update on Exenatide research

[grower]

This guy Simon is the best scienceofparkinsons.com/201...

[Hikoi]

Grower

Of course that guy Simon is the best - just look where he comes from !

[PDConscience]

Interesting, but as 'Simon' notes (in a roundabout way) we should curb any enthusiasm at this early stage in the clinical trials. One paragraph in particular highlights the folly of reading too much into these early results:

"The investigators tried to manage the effect of the dopamine-based medication. But another difference between the two groups in the study was that the total dose of Levodopa was lower in the Exenatide group at the start of the study compared to the placebo group (774mg vs 825mg, respectively). In addition, subjects in the Exenatide group had greater increases in their dopaminergic therapy over the course of the trial, than those in the placebo group (changes in current medication were allowed throughout the trial to minimise drop out from either group). So if the Exenatide group were increasing their Levodopa treatment over the course of the study and Exenatide was affecting the dopamine system, then perhaps the findings of the study could be explained by dopamine-based mechanisms."

In other words, "the total dose of Levodopa was lower in the Exenatide group at the start of the study", yet [the Exenatide group] "had greater increases in their dopaminergic therapy over the course of the trial than those in the placebo group" - a SIGNIFICANT inconsistency which may by itself account for the different outcomes between drug/placebo groups (a critical study flaw that renders any perceived 'positive outcomes' dubious at best).

'Simon' rightly notes, "I am concerned that the reaction may now have gone beyond the actual findings of the study. In effect, making the news more than it is."

[Astra7]

I think this is very exciting. The positive results continued for 12 weeks. That seems significant, but no time to waste.

I have looked up what this drug does and basically it provides the body with GLP1. Interestingly that can be made by the body using various foods and supplements, most of which I have already been given by my integrative GP when we were investigating the gut bacteria/brain connection. It's all leading to the same place.

I don't know how to find out how much GLP1 we need or how to make the same amount if it's possible to do from diet, but I'll follow up with a GP friend who is also diabetic. Meanwhile I'm going to eat resistant starch and take arabinoguard, berberine and various pro biotics, as well at the glutathione promoting NAC, glutamine and Vit C.

Onward!!