New Treatment for Parkinson's Disease Possible: Animal Test Results Show

A new study has revealed that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) could be a promising treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Researchers found that behavioral, tissue and biochemical changes in experimental models of Parkinson's disease in rodents could be counteracted by infusion of PDGF-BB which could offer an alternative strategy to restore function in PD.

Parkinson’s Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are correctable to an extent.

"In animal models of nigrostriatal injury, a two weeks treatment with platelet-derived growth factor-BB resulted in long-lasting restoration of striatal dopamine transporter binding sites and expression of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase," said Anders Haegerstrand, Chief Scientific Officer, NeuroNova AB, Stockholm, Sweden.

"It also normalized amphetamine-induced rotational behavior in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB promoted proliferation of neural progenitor cells in the subventricular zone.

"The effects on dopaminergic neurons and functional recovery could be blocked by co-infusion with a proliferation inhibitor, indicating a link between the proliferative and anti-parkinsonian effects. Based on the current data, we consider platelet-derived growth factor-BB a clinical candidate drug for treatment of Parkinson's disease," Haegerstrand added.

Israeli Researchers Use New Method To Estimate Prevalence of Parkinsons's
By tracking pharmacy purchases of anti-Parkinson drugs the Israeli researchers have estimated the number of Parkinson's disease (PD) cases in a large population.

The new study was published in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.

Source-ANI

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