Toronto researchers make the world’s first discovery in the fight against Parkinson’s disease

content of the article

It’s being hailed as a world first in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

content of the article

Researchers from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and the University Health Network discovered that focused ultrasound technology is safe to treat specific brain regions in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

content of the article

“Our early findings are an exciting and critical first step toward a less invasive direct brain delivery of therapeutics in key brain areas important to the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Nir Lipsman, co-director of the study investigators and director of the Harquail Center for Neuromodulation in Sunnybrook.

“Current treatment strategies for Parkinson’s include drugs and more invasive neurosurgery. Focused ultrasound is a less invasive, targeted approach that could transform how brain diseases are treated in the future.”

content of the article

Low-intensity MRI-guided ultrasound technology uses ultrasound waves to break through the blood-brain barrier, a layer that protects the brain from toxins but can also block drugs from getting to where they’re needed.

Treatments often cannot cross the blood-brain barrier because the connections are too large.

In some cases, open-brain surgery is required to treat Parkinson’s, a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements and affects a patient’s quality of life.

Researchers looked at delivery of an enzyme, glucocerebrosidase, to the putamen, which is a key structure in the brain related to exercise.

Glucocerebrosidase may help prevent the build-up of the protein alpha-synuclein, a key factor in Parkinson’s disease that leads to unhealthy brain cells.

content of the article

Featured Video

The first phase of the study included four patients with an average age of 54 who had been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson’s disease.

The patients received three doses of the drug every two weeks and the application of focused ultrasound to the part of the brain most affected by Parkinson’s.

They were observed over a period of three and six months.

“The phase I study gave an indication of a possible improvement in symptoms after treatment, but this requires further studies. Any side effects such as involuntary movements were transient and none were serious,” said Dr. Lorraine Kalia, co-principal investigator and neurologist and principal investigator at the Krembil Brain Institute at UHN.

content of the article

“Research is still in its infancy, but with our world-first study results, we are making much-needed