Recent Advancements
- Jui Keskar
- May 6, 2023
- 2 min read
Recent advancements in Parkinson's Disease (PD) research include the development of tests for alpha-synuclein, a misfolded protein linked to PD, which can detect the presence of abnormal clumping of the protein in patients through spinal taps or skin samples. These tests may aid in early detection and accelerate research. Additionally, a new drug-free therapy based on the concept of reorganizing injured central nervous systems may reduce PD symptoms and slow or stop progression. Finally, a promising therapeutic target for PD is being developed through the disruption of the protein-protein interaction that promotes the accumulation of alpha-synuclein.
Following are some of the recent advancements in detail:
1)
Alpha-synuclein may give the eureka moment
Hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars’ worth research funded by a leading foundation has resulted in most clear evidence about the presence of alpha-synuclein, the misfolded protein, in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. This may indeed help in diagnostics and rapidly accelerate the research. The existing method to detect the alpha-synuclein involves taking a spinal tap. This method is uncomfortable and difficult.
Following is the link to the original article:
2)
Early detection may mean better control
While the current method for detecting PD is based on the observable symptoms, it is likely to change soon thanks to the SYNTap test. This test takes a sample of spinal tap and looks for seeds of the misfolded protein, alpha-synuclein.
NIH funded study for a test called SYNOne is also available now. This test detects the presence of traces of alpha-synuclein in the skin sample.
These tests may not detect PD per se, but do detect group of disorders that are caused due to the abnormal clumping of alpha0synuclein.
Following is the link to the original source:
3)
New drug-free therapy for PD based on movement concept
The new therapy is based on regular training using specialized training instruments. It involves a combination of physiotherapy and neurotherapy. This therapy reduces day to day symptoms of patients. It can slowdown or stop the progression of disease as per the source. It is based on the new-found information that reorganization of injured central nervous system. It claims that it helps in relearning of frequency and phase coordinated firing of neurons.
Following is the link to the original source:
4)
A new promising therapeutic target for PD
Alpha-synuclein is the rogue, misfolded protein responsible for progression of PD. Several researches are focusing on developing antibodies to prevent alpha-synuclein from aggregating. A new study which focused on protein – protein interaction that may be promoting accumulation of alpha-synuclein. Researcher team identified a peptide that disrupted the interaction between alpha-synuclein and another protein there by reducing the levels of alpha-synuclein.
Following is the link to the original source:
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