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The source of this article is 14wfie.com: http://tinyurl.com/68eqq Retinal Cell News Report Web Producer: Rachel Chambliss When Parkinson's patients are diagnosed they are often put on a drug that replaces dopamine, the chemical they lack in the brain. Now there is an experimental treatment that could make therapy even more effective. Standard treatment for Parkinson's is a drug that contains levodopa which replaces the brain chemical dopamine, but long-term use comes with side effects. Neurosurgeon, Dr. Roy Barkay says, "You get what's called on/off effects. Patients go from being frozen, unable to move, to being uncontrollably moving." To fix that, Dr. Bakay is using retinal cells taken from the back of the eye. He says, "The eyes are an extension of the brain." Retinal cells produce pigment in the eyes, and a byproduct of that pigment is levodopa which is the same chemical used for Parkinson's. Once the cells are placed, they produce levodopa. Studies show patients' movement improved up to 50 percent, and daily living skills and mental outlook also improved. The therapy is currently under study and will enroll about 70 patients with the hopes of expanding research into a larger study once it is complete. If you would like more information, send a self addressed stamped envelope to: Breakthroughs/Retinal Cells Help Parkinson's. c/o 14 WFIE. Evansville, IN 47720. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn