"With three different lines of clinical research exploring intracellular inhibition of the aggregation of the [alpha-synuclein] protein via small molecules, we will hopefully see some clarity on the role that this protein plays ..."
Yes, this is a very interesting question. If the alpha synuclean turns out to be a result of Parkinson’s and not the cause, there goes decades of research wasted looking down the wrong rabbit hole.
If a-syn was the cause, then Ambroxol, which expels a-syn from the brain (mice study), or Mannitol, which dissolves a-syn agrregates, should at least stop progression, of PD, if not cure it
When it comes to evaluating treatments for disease, animal models are but one step in the process. On the other hand, when it comes to interventional experiments to evaluate causes of disease, animal models are the end of the line. That, in conjunction with observational studies of humans, has to suffice for understanding the causes.
As it happens Ambroxolhas been reported in a human study and mannitol have been reported by PWP to improve their condition.
“What the investigators found in through their analysis was that the time to dopaminergic therapy was shorter for those with baseline depression compared to those without depression, suggesting that the presence of mild depression in early Parkinson’s is associated with needing dopamine therapy earlier. And this finding applied to those individuals who were also taking an antidepressant”
So they reason the tricyclics antidepressant prevent PD when compared with ssri and eg mirtazapine but I feel it is the other way around. I think people that have depression and it is treated with ssri and eg mirtazapine but not tricyclics antidepressants have their PD symptoms exascerbated.
For my husband it certainly seemed the antidepressants were the cause of the symptoms and if you look at their side effects on the drug specs it lists a whole lot of PD symptoms. I know now I have totally got him off all the antidepressants he is better than he had been for many years, way before his diagnosis. (He also started a few new supplements at the same time the antidepressants were completely stopped).
So my opinion is not that the tricyclics ones prevent PD, but the others bring it on. Although that doesn’t tie in with their observation alpha synuclein breaks down with the tricyclics one I suppose.
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