As the New Year begins, we are all filled with hope of what 2017 will bring. For people with a rare and confusing disease, scientists and researchers are hopeful that new research will yield greater understanding, which could result in more effective treatment.
This year may be just what the doctor ordered for people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
A recent statement by individuals working with the Science of Parkinson’s Disease Organization conveyed a message of conscientious optimism: For the first time in a long time, those working with Parkinson’s have a measure of hope for the future.
One of the principle problems with studying Parkinson’s is that there is no real consensus on what is and is not Parkinson’s. Unlike Wilson’s disease, strep throat, and pregnancy, there is no test for Parkinson’s that gives a positive diagnosis. In fact, many doctors conducting research on the disease now believe that it is comprised of a host of related diseases.
There are even some that believe that Parkinson’s is a syndrome—a group of coexisting symptoms.
The research that is expected to happen in 2017 and beyond is focused on developing a cure. Unfortunately, current treatments lead researchers to believe that the nature and versatility of Parkinson’s will result in one person’s cure having little or no effect on another person’s Parkinson’s.
In an effort to develop a cure, research is being directed toward four critical directions:
- Settling on a universal definition of Parkinson’s
- Developing early detection screening
- Slowing or ending disease progression
- Replacing damaged brain material with healthy cells
While all these goals work together toward finding a cure, you may have noticed that none of these goals address quality of life issues that people diagnosed with Parkinson’s face on a daily basis.
However, separate research is looking into ways to improve quality of life for patients.
Several large pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, Evotec, and Celgene are putting large quantities of capital into Parkinson’s research and development. Additionally, more than a dozen clinical trials are scheduled for implementation in 2017.
Those suffering from this chronic, progressive disease (or syndrome if that’s what it is) may be in for some happy news sometime this year.
Read more about how you can donate to Parkinson’s research by clicking here.
