What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Types of Parkinson's Disease
Early Onset PD
Atypical Parkinsonism
Causes of Parkinson's Disease
Is Parkinson's Hereditary?
Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
Motor Symptoms
Akinesia
Bradykinesia
Dyskinesia
Gait and Balance Problems
Non-Motor Symptoms
Micrographia
Off Episodes
Parkinson's Disease Psychosis
Pseudobulbar Affect in Parkinson's Disease
Nuedexta
Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
DaTscan
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Levodopa Test
Motor Exam
Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC)
Smell Test
Stages of Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease Statistics
Living With Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Diary
Approved Treatments for Parkinson's Disease
Treatment for Motor Symptoms
Akineton (biperiden)
Cogentin (Benztropine)
COMT (Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase) Inhibitors
Comtan (Entacapone)
Apokyn (Apomorphine)
Kynmobi (Apomorphine)
Mirapex (Pramipexole)
Neupro Patches (Rotigotine)
Requip (Ropinrole)
Tasmar (Tolcapone)
Glutamate Antagonists
Gocovri (Amantadine)
Osmolex ER
Levodopa and Derivatives
Duodopa
Inbrija (CVT-301)
Rytary
Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa)
Stalevo
MAO-B (Monoamine Oxidase-B) Inhibitors
Azilect (Rasagiline)
Eldepryl (Selegiline)
Xadago
Zelapar (Selegeline)
Artane (Trihexyphenidyl)
Nourianz (Istradefylline)
Treatment for Non-Motor Symptoms
Exelon (Rivastigmine)
Myobloc
Northera (Droxidopa)
Complementary Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Meditation and Relaxation Techniques for Parkinson's Disease
Speech Therapy for Parkinson's Disease
Affitope – PD01A
Affitope PD03A
CNM-Au8
MSDC-0160
NPT520-34
NTCELL
SYN120
VY-AADC
No Longer in Development
Foliglurax
Clinical Trials 101
Life, Lemons, and Lemonade
Journeying Through Parkinson's Disease
Slow is the New Fast
Possibilities with Parkinson's
Podcasts & Flash Briefings
Diabetes Drug Liraglutide Promising For Parkinson's and ALS Treatment
by Ana de Barros PhD
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Plans for a new research venture is in the works in the North-West of England through the joint efforts of the Association for the Independence of Disabled People (AID) and medical researchers at Lancaster University. AID was founded by Mr. Paul and the Hon. Mrs. Ruth Adorian of Windermere, following Ruth's own diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND). The association is dedicated to raise funds for potentially groundbreaking clinical trials, and since its founding, has successfully raised more than £80,000 before it began reaching to the public for support.
MND refers to a group of neurodegenerative diseases, inclusive of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Because these diseases are related to each other, scientists are hoping the discovery of a treatment for one disease will open doors for another. Further, MNDs have also been associated with diabetes, leading researchers to believe testing diabetes treatments on MNDs could prove beneficial. In fact, some early results have shown promise.
One of the earlier tests conducted explored the benefit of exendin-4, a peptide agonist of the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) receptor that promotes insulin secretion, on patients with Parkinson's disease. While the number of participants was limited, exendin-4 exhibited positive effects in maintaining motor activity and cognitive function. The most crucial finding from this study was the observation that the drug's protective effects were maintained even 12 months after.
Now, researchers have shifted their focus to a more potent diabetes drug. Victoza (liraglutide), a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, may produce significantly better results than exendin-4, as its half-life is 14 hours compared to the latter's 3.5.
Laboratory studies with liraglutide showed evidence that the drug has the ability to reduce the hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Researchers intend to test the effects of Liraglutide on ALS, the most common type of MND. It will be a multi-centre, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, to be led by Dr. Hedley Emsley and Professor Christian Hölscher, in cooperation with the MND Care and Research Center at the Royal Preston Hospital.
More information about this emerging clinical trial can be found here.
Ana de Barros PhD
Ana holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Lisbon and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM) in Lisbon, Portugal. She graduated with a BSc in Genetics from the University of Newcastle and received a Masters in Biomolecular Archaeology from the University of Manchester, England. After leaving the lab to pursue a career in Science Communication, she served as the Director of Science Communication at iMM.
Tagged Association for the Independence of Disabled People, diabetes, Lancaster University, liraglutide, MND, motor neurone disease, Victoza.
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