Parkinson’s disease progression can be slowed down by experimental diabetes drug. The researchers studied a drug that binds to the peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist medications, such as GZT drugs, which has been shown to offer protection for nerve cells in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. PPARy regulates how the body uses fats and sugars. This type of medication is often used in diabetics with high blood sugar levels.
Although studies have been conducted on animals, it is unknown if this class of drugs offers the same benefits in humans. The researchers then conducted data on a group of diabetics to determine an association between the drug and Parkinson’s disease.
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The researchers identified 44,597 patients with diabetes. Some were exposed to GTZ drugs and matched with other participants on other diabetic drugs. The participants were followed until the end of the study or until the development of Parkinson’s disease. During the study, 175 GTZ users and 517 non-GTZ users developed Parkinson’s disease. Rates of Parkinson’s disease among GTZ users were 6.4 per 10,000, compared to 8.8 per 10,000 among non-users.
The findings indicate that use of GTZ drugs results in lower incidences of Parkinson’s disease, compared to other types of diabetes drugs. The findings do not suggest that GTZ would lower incidences of Parkinson’s disease among non-diabetics, and the drug is associated with serious side effects. The researchers do not recommend GTZ as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but do suggest further exploration of PPARy drugs as future treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease treatment in cholesterol-lowering drug
In an upcoming clinical study, scientists explored the possibility of Simvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) as an effective method of treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease.
The study, which will take place in 21 centers in the U.K., including Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, is being organized by the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. It will involve 198 Parkinson’s patients in a double-blinded placebo-controlled study. For the trial, the researchers are seeking patients with Parkinson’s disease who are not currently taking statins (cholesterol-lowering drug). Additionally, people who have been living with Parkinson’s and who are not already taking a statin medication are also needed.
The Cure Parkinson’s Trust’s Linked Clinical Trials Programme includes many Parkinson’s experts from all over the world. These experts analyze a number of pre-selected compounds that potentially have the ability to slow, stop, or reverse Parkinson’s and then do clinical trials with them. They only experiment with those drugs that have proven their safety in people. Thanks to this programme, the scientists were able to move diabetes treatments and treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction forward into Parkinson’s trials. And now they are working with cholesterol-lowering drugs.
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According to the lead researcher of the current study, Dr. Camille Carroll, “Working with drugs that have already been proven safe for humans for use in Parkinson’s is encouraging. For the more than 127,000 people living with the condition in the U.K., these trials could open up new avenues in the treatment of Parkinson’s.
The co-founder of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT), Tom Isaacs is himself a patient of this condition for more than 20 years. He says the team is leaving no stone unturned to find newer and better ways of treating this debilitating condition. Their goal is to make a difference to patients of Parkinson’s disease. The researchers are encouraged by the pre-clinical work that used simvastatin in patients with multiple sclerosis. The preclinical trials showed that the drug has an effect on alpha-synuclein clumping (a common feature of Parkinson’s).
Worldwide, it is estimated that 10 to 20 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease and this number is expected to double by 2030. The team hopes that their work will go a long way in making these people have a better life in spite of the condition.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
