New research into uncontrollable movements in Parkinson's

21 June 2010

We have awarded funding for new research into how to stop the uncontrollable movements called dyskinesia, which are associated with some Parkinson’s medication.

The funding of more than £250,000 has gone to Professor Riccardo Brambilla at Cardiff University.

One of the main drugs used to help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s is levodopa.  People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because most of the nerve cells in a particular part of the brain that produce it have died. Levodopa works by replacing the dopamine that is lost.

Although levodopa initially is very effective in treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s, it is necessary to take higher doses as time goes by because nerve cells become more sensitive to the drug.

What the researchers will do

Researchers want to find out why this sensitivity happens, and how to prevent nerve cells becoming oversensitive.

Professor Brambilla and his team are studying a particular molecule only found in the brain that is involved in the way nerve cells operate.

They want to find out if by 'switching off' and stopping the molecule from working they can reduce or stop dyskinesia.

Researchers will look at the activity of nerve cells in the brains of mice to find out how changes to this molecule affects them.

Controlling the symptoms of Parkinson's

Professor Brambilla comments:

"We hope to learn whether blocking this molecule can prevent dyskinesia in a mouse model of Parkinson’s. If so, it may be possible to develop drugs that could have a similar effect in humans.

"Such a drug would mean that people could control their symptoms with levodopa for longer, without developing the unwelcome side effect of dyskinesia."

Dr Kieran Breen, our Director of Research, adds:

"We are committed to supporting innovative research such as this. The development of new and more effective drugs will greatly improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s."

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