GDNF

This is a recap of the most interesting news and discussions relating to Parkinson’s Disease this past week. There was a lot of talk last week about the results of the Parkinson’s Disease trial in the UK involving a surgery that implanted tubes in patients’ heads that could be used post-surgery to deliver GDNF and would hopefully regenerate dying dopamine brain cells. On, the other side of the pond, the FDA is allowing a Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (yes, we’re talking about poop transplants) study to include Parkinson’s. Meanwhile in California, a stem cell PD trial moves closer to FDA approval. And ...

There’s a lot of talk this week about the Parkinson’s Disease trial in the UK involving a surgery that implanted tubes in patients’ heads (behind the ear) that could be used post-surgery to deliver GDNF (Glial Cell Line Derived Neurotrophic Factor) to the brain. The hope was that this would regenerate dying dopamine brain cells in patients with Parkinson's and reverse their condition. Technically, the study failed to meet its goals. But the press release that came out of the study is a bit more enthusiastic, titled  “New Treatment Offers Potentially Promising Results for the Possibility of Slowing, Stopping, or ...