Parkinson's May Be Helped By Gene Therapy

There is new hope for those afflicted with Parkinson's disease and their families. The treatment, experimental gene therapy, has already exhibited some highly promising outcomes reports CTV, easing or improving the symptoms of a dozen people suffering from Parkinson's. The study explores uncharted territory in battling Parkinson's as it is the first to implement gene therapy techniques against the debilitating disease. It was a small study, composed of eleven males and one female. The study subjects were injected with gene-bearing virus-harmless-directly into their brains. The virus reports WebMD works by infiltrating brain cells and causing them to produce a chemical signal that soothes the overly active subthalamic nucleus. The hyperactive STN is the reason for Parkinson's sufferers' tremors, rigidity of limbs, and stiffness.

Within the following year of being injected the treatment was shown to aid in better motor functioning. There were no side effects exhibited. The New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center surgeons heading the study published their findings in a June issue of "The Lancet."

Though the outcome has so far been very encouraging doctors warn that there is still a good deal of research and testing to be done before anyone gets too excited. According to Reuters all current Parkinson's disease treatments eventually cease working against the ailment.