Recent promising research into Parkinson’s by University of Sheffield doctors may represent a new chapter in the future of its treatment.
Dr Oliver Bandmann, a professor of Movement Disorders Neurology at the University of Sheffield, has been at the centre of the fight against the disorder, making important contributions to the clinical literature.
In April of 2021, Dr Bandmann closely examined the process of creation of new neurons in the brain, otherwise known as neurogenesis, and found the enhancement of neuron production to be a vital part of fighting PD, as opposed to focusing only on the protection of pre-existing neurons.
Discovered in 1893, and still incurable to this day, Parkinson’s is one of the most common conditions in those over the age of 50. In 2020, an estimated 145,000 people were living with a Parkinson’s diagnosis in the UK and 1,752 of those people were under 50.
Parkinson’s is a long-term degenerative disorder resulting from the death of brain cells, known for its toll on the motor system of those diagnosed with it. It is characterised by, amongst more than 40 other symptoms, tremors, expressionless facial features, and impaired movements, all of which worsen as time passesoften leading to several other conditions such as dementia.
Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, though, and people will be affected differently by the condition.
Protecting these neurons, however, is also an area of study that interests him, especially in relation to the correlation between the malfunctioning of the mitochondria and the development and worsening of Parkinson’s Disease. Dr Bandmann has indicated that UDCA, a bile acid used for decades in the treatment of liver-related diseases by delaying and preventing damage to the organ, may also be an interesting prospect in the treatment of PD.
He first made this connection in 2015 by demonstrating the benefits of UDCA in the protection of the mitochondria and in increasing its oxygen consumption and cellular energy levels, thus making it a potential treatment for the disorder across its many types and manifestations. His discovery was, and continues to be, strongly supported by several other labs and institutions from countries such as the United States, Portugal, and China, which looked at the neuro-protective effects of UDCA in mice and rat models of Parkinson’s.
It was only a few months ago that Dr Bandmann, after a long struggle in acquiring investment for his research, revealed the results of the proof-of-concept study which consisted of a set of small early-stage clinical trials meant to determine the feasibility and viability of a hypothesis looking into the safety of UCDA used at twice the normal dose for a liver-disease patient in Parkinson’s patients.
The year-long clinical trial consisted of a total of 30 patients, 20 of which were put on UCDA dosage and 10 on a placebo drug. It revealed the viability and safety of UCDA even at a higher dosage with no reports of severe adverse effects.
Dr Bandmann’s team monitored the blood of those involved in the study which resulted in no drug-related abnormal lab result, revealing a drug that is safe not only clinically, but also in terms of laboratory parameters.
In addition, the researchers used a computer-based gait analysis, a motor assessment which analyses how the body moves. The analysis reported an improvement in the motor skills of patients taking UDCA in comparison to those on a placebo drug, although this study was relatively small and will need further investigation.
In an interview for Rallying to the Challenge, a meeting aiming to explore the ways in which the Parkinson’s community can accelerate research and improve the fight against the disorder, Dr Bandmann said: “It fills us with great confidence that it really is worth pursuing UDCA further.
“We should now take the next step and test UDCA further in a larger trial.”
Should Dr Bandmann’s suspicions of this drug be proven true, it could mean a ground-breaking alternative to current Parkinson’s treatments involving the medication Levodopa. Long-term Levodopa has been associated with various serious problems and adverse reactions such as dyskinesia (otherwise known as involuntary muscle movements), mental symptoms such as forgetfulness and confusion, and a range of other consequences that severely affect the person’s quality of life.
These promising results could be a great way of not only improving the direct efficacy of fighting Parkinson’s but also benefiting in terms of how arduous the treatment process really is, preventing people from being discouraged from undergoing treatment.