Dr Miriam Stoppard says that the current treatment for the disease is requires a very extreme intervention
The new treatment could mean the brain could be remotely controlled
This is real sci-fi. Researchers have shown that tiny iron particles, injected into the brain and carried to target regions using antibodies, can attach themselves to cells and activate them when manipulated by magnets.
This means that there could be a non-invasive method for stimulating the brain. And scientists hope it could revolutionise the treatment of Parkinson’s – and eventually other neurological and psychological conditions.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects more than 125,000 people in the UK, often leading to disabling symptoms.
At present, a technique called “deep brain stimulation” is one of the best ways of treating it but it’s a very extreme intervention, requiring electrodes to be placed inside the brain with wires coming out of the skull.
Researchers have been searching for a less invasive treatment and Prof Mark Lythgoe, of University College London , is part of a team that has developed one.
“Brain cells have stretch receptors in them. If you put a bit of stretch on them they will electrically fire and activate,” he says. “So we inject in a particle and it sticks to the outside of the brain cell. We put a bit of force on the particle and it stretches the brain cell and it fires.
“It is the first time anyone has been able to remotely control the brain in very specific regions.”
This treatment is ingenious and so far the technique has been performed in rats to switch kidney function on and off.
It is hoped the treatment would extend to other neurological conditions
“It’s unambiguous. We measure activity in the nerve and the nerve goes to the kidney and changes its function,” says Prof Lythgoe. He adds that he could think of no reason why the same methods won’t translate to humans, not least because the particles are already used in MRI scans so are approved by regulators as safe.
“We’re doing tiny injections in rats, where they activate about 2,000 nerve cells. If we can do it on animals at that scale, human stuff is easy,” he says.
He believes one day it could be used as a daily treatment for Parkinson’s, with people wearing a helmet containing the magnets. He’s enthusiastic about the possibility it could replace treatments for other conditions such as epilepsy and depression, which currently attempt to influence brain connections using drugs.
Claire Bale, of Parkinson’s UK, said: “Deep brain stimulation involves transmitting electric currents to electrodes implanted in the brain.
“The procedure is major brain surgery. Any advancement which could produce similar benefits with a less invasive procedure would be hugely beneficial.”
Well done Prof Lythgoe!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/parkinsons-soon-non-invasive-treatment-8516565?
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