Parkinson’s Disease – Stem Cell Treatment
Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitating and progressive neurological condition which can affect mobility, coordination, and cognitive function to varying degrees and can reduce life expectancy. The condition, which is one of the most common nervous system disorders in the elderly, usually develops after the age of fifty although early onset can also occur. There are some forms of Parkinson’s that have an increased inheritability and this is usually the case where a younger person is affected by the disease. One particularly famous sufferer of Parkinson’s Disease is the actor Michael J. Fox who campaigns vociferously for stem cell research and lends support to many political candidates who are in favor of such research. He has also established a foundation for research into the disease which lends support to other Parkinson’s sufferers and April 8th, 2011 has been proclaimed the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Day in New York City with the Empire State Building set to be lit orange to honor the Foundation’s work.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
The main mechanism behind the, predominantly motor, symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease is the progressive destruction of the nerve cells in the brain that make dopamine, an essential neurotransmitter that helps control muscle movement along with other chemical messages. The cause of this cell destruction is not known but affects the melanized dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta; the levels of striatal dopamine are also depleted in the disease. Similar symptoms can also occur when a patient’s nerves are not as sensitive to the effects of dopamine, or when medications interfere with dopamine function. A condition with similar alterations in movement to Parkinson’s Disease is referred to as ‘parkinsonism’.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms may first appear as a mild tremor or a feeling of stiffness in the leg or foot leading to a sensation of dragging the limb. Tremors are frequently observed when the limbs are at rest and are accentuated when the patient is tired, stressed, or excited. Blinking may become slow, or stop altogether which can then cause dry eyes and eye infections. Patients may also become constipated, uncoordinated, develop a facial droop or lip trembling accompanied by a blank facial expression, and may drool unknowingly and have difficulties with swallowing and breathing, especially where saliva is aspirated. Problems with walking, and simple movements become progressively worse, due to rigidity, loss of control, and tremor and the patient often finds it difficult to initiate movement such as standing up from a seated position. Handwriting often becomes very small as a loss of fine motor skill occurs, and patients are often unable to continue previous hobbies such as knitting, or painting.
There are often alterations in the tone of voice of the patient, with a quieter monotone developing over time. Parkinson’s Disease may also lead to anxiety, stress, tension, confusion, depression, and dementia, with some of these effects directly associated with the altered dopamine production, some as side-effects of medication, and some from the effects of the disease on social and personal relationships. Patients may also develop memory loss, and experience hallucinations.
How Stem Cells Might Help Parkinson’s Patients
Stem cell therapy holds great potential for treating Parkinson’s Disease as the condition is mostly connected to the dysfunction of a specific cell type. This means that, theoretically at least, the dysfunction cells could be replaced or regenerated, thereby reducing the symptoms. Research using animal models and human patients has demonstrated proof-of-principle in using stem cells to regenerate dopamine-producing cells but problems persist in developing effective and safe treatments for all patients. The dangers of using pluripotent embryonic stem cells has been highlighted by the death of one patient in the two human clinical trials, and the problems of partial reinnervation was experience by more than half of the participants in this research.
Continue to –> Stem Cell Research for Parkinson’s Disease
