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An illegal drug notorious for its use in nightclubs may actually benefit victims of Parkinson's disease. Research suggests that ecstasy may partially reverse symptoms similar to Parkinson's in mice who are unable to produce the chemical dopamine in their brains. Dopamine helps to control movement, and is found lacking in those afflicted by the disease. "I once knew myself to be coordinated and athletic. I used to be a runner," says David Eger. "I can't do that" anymore, he says. Mice provided with the drug show promising results. "They went from a situation when they completely frozen to ability to move quite significant distance and pretty much normally," says Raul Gainetdinov of Duke University. The researchers say the amphetamine works best when combined with the Parkinson's drug L-Dopa, which has long-term side effects like the loss of muscle control. "You can use a much lower concentration of L-dopa. Then, that might, that might do away with some of the side effects of the L-dopa treatment," says Marc Caron of Duke University. The treatment may have promise, according to Michael Hutchinson of New York University. "It might be useful in the later stages of Parkinson's where conventional medications fail to work," he says. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn