 |
 |
Genene I am early stage PD or MSA and therefore I took part in a research scan that is apparently based on suggestions arising out of recent research that the loss of brain cells seen in Parkinsonian disorders is accompanied by inflammation and that this may contribute to the progression of the disease. As I said before, the literature describing the scans states that if this is the case, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin might help in the future to protect patients with Parkinson's diseases and related disorders. At the MRC Cyclotron Unit of a London hospital, using PET scanning with a radiotracer called PK11195, researchers detect the presence of brain inflammation. They have learned what patterns of inflammation are typical for PD and MSA, and on this basis they can say what appears more or less likely; also PD gives a weaker signal, MSA a stronger one. The researchers might be annoyed at me putting it in these terms, as it's all couched in statistical-speak and is very complex, but that's how I understand it. The extent of inflammation is likely to have major prognostic implications as it will reflect disease severity, and in future will act as a guide as to whether anti-inflammatory and other protective treatments are effective. It must be borne in mind that the scans are experimental, and the objective of the project is to determine how useful the tool is. Also, not enough brains have been scanned yet - especially healthy ones - to give a sound statistical basis for comparison. So don't rush off and overdose on aspirin/ibuprofen just yet. -----Original Message----- From: Genene Hill <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: 08 October 2000 19:38 Subject: Re: Ibuprofen v Parkinson's Charles, Can you tell us what specifically was studied and the results of the study? on 10/8/00 8:33 AM, Charles Williams at [log in to unmask] wrote: > I have heard this theory too, in UK. In fact I took part in research on > scans that is based on the idea that MSA and PD are associated with > inflammation, which may contribute to progression. Documentation mentioned > the possibility of anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin being used for > treatment. > > -----Original Message----- > From: William P. Taggart <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> > Date: 08 October 2000 11:36 > Subject: Ibuprofen v Parkinson's > > > Ibuprofen may reduce the risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's <<...>> > > > Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen > have been found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the > underlying mechanisms of action are unknown. However, Casper and colleagues > have recently found that NSAIDs protect neurones from glutamate toxicity in > vitro - glutamate toxicity has been implicated in AD, Parkinson's disease > (PD), and other diseases. > Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen were all found to attenuate the > reduction in dopamine uptake caused by glutamate on cultured primary rat > embryonic neurones taken from the mesencephalon area of the brain, > indicating preservation of neuronal integrity. Furthermore, ibuprofen 100µm > protected both dopaminergic neurones and neurones generally, against > glutamate toxicity. In addition, of the drugs tested, only ibuprofen > increased the relative number of dopaminergic neurons - by 47%. > The authors concluded that NSAIDs deserve further consideration as > neuroprotective agents in PD. > Source: Casper D et al. Neuroscience Letters 2000;289(3):201-204. Updated > September 2000. >