Older But Good Information:
November 4, 2015
THIS
CONCLUSION IS SUPPORTED BY NEW RESEARCH FROM LUND UNIVERSITY IN SWEDEN.
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| A distance cue affects perception of the object size. Image is for illustrative purposes only. |
Many
people with Parkinson’s disease eventually experience walking and balance
difficulties, despite adequate medication. Moreover, some patients cannot fully
take dopamine-based medication, as dopamine can lead to side effects.
The current research findings
verify similar data from a previous study by other researchers, which was performed
on brain tissue from a small number of deceased patients.
“The strength of our study is the
number of participants, and the fact that they are alive. Because many suffer
from several parallel diseases at the final stage of their lives, it is difficult
to analyse samples from deceased persons”, explains Oskar Hansson, reader at
Lund University and consultant at Skåne University HospitalThe findings,
published in the journal Neurology, were made when the researchers
used a broad approach when looking for mechanisms to increase understanding of
how Parkinson’s disease works. “The measurements showed clear connections
between markers of angiogenesis in the brain and walking or balance
difficulties among the participants. We also noted an increased permeability of
the blood-brain barrier, which leads to blood components potentially leaking
into the brain and causing damage”, says Oskar Hansson.
The first part of the
study included 100 Parkinson’s patients and 38 healthy control persons at Skåne
University Hospital in Malmö. Through a cerebrospinal fluid sample, several
different proteins that indicate formation of blood vessels in the brain were
measured. To ensure the results, two additional groups of patients of
approximately the same size were also tested.
“Medication
for angiogenesis already exists. If we can confirm our results in further
studies, these drugs can be tested on Parkinson’s patients in the future”, says
Oskar Hansson.
Before it may be time to test the
drugs in clinical studies, Oskar Hansson and his colleagues plan on conducting
an animal study, to gain further knowledge about the mechanisms that are
believed to cause problems for Parkinson’s patients, and to enable a selection
of the most appropriate drugs to use.
http://neurosciencenews.com/angiogenesis-balance-parkinsons-2992/
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