have
successfully
reversed
the
spread
of
Parkinson's
disease
in
monkeys.
The
results
have
raised
hopes
that
scientists
could be
close to
stopping
the
disease
in
humans.
Researchers
from the
US and
Switzerland
used
gene
therapy
techniques
to
reverse
damage
in the
brains
of
monkeys
caused
by
Parkinson's.
They
used a
special
virus to
boost
nutrients
in the
brain.
These
nutrients
increase
the
production
of
dopamine.
Dopamine
sends
signals
in the
brain to
help
individuals
move
smoothly
and
normally.
The loss
of
dopamine
has been
linked
to the
symptoms
of
associated
with
Parkinson's.
Parkinson's
is a
brain
disease
and
causes
severe
difficulty
in
performing
movements
including
walking,
talking,
swallowing
and
smiling.
This
causes
sufferers
to shake
and
experience
muscle
stiffness.
Each
person
with
Parkinson's
is
affected
differently
and to
different
degrees.
Their
ability
to
perform
movements
may vary
from one
day to
the
next.
Sufferers
eventually
die from
secondary
complications
such as
pneumonia,
urinary
tract
infection,
pressure
sores,
septicaemia
and
stroke.
The
condition
is
treated
with
drugs
and
there is
no cure.
It
affects
around
120,000
people
in the
UK.
It
usually
strikes
people
between
the ages
of 50
and 60
although
it can
also
affect
younger
people.
Latest
research
This
latest
research
was
carried
out on
two
groups
of
monkeys.
The
first
group
involved
eight
older
monkeys
with
early
Parkinson's
disease.
The
second
included
younger
monkeys
with no
signs of
the
condition.
The
first
group
received
six
injections
of the
special
virus
called
lenti-GDNF
to boost
nutrients
in their
brain.
After
three
months
the
level of
dopamine
in their
brains
had
dramatically
increased
and were
similar
to those
found in
younger
monkeys.
The
second
group
were
injected
with a
chemical
to cause
Parkinson's
disease.
They
developed
the
condition
but this
was
reversed
once
they
received
lenti-GDNF.
Dr
Jeffrey
Kordower,
from
Rush
Presbyterian
St
Luke's
Medical
Centre
and one
of those
involved
in the
study,
said:
"By
giving
GDNF, we
can
stimulate
dopamine
production
and
prevent
both the
structural
and
functional
consequences
of cell
degeneration
that are
characteristic
of
Parkinson's
disease."
The
scientist
are
hoping
to use
this
special
virus on
humans
in
clinical
trials
within
five
years.
The
virus
was
developed
by
researchers
at the
Lausanne
University
in
Switzerland.
Dr
Kordower
added:
"This
study
suggests
a new
approach
to
forestall
disease
progression
in newly
diagnosed
Parkinson's
disease
patients."---
GET
TO BE A ORGANIC
EATER TO AVOID
PARKINSON
Parkinson’s
disease, there
is an urgent
need to
determine some
of the risk
factors.
Although
previous
research has
been unable to
establish a link
with pesticides,
this newer study
looked at
farmers and
their spouses,
the
people with the
most direct
contact with
pesticides, and
found these
pesticide-using
farmers were 2.5
times more
likely to
develop
Parkinson’s.
While the
true cause of
the debilitating
brain disorder
cannot yet be
certain, the
fact that
farmers and
their spouses
who worked with
certain
pesticides
developed
Parkinson’s
disease at
nearly triple
the average rate
is obviously
alarming.
Moreover,
farmers
surrounded by
insecticides
were diagnosed
with Parkinson’s
at younger ages
than Americans
not in the
agricultural
business.
However, the
effects of the
toxins were not
always
immediate. Some
farmers didn’t
exhibit signs of
Parkinson’s
disease for up
to fifteen years
after the
exposure.
The two
pesticides that
the study
believed to be
most devastating
are
rotenone and
paraquat.
Rotenone is a
substance
commonly used to
kill bugs and
fish. Though it
is considered
mildly poisonous
to mammals, it
has difficulty
passing through
skin. On the
other hand,
paraquat is
decidedly more
harmful to
humans. Paraquat
kills most of
what it is
sprayed on
nearly
instantly,
making it
optimal for
ridding a crop
of emerging
weeds.
While paraquat
is banned in
Europe, licensed
American
operators are
still permitted
to use it.
Since these
pesticides are
used on crops
that people eat,
the consumers
should pay
attention to
this news. Just
because the
exposure level
is less than
that of a
farmer, it
doesn’t
eliminate the
risk.
