Researchers looking for more effective ways to treat Parkinson’s Disease have recently made a major breakthrough. Scientists from the University of Nebraska Medical Center have found that a new drug has the potential to change immune systems so that doctors can better evaluate and treat the disease.
At first, this doesn’t sound like a big step forward. However, it truly is a remarkable accomplishment. If you look at how a body with Parkinson’s Disease responds on the cellular level, you will see cells called effector T-cells moving into impacted areas of the brain and causing damage. These are white blood cells that are designed to fight infection, but cause damage instead. This new drug has the potential to transform the dangerous cells into what are called regulatory T-cells, which are designed to protect the brain from injury. Since Parkinson’s is spread by parts of the brain degenerating, this new drug might be an effective method to help slow down the spread of the disease.
It is also worth mentioning that these trials were conducted on humans–not lab animals. This means that this new treatment approach is a lot closer to going public than a lot of the other advances that we’ve mentioned on our site before. Human testing is typically not done until doctors are confident that the drug will do what it is supposed to do and that there are no serious side effects. They did notice side effects like bone pain and skin irritation, but nothing too major.
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but this is an exciting development in the fight against Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s is a major degenerative disease, and unfortunately, the elderly population is hit much harder by this than any other population. The majority of individuals suffering from Parkinson’s are age 55 or older. Oftentimes, those in the advanced stages of the disease are in need of large amounts of senior care, if they are not in need of around the clock or some sort of institutionalized care. Ensuring that your loved one with this illness is well cared for is a reality for many younger family members. In-home care can be a good step for those that find that they are having trouble getting through the day without assistance or that the disease is beginning to have a negative impact on their quality of life.
At Paradise In-Home Care, we take this very seriously. In-home care is a great solution for some with Parkinson’s, but not for all. If we are able to help you or an older family member, we can let you know. If not, we can let you know that, too. For more information about our services, get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation.
Next steps of this new treatment are expected to take place in the next one to two years. Researchers are still looking for developers to approve the usage of oral medications. Hopefully, this medication will be able to help many people that are currently suffering.
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