Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a condition that, despite decades of research and billions of invested funds, still awaits a treatment that extends beyond symptomatic control. One of the remarkable facts about the disease is that 80% of the neurotransmitter dopamine can be depleted from the affected region of the Parkinsonian brain before symptoms begin to develop. Thus, it is imperative that treatments be found to prevent further loss of dopamine-containing neurons to slow or halt the motor deterioration. The first drug to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (the dopamine precursor, levodopa (Sinemet®)) was discovered in the early 1960s and incredibly, remains the most effective treatment for the motor symptoms of the disease to this day. However, levodopa is hampered by severe side effects which manifest as uncontrollable, abnormal movements (dyskinesias). Thus, there is an urgent need for new treatments for this condition.
Neuroscientists at NUI,
Links to Parkinson's Disease Principal Investigators' Websites:
- Dr. Timothy Counihan