Frequently asked questions about Parkinson's research
Our questions and answers address the most commonly asked
questions about Parkinson's research.
Better
treatments and a cure
Causes of
Parkinson's
Research at the
Parkinson's Disease Society
Getting involved
in research
 Better treatments
and a cure
Listen to Dr
Roger Barker discuss new hopes for a cure 
What do we mean by a cure for
Parkinson's?
By a cure for Parkinson's we mean treatment(s) that allow
everyone to live free from the symptoms of the condition.
Because there are likely to be many causes and varieties of
Parkinson's, there is unlikely to be a single cure. Instead, a
combination of drugs, treatments and therapies is likely to make up
a 'cure package' specifically designed to treat the symptoms of
each individual.
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How much longer do we have to wait
for a cure for Parkinson's?
Unfortunately it is impossible to predict when a cure will
emerge, or what type of treatment(s) it will be.
The Parkinson's Disease Society funds a diverse range of
projects that target every aspect of Parkinson's to ensure that
every possible opportunity is explored. Each project we fund works
towards a future when no one will have to live with the symptoms of
the condition.
Find out more: Current research projects
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What about stem cell treatments?
Stem cells are 'unspecialised' cells which can develop into
almost any cell in the body. They are found in early embryos,
foetuses, umbilical cords and also in some adult tissues. What
makes them so exciting for Parkinson's research is that they have
the potential to grow into new nerve cells.
Researchers are investigating stem cells in the hope that they
could, one day, be used to grow nerve cells to replace those lost
in the Parkinson's brain.
There are no stem cell treatments available today for people
with Parkinson's. Studies on stem cells are still at an early stage
and, as yet, no appropriate clinical trials have been carried out.
Only when stem cells have been thoroughly tested and proven to be
safe will they become available to people with Parkinson's.
Find out more: Ongoing stem cell research projects
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Should I store my umbilical cord
blood as a source of stem cells?
Researchers are currently investigating various sources of stem
cells but at this stage there is insufficient evidence to support
the use of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cells for
treating Parkinson's.
Cord blood stem cells are already used to treat blood disorders
such as leukaemia and anaemia. This is because cord blood stem
cells naturally develop into the blood cells affected in these
disorders.
Umbilical cord stem cells can be stored by both public and
private cord blood banks. Public cord blood banks store cells for
the benefit of the general public or research purposes, whereas
private cord blood banks are companies that store cord blood for
personal use by the donor or donor's relatives.
Find out more about storing cord blood stem cells through the
Human Tissue Authority
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What are 'gene therapies' for
Parkinson's?
Gene therapy is a new approach to treating medical conditions.
It works by using genes to help the cells that are involved in or
damaged by the development of the condition.
In Parkinson's the nerve cells that produce the chemical
dopamine stop working and die. Gene therapy for Parkinson's is
focused upon:
- helping the remaining nerve cells to work better by adding
genes that manufacture dopamine
- helping the remaining nerve cells to survive by adding genes
that have protective properties
Find out more: Future treatments - gene therapy
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Does the Society
support research into complementary therapies for Parkinson's?
The Parkinson's Disease Society funds a wide range of research
projects, including studies that investigate complementary
approaches to treating Parkinson's.
Complementary therapies lie outside the scope of conventional
medical practice and can be used alongside standard treatments.
Examples include nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, massage
and acupuncture.
It has proved difficult to get definitive results in clinical
trials, partly because Parkinson's varies hugely from one person to
the next, affecting people's responses to therapies. However,
complementary therapies can be very helpful for some people.
It is important to remember that complementary therapies are not
a treatment or a cure. People should always seek medical advice
before embarking on any complementary therapy or supplement
programme. Only use therapists recommended by a trustworthy
source.
Find out more: Complementary therapies
booklet (PDF, 357KB)
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Why do some
Parkinson's drugs cause compulsive behaviour?
Parkinson's is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain
that make and use the chemical dopamine. Dopamine carries messages
inside the brain that help co-ordinate movements but it is also
involved in many other brain activities. This means that
anti-Parkinson's medications which alter the levels of dopamine in
the brain can have a range of side effects including changes in
behaviour.
The Parkinson's Disease Society is currently funding studies
investigating why some people with Parkinson's are more susceptible
to developing compulsive behaviour. Problems with compulsive
gambling, compulsive shopping and hypersexuality can have a
devastating impact on the person affected and their family.
If you are worried about any side effects you experience, seek
advice from your doctor or specialist nurse, or call our free and
confidential helpline 0808 800 0303
Find out more: Compulsive
behaviours information sheet (PDF, 119KB)
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 Causes of
Parkinson's
Listen to Professor Anthony Schapira discuss
the causes of Parkinson's
What causes Parkinson's?
Parkinson's is caused by the progressive loss of specific nerve
cells inside the brain. These nerve cells produce dopamine - a
chemical messenger that is involved in the co-ordination of
movements. The movement symptoms of the condition only emerge once
70-80% of the dopamine-producing cells have been lost.
In the majority of cases of Parkinson's, we don't know what
causes the nerve cells to die. This is known as sporadic
Parkinson's.
Parkinson's seems to be caused by different combinations of
factors in different people including inherited genes and
environmental factors. However, the most common risk factor for
Parkinson's is the ageing process.
