Researchers create Parkinson’s-resistant stem cells

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 2 January 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh, UK, have created stem cells that they say are resistant to developing Parkinson’s.

The study – published in science journal ‘European Journal of Neuroscience’ – used gene editing techniques to remove the alpha-synuclein protein from the stem cells. To test the resistance of the new stem cells, researchers treated both edited and unedited stem cells with a chemical agent that induced Lewy bodies – abnormal proteins that lead to neurodegeneration.

The results showed that the gene-edited cells did not develop signs of Parkinson’s, whereas the unedited cells did.

Dr Tilo Kunath – who led the study – said: “We know that Parkinson’s disease spreads from neuron-neuron, invading healthy cells. This could essentially put a shelf life on the potential of cell replacement therapy. Our exciting discovery has the potential to considerably improve these emerging treatments.”

To read more on this topic click here.

For more information on Parkinson’s and stem cell therapy please visit the EPDA website.

World War II weapon antidote could treat Parkinson’s

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Health & Fitness

Cutting down grass (and my Parkinson’s symptoms) – one scythe at a time

How grass cutting is helping me keep control of my symptoms

Salad with chicken, apple & curry-yogurt dressing

This recipe offers a spicy yet cooling alternative to your standard salad

‘Gifted’ with Parkinson’s: a new poem for Christmas and the New Year

We challenged the daily poet Mike Bell to write a Christmas poem

Students develop wearable device to track Parkinson’s tremors

A wearable device has been developed to monitor Parkinson’s tremors and their severity through the tracking of body movements. The device – Tremor Tracker – was created by two students, Julie Gaudin and Elizabeth Hummel, at Louisiana Tech University, US, as part of a design class project. The students designed an algorithm using data recorded from volunteer participants at Rock Steady, a boxing programme for people with Parkinson’s. They then applied the algorithm to a GENEActiv, a wrist-worn device that has been scientifically validated for clinical research. Hummel, co-creator of the Tremor Tracker, said: “Through supervised machine learning, the device predicts whether a patient’s tremors are parkinsonian or non-parkinsonian, as well as the severity of these tremors. A quantitative analysis of parkinsonian tremors provides a more detailed disease state.”

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Reawakening dormant neurons could help reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms, researchers in South Korea have found. While Parkinson’s is typically believed to be caused by neuronal death, a new study – published in ‘Current Biology’ journal – suggests that dormant neurons could be another cause. After completing an animal test – which treated the subjects with two compounds that block dopamine-producing neurons from becoming dormant – the researchers found these neurons to be “awakened”, allowing them to resume dopamine production. The researchers hope that this will lead to a disease-modifying treatment, especially for people in the early stages of Parkinson’s. Hoon Ryu, a senior author of the study and researcher at KIST Brain Science Institute, South Korea, said: “This research refutes the common belief that there is no disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s due to its basis on neuronal cell death.”

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Parkinson’s may be present from birth in younger people with the condition, new research has found. The study – conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, US, and published in ‘Nature Medicine’ journal – used induced stem cells from people with young-onset Parkinson’s, to grow dopamine-producing neurons and observe them for early warning signs of the condition. An abnormal pile-up of protein was found during the neurons’ development, including alpha-synuclein; which occurs in Parkinson’s. The scientists conjecture that Parkinson’s symptoms appear when the pile-up continues over 20 or 30 years. The team also found that the drug PEP005 – currently used against skin precancers – could help treat the condition. Michele Tagliati, vice chair and professor at Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Neurology and the study’s co-author, said: “This exciting new research provides hope that one day we may be able to detect and take early action to prevent this disease in at-risk individuals.”…

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Researchers create Parkinson’s-resistant stem cells

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 2 January 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Health & Fitness

Cutting down grass (and my Parkinson’s symptoms) – one scythe at a time

Recipes & Nutrition

Salad with chicken, apple & curry-yogurt dressing

Perspectives

‘Gifted’ with Parkinson’s: a new poem for Christmas and the New Year

Students develop wearable device to track Parkinson’s tremors

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

{title}

Subscribe

Researchers create Parkinson’s-resistant stem cells

News

Author: Simge Eva DoganPublished: 2 January 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Health & Fitness

Cutting down grass (and my Parkinson’s symptoms) – one scythe at a time

Recipes & Nutrition

Salad with chicken, apple & curry-yogurt dressing

Perspectives

‘Gifted’ with Parkinson’s: a new poem for Christmas and the New Year

Students develop wearable device to track Parkinson’s tremors

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in