Parkinson's affects around 127,000 people in Britain, and a new diagnosis is made every hour
The aim of the project is a vaccine being developed against the degenerative brain disease.
Parkinson’s affects about 127,000 people in Britain, and a new diagnosis is made every hour in the UK.
The highest-profile sufferer in Scotland is comedian and actor Sir Billy Connolly, 75, who revealed his battle with Parkinson’s four years ago.
Dr Donald Grosset, consultant neurologist at the Institute of Neurological Sciences at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, has recently been appointed clinical director at the charity Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network.
He said advances in antibody therapy have given Parkinson’s researchers hope that the progress of the condition could be halted or even prevented altogether.
Dr Grosset said: “Where we are heading is to target the mechanism that goes wrong, which is particular types of proteins which clump together. That is abnormal. It damages nerve cells and they die.
“If you can target that abnormal protein and mop up or extract that abnormal protein, you will keep cells healthy.”
Researchers in centres across the world, many funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation – established by the actor who was diagnosed with the condition at 29 – are attempting to develop antibodies to the abnormal protein that causes Parkinson’s.
The idea is to mimic the way the body uses antibodies to fight viruses or bacteria.
Dr Grosset, honorary professor of neurology at the University of Glasgow, said: “It is exciting in its novelty but it is too early to know how promising it is for Parkinson’s.
“Human trials are planned for the next year or so. You can look at the cancer question and the MS question and see what a difference it has made there. Some cancer types really respond to this kind of treatment. MS has had a broader benefit from these kinds of approaches.
Immunisation has passed its first safety tests in Parkinson volunteers. The tolerability of the vaccine was fine, at least in the short term.”
At present there is no cure for Parkinson’s.
Treatment for symptoms, which can include tremors, problems with movement, rigidity and speech problems, revolves around personalised drug regimens to increase levels of dopamine in the patient’s brain.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/884622/Scottish-scientists-begin-trials-Parkinson-s-disease-antibody-therapy
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