Parkinson's is linked to brain
chemicals |
A
drug has been found to significantly slow the progression of
Parkinson's disease.
Scientists compared the effect of the drug, ropinirole, with the
widely used treatment levodopa.
They found that ropinirole was more effective at slowing down the
loss of nerve function associated with the early stages of
Parkinson's.
 |
 We hope that future studies will show
this slower loss of nerve function equates to long term
benefits 
|
It was also
less likely to cause side effects.
However, it was not as effective as levodopa at controlling the
symptoms of the disease, such as shaking, lack of coordination and
frozen expression.
Parkinson's is caused by lack of a crucial brain chemical called
dopamine.
Levodopa is converted in the brain into dopamine - thus helping
to replenish stocks.
In contrast, Ropinirole works by stimulating the same receptors
as dopamine.
Brain images
Over a period of two years, scientists used a brain imaging
technique to assess levels of nerve function in 186 patients with
signs of early Parkinson's.
The images showed that on average the loss of nerve function was
35% slower in patients taking ropinirole.
They were also nine times less likely to develop the involuntary
and uncontrollable jerking movements associated with the long-term
use of levodopa.
Lead researcher Professor David Brooks, of the Medical Research
Council Clinical Sciences Centre and Imperial College London, said:
"Our work has shown that, compared with levodopa, prescribing
ropinirole significantly slows the rate of nerve function loss in
patients with Parkinson's disease.
"The findings are clearly important and we hope that future
studies will show this slower loss of nerve function equates to long
term benefits, offering the possibility of prolonged independence
and quality of life to patients with Parkinson's disease."
More than four million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's
disease, making it the most common brain degenerative disease after
Alzheimer's disease.
Ropinirole works by mimicking the action of the chemical dopamine
by directly stimulating receptors in the brain.
Robert Meadowcroft, director of policy research & information
at the Parkinson's Disease Society, described the results as
"encouraging".
However, he said: "As the results also show that symptoms might
not be as well controlled over a longer period of time, there is a
need for greater research into this area to determine the longer
term benefits of one treatment compared with the other."
The research is published in the journal Annals of Neurology.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version
