Imagine if there was a medication that could treat not only leukemia, but Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as well. At Georgetown University Medical Center, researchers are hopeful that nilotinib is that medication. Now approved for use in those with one type of leukemia, a small trial is causing great excitement in its encouraging results to rid the brain of toxic proteins.
Fernando Pagan, Georgetown's medical director of the translational neurotherapeutics program, explains it this way: “Our drug goes into the cells to turn on that garbage disposal mechanism. And if we're able to degrade these proteins, we could potentially stop the progression of this disorder.”
As a result, a larger and more in-depth trial is being launched, involving 42 patients with Alzheimer’s disease and 75 with Parkinson’s. We hope these results will be equally as positive, but regardless, the many years of research that have gone into testing nilotinib along with other new prospective developments are helping pave the way towards feasible treatment solutions, or even an eventual cure.
Trials on mice with Parkinson's disease have been encouraging, with the disease actually being cured in the mice. It has also proven effective in a small number of human tests in those with Parkinson’s and dementia, for which there currently is not a treatment available to stop or even slow the continuing development of the diseases. Improvements in many areas were noted for the patients in the initial testing phase, but improvements in speech and mobility were most pronounced.
The next part of the study is expected to be completed in about a year, and patients with either Parkinson's or Alzheimer's are currently being enrolled in the study. More details about the upcoming Alzheimer’s study are available here, and information regarding the Parkinson’s study is available here.
For further resources on helping those with Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease, turn to the aging care professionals at Independence-4-Seniors Home Care. We can provide a full range of professional in-home care with our properly trained and skilled specialized Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s caregivers. Contact us in Hinsdale to schedule a free in-home assessment or to allow us to answer any questions you may have.