The Latest Information on Parkinson’s Disease Could Include a Long-Awaited Cure

Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine who believed they were analyzing connective tissue cell protein got quite a surprise when they alternatively stumbled upon a treatment to eradicate the outward symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Not only that, but the therapy could potentially be beneficial in a number of conditions that call for the need to replace damaged tissue: diabetes, spinal cord injuries, even heart problems.

The study centered on a siRNA technique, in which scientists grew fibroblasts (a type of connective tissue cell) in petri dishes while silencing the protein PTB. After several weeks, they were shocked to realize the majority of fibroblasts had converted into neurons.

Lead author of the study, Xiang-Dong Fu, explained, “Researchers around the world have tried many ways to generate neurons in the lab, using stem cells and other means, so we can study them better, as well as to use them to replace lost neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. The fact that we could produce so many neurons in such a relatively easy way came as a big surprise.”

Utilizing this new discovery, the researchers tested this new information on Parkinson’s disease in mice and found that movement and functionality were completely restored for the remainder of the mice’s lifetime.

As you can imagine, the process to find out if these outcomes transfer to humans takes some time and extreme care to make certain of safety. Nonetheless for those struggling with the disease or with other neurodegenerative conditions, it is cause for hope.

As Fu explains, “It’s my dream to see this through to clinical trials, to test this approach as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but also many other diseases where neurons are lost, such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases and stroke. And dreaming even bigger – what if we could target PTB to correct defects in other parts of the brain, to treat things like inherited brain defects?”

While we await the subsequent steps in this significant breakthrough, trust Sage Home Care, providing in home care in Greenwich, CT and surrounding areas, for knowledgeable, highly trained home care for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Examples of the numerous ways we can assist include:

• Healthy meal planning and preparation
• Light household tasks
• Shopping and other errands
• Personal care, including bathing/showering, getting dressed, etc.
• Cheerful companionship
• Safe, accompanied transportation
• And a lot more

Call us at 800-578-4554 to ask about an in-home assessment to learn more about how we can assist in your specific situation.