Reversing Parkinson's

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2016

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Parkinson’s Disease is one of the major neurodegenerative conditions. Cells die, for reasons not fully understood, causing a reduction in the production of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and a raft of physical and behavioural problems. Although effective drug treatments are available, they wear off over time and have side effects. The highly individual nature of the condition and variation in its progression also makes dosage difficult. Sue Broom reports on two new approaches that could lead to treatments for Parkinson’s. One potential therapy is to replace the dying cells with new ones. This was tried several decades ago but the results were not promising. The new Transeuro trial of cell therapy hopes to lead to better outcomes. The second approach is to use stem cells. Sue Broom talks to the doctors and patients involved in these trials.

Image: Parkinson's disease MRI brain scan,© Science Photo Library

Presenter/Producer: Sue Broom

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thank you for downloading from the BBC.
0:03.0	The details of our complete range of podcasts and our terms of use,
0:07.0	go to BBCworldservice.com slash podcasts.
0:11.0	Parkinson's is a broadcasts.
0:17.0	Parkinson's is a degenerative condition. It's a neurological condition and currently there is no cure.
0:21.0	There is loss of dopamine brain cells, cells that release a chemical messenger called
0:26.8	dopamine and this loss roughly equates to a progression in motor dysfunction such as slowing of the movement, poor quality movement,
0:37.1	stiffness and tremor.
0:39.3	There are millions of people worldwide today who are affected by Parkinson's.
0:43.0	And in some countries, a number is estimated it's about one in 500 people currently alive have
0:48.7	Parkinson's.
0:49.7	However, if you remember that people get Parkinson's later in their life and ask a question
0:53.4	differently say how many people alive today are going to actually be affected by
0:57.8	Parkinson's directly having the condition themselves then it's about 10 times
1:01.3	higher so it can be about one in 60 or one in 70 people who are alive today will
1:06.3	at some point be affected by Parkinson's so it's it's actually much more common than a lot of people realize
1:11.8	This is discovery from the BBC.
1:14.0	I'm Sue Broome, and in this program I'm looking at two new trials
1:18.0	that offer hope of improved treatment for Parkinson's disease.
1:22.0	The research revisits an approach tried for the first time 30 years ago,
1:26.8	but then abandoned over following years after erratic results. It's called cell therapy, brain transplants of tissue to replace the lost cells that cause the condition.
1:37.0	Dr Arthur Roach is Director of Research at the Charity Parkinson's UK.
	...

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