Will This Stem Cell Breakthrough Spell the End of Parkinson’s? We’re About to Find Out.

[Farooqji]

thedailybeast.com/clinical-...

[Hidden]

“We are facing an issue that if we don’t deal with it, we are going to see catastrophic consequences. Not just from patient-suffering, but economic consequences and the ability of our health-care systems to stand up,” said Okun.

okun

[Marimar70]

This quote makes me sad

“The worst part is the fear of disappearing in my mind,” Christiansen told The Daily Beast, referring to the risk of developing dementia as a long-term symptom of Parkinson’s. Even though she is a participant in closed trials for another new experimental treatment that has helped significantly to alleviate her pain and regain control over her bodily functions, she has a hard time believing that any treatment could “save” her in time—not even stem cells.

[Canddy in reply to Marimar70]

This quote makes me sad:

“If the rate at which Parkinson’s growth continues, we’re going to outgrow the capacity to be able to handle all of the consequences of letting a chronic neurodegenerative disease go unchecked,” Michael S. Okun, a neurologist at the University of Florida and one of the world’s leading Parkinson’s scientists, told The Daily Beast.

I read this statement as to date the growth of Parkinson's Disease has indeed gone unchecked and millions of people have suffered and are suffering now. I know neurological research is hard but a Parkinson's epidemic in the not-too-distant future may be the price we pay for the slow pace of research and letting PD grow unchecked over the last century.

[Zardoz]

"We're about to find out?" In just 8-10 years. Would you like fries with your levodopa?

[simonasays]

It is my understanding that all these stem cells are intended to go to 1 place: the substantia nigra. So, these stem cells will effect movement. But, what about ALL the other parts of the brain and gut that are not functioning? The protein aggregates are throughout the brain right? I mean even if there is something to come out of it, we are not talking about a cure here.

[ZebraDoodle in reply to simonasays]

It would be a big part of the jigsaw though right? Maybe something like Exenatide would help stop progression?

[Hidden]

thank you for the link