JUST AROUND THE CORNER: THE BRIGHT HORIZON OF PD RESEARCH
The scientists, researchers, and clinicians in the Parkinson’s disease (PD) research community, including many researchers funded by the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), are approaching the search for a cure from all directions. A treatment that is neuroprotective — meaning that it protects the brain’s nerve cells from damage rather than simply treating the symptoms of PD — is of particular interest.
In fact, some of our 2021-2022 funded researchers are currently exploring neuroprotective avenues. And with innovative new studies making progress each day, a breakthrough might be closer than we think.
Harnessing GDNF as a neuroprotective strategy
Could increasing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) be the key to finding a neuroprotective strategy for people with PD? There have been two basic strategies that have been studied — direct infusion of GDNF into the brain, and gene therapy for GDNF. Direct GDNF infusion into the brain has been studied since the early 2000s — and while the most recent study published in 2019 could not provide evidence either for or against the use of direct GDNF infusions for individuals with PD, the scientific community remains hopeful.
When analyzing the results of this study, researchers noticed that nine of the 35 participants were shown to have had a noteworthy improvement in their PD symptoms — an improvement that didn’t occur in any of the patients who received the placebo treatment.
“There were some intriguing findings which suggest that further study is warranted,” explains Dr. Rebecca Gilbert, Chief Scientific Officer at APDA.
“[The findings] may suggest that certain people with PD may benefit from the treatment, and more research is necessary to understand who those people may be.” — Dr. Rebecca Gilbert
The benefits of GDNF don’t end with direct brain infusion
GDNF gene therapy is also in clinical trials among the PD scientific community. Through gene therapy, a patient’s own cells can be utilized to produce more nerve growth factor in the brain. Clinical trials are still in progress to better understand how GDNF gene therapy can benefit people facing PD, but the fact that these new treatments are being tested on people shows that this new avenue of study is making exciting progress.
It’s with the steadfast support of our community that we can remain optimistic that a brighter future is possible for people impacted by PD. The generosity of people like you is what allows us to invest in more new and exciting ideas in the field of PD research. To stay on top of what’s happening in PD research and other important topics, be sure to check out our “A Closer Look” blog.