Millions of people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's disease. The symptoms can be addressed, but there is no known cure. Scientists are still puzzled as to what causes Parkinson's disease. It is triggered by a genetic issue that affects the generation of the alpha-synuclein protein in around 1 in 20 cases. It is unknown what causes the remaining 95% of occurrences. It primarily affects persons over the age of 40, but it can also affect younger people (also called young onset). Men are more vulnerable than women. Some research has found a correlation between chemicals and the condition, whereas smoking and coffee appear to lessen the likelihood of contracting the disease, though it is uncertain why. Researchers are examining how stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s and regenerative medicines could be used to manage the condition.
Current Treatment Modalities
Levodopa is a medication that is currently used to treat Parkinson's disease. It was first found in the 1960s. It serves as a substitute for the dopamine-producing neurons that have been destroyed since it is transformed into dopamine in the body. Similar to dopamine, certain additional medicines excite nerve cells. A healthy diet, exercise, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy are also used to treat patients. Surgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation with implanted electrodes, are used to treat more complex instances, particularly when medication is not providing the best results.
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease are reduced by these treatments, but the damage to the brain's nerve cells is not slowed down or undone. Despite treatment, the clinical symptoms worsen over time. By the time patients are given a Parkinson's diagnosis, they have frequently been suffering from the condition for years and have lost more than half of the dopamine-producing cells in the nigra. Early Parkinson's diagnosis tests could be helpful, but researchers are also looking into ways to repair damaged cells.
While the exact aetiology of Parkinson's disease is unknown, researchers do recognize which brain cells and regions are affected. For those cases where there is a known genetic reason for the condition, researchers have already been employing stem cells to develop dopamine-producing nerve neurons in the laboratory so they can investigate the condition. Parkinson's may also be addressed by regenerating new, healthy nerve cells to replace the destroyed ones as only one distinct type of cell is impacted.
Parkinson's stem cell treatments are currently in the early stages of clinical research and development. The formation of dopamine-producing neurons in the laboratory, studies into how to make transplants more effective and reduce side effects, and investigations into how the disease progresses and how cells can aid in the creation of new drugs to stop it are some of the most significant recent advancements.
Recent developments in cell replacement research
Researchers who are concentrating on producing dopamine neurons from stem cells for cell replacement therapy formed a combination to share knowledge and information across the researchers in order to develop a cell that is more secure and efficient.
Researchers are also iPS cells to look at the genetic issues that predispose some people to Parkinson's. In order to learn more about how the disease functions and develop novel treatments to cure it, the researchers compared the ability of the various iPS cells to develop neurons and closely examined those neurons.
Parkinson's disease stem cell therapy aims to replace damaged brain cells with new, undifferentiated stem cells. Your dopamine levels may then be regulated by these stem cells as they develop into brain cells. According to experts, this can significantly reduce many Parkinson's disease symptoms.
Stem cell treatment is not currently thought to be able to treat Parkinson's disease. However, it might be a better option than current therapies like deep brain stimulation and medication therapy.
