Clinical Trials For Two New Possible Treatments, July 24th, 201

I thought that this would be a short post with an update on my nonscientific study of medical marijuana dispensaries in the NYC area and the first email I sent only minutes after receiving my diagnosis in 2015, but so much has happened in the last few weeks. 

This blog post, therefore, is a part of the "over-sharing" that I am often criticized for doing too much or too little of, part review and part update on new research.

Please read on.

Two New Possible Treatments!

Both of these new research studies could result in treatments that slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease!

The Parkinson’s Pill that Cools Down The Brain!

Researchers at the University of Queensland hope to stop the progression of Parkinson's disease by treating inflammation! They believe that this treatment could slow the progression of disease or, “...halt it in its tracks...”

 
From The NEWDaily

According to Dr Woodruff, University of Queensland (UQ), "Parkinson’s disease, is characterized by the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that co-ordinates motor control – and it’s the loss of dopamine that has been the focus of treatment. But it is also accompanied by this chronic inflammation that occurs as an immune response gone haywire...  ...Inflammation is activated in our cells by complex proteins called inflammasomes…."  …

Dr Woodruff and his team found that the immune system causes the NLRP3 inflammasome to light up in Parkinson’s patients, with signals found in the brain and even in the blood.

The molecule MCC950, given orally once a day, in experiments with mice, blocked NLRP3 activation in the brain, prevented the loss of brain cells and resulted in improved motor function.

“We have taken an alternative approach by focusing on immune cells in the brain called microglia that can clear these toxic proteins…   …"With diseases of ageing such as Parkinson’s, our immune system can become over-activated, with microglia causing inflammation and damage to the brain.” said UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience researcher Professor Matt Cooper.  

Human trials are scheduled to begin in 2020

This 90 second video explains it all:

 TheSPARK Study 

According to the pharmaceutical companyBiogen: 

The SPARK study is for people who have been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and are looking to take a proactive step in their care. We are evaluating an investigational drug to see if it may offer patients a way to potentially treat Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages.

One of the hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease is the presence of clumps of proteins that occur within the nerve cells in the brain, called Lewy bodies. Researchers believe that the molecule alpha-synuclein may potentially play a major role in the formation and development of these harmful Lewy bodies and, by extension, Parkinson’s disease progression. The investigational drug is designed to attach to alpha-synuclein molecules and is being studied to see if it may prevent them from causing damage.

Please share with friends and family members as participants are needed  

July 24th, 2015 @105pm 
The above date and time was minutes after my diagnosis. I left the NYU movement disorders center, wrote and sent this message. Over three years later, the disease really has not progressed. I will let this email stand on its own.

Dearest Kate,

The following is good news:

I have been diagnosed with "garden-variety Parkinson's disease."  This is good news because the other options for patients with my symptoms are not as good.  

More good news:

The chances of this being passed on to Ocean are slim to none.

I will never be as bad as Michael J Fox is now.

I am one of the lucky ones.

I should never suffer any cognitive impairment.

I have found an excellent doctor who spent over two hours with me today.

I should respond very well to the medication will be on Azilect, which is the mildest medication for parkinson's disease currently available.  Please avoid researching this drug on the Internet as most negative side effects that are associated with the former version of drug.

Within weeks of taking this drug, my current symptoms should go away!

I am an excellent candidate for surgery. The surgery for Parkinson's is "deep brain stimulation", but this will not be needed, if ever, until further down the line.

The rumors circulating about medication wearing off are bullshit, though my medication will need to be adjusted and changed.

Lifestyle changes:

Maintain and or increase my weekly exercise.

I have chosen to go to NYU for physical therapy, which may mean altering our schedule a bit. This is going to be a pain in the ass!

I feel relieved and I am very happy right now.

I love you with my whole heart.

Jack

That is all for now.

Thank you,

Jack