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Can Parkinson's be inherited?
Yes, for a very small proportion of people - no more than 5% -
Parkinson's is directly caused by defects in their genes which can
be passed down through generations.
However, for the vast majority of people - around 95%
- Parkinson's is not inherited. The exact causes are unknown,
but scientists believe it is a combination of both genetic and
environmental factors, such as lifestyle and exposure to
chemicals.
It is quite uncommon for more than one person in a family to
have the condition. At the moment, there is no way to predict a
person's risk of developing Parkinson's based on having other
family members affected.
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Is there a genetic test available for
Parkinson's?
At present, there are no genetic tests that are freely available
for Parkinson's. This is because the genetic causes of Parkinson's
are very rare. Identifying rare genetic changes can be extremely
time-consuming and very expensive.
There are some commercial genetic testing services available,
but whether a test is positive or negative is not always
particularly helpful for patients or their doctors. This is because
even when an abnormal gene is found, the chances of going on to
develop Parkinson's are usually very low.
Scientists are working hard to find better and cheaper ways,
such as smell sticks and blood tests, to diagnose Parkinson's
early, before the movement symptoms of the disorder emerge. This
means that when we do have treatments that can slow or stop the
development of Parkinson's we will be able to offer people earlier,
preventative treatment.
Find out more: Genetic testing information
sheet (PDF, 113KB)
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Are there any lifestyle or
environmental factors that cause Parkinson's?
Yes. Research has shown that exposure to certain chemicals, such
as pesticides, can increase the risk of developing the condition.
More recent studies suggest that smoking, drinking tea or coffee,
and taking regular exercise may actually reduce the risk of
Parkinson's.
Parkinson's is probably caused by a different mixture of things
for each individual, including environmental and lifestyle factors.
Parkinson's is a condition which develops over a long period and
tends to emerge later in life. This makes it very difficult to
tease out precisely what combination of factors triggers the
disease in each individual. The most common factor is the natural
ageing process.
Find out more: What causes Parkinson's?
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 Research at the
Parkinson's Disease Society
What types of research does the
Society fund?
The Parkinson's Disease Society is committed to funding research
that will make a difference to the lives of people affected by
Parkinson's. This includes:
- research that works towards a long term cure, such as
understanding the causes and exploring new therapies such as stem
cells and gene therapy
- and studies that will improve quality of life for those living
with Parkinson's now
Find out more: Current research
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Does the Society support research
outside the UK?
As a UK-based charity, the Parkinson's Disease Society only
funds researchers based at UK institutions. We currently support
around 90 research projects worth over £15million at research
institutions all around the UK.
While all Society-funded research must be hosted in the UK,
international collaborations are permitted if it can be justified
as to why the work cannot take place in the UK. Society-funded
research teams are also encouraged to publish their findings in
international journals.
The Parkinson's Disease Society also closely monitors
Parkinson's research all over the world by working with other
organisations, such as the UK Medical Research Council and the
Michael J Fox Foundation in the US, and attending international
conferences and meetings.
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How does the Society decide which
projects to fund?
The Parkinson's Disease Society offers a wide variety of
research grants
to attract applications for projects that address all aspects of
the condition, and to encourage researchers from all backgrounds to
study Parkinson's.
Our strict research funding process ensures that every
application is reviewed both by experts in the field and by people
affected by Parkinson's.
This means that:
- only the highest quality research is funded
- research is not duplicated elsewhere
- researchers are qualified to do the research
- researchers have the appropriate facilities available
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How much does
the Society spend on research?
In 2009 we spent almost £4.2million on research projects. This
represents almost 22% of our annual budget.
Since the charity was founded in 1969, we have spent around
£45million on research. Our research
achievements have made a real difference to treatment and care
for people living with Parkinson's today.
We continue to invest in pioneering research. We currently
support around 90 ongoing research projects in the UK, worth over
£15million.
Find out more: Current
research
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Does the Parkinson's Disease Society
support research involving the use of animals?
The Parkinson's Disease Society believes that research involving
animals is important as it will help to identify improved
treatments, help us gain a greater understanding of the causes of
the condition and ultimately lead to the development of a cure.
The use of animals in research is rigorously controlled by UK
legislation. All researchers involved in studies using animals
require a Home Office licence and the research facilities are
regularly inspected by regulatory authorities.
The Parkinson's Disease Society, as a member of the Association
of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), imposes strict
conditions on all of its grant-holders. Read the AMRC
policy on the use of animals in research
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Does the Society support research
involving the use of human embryos?
Yes. The Parkinson's Disease Society supports the exploration of
all avenues of stem cell research within the rigorous ethical and
regulatory framework in place in the UK.
We believe that stem cells hold great potential for helping
people with Parkinson's in the future. We are currently funding
several research projects investigating the abilities of stem cells
to form the type of nerve cells lost in Parkinson's.
Find out more: Current stem cell
research
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 Getting
involved in research
How can I take part in clinical
research?
People affected by Parkinson's play an essential role in
clinical research. Volunteers can help by testing new treatments
and making decisions about research studies.
Find out more: Take part in
research
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How do I donate my brain to
research?
You can pledge to donate your brain by signing up for the
Parkinson's Brain Donor Register.
Find out more: Parkinson's Brain
Bank and How to become a brain
donor
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