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on 10/9/00 3:03 PM, Charles Williams at [log in to unmask] wrote: > 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. >> > Charles, Thanks so much for the information. It is encouraging that so much research is going on. Something should pay off in the near future. The breakthrough is close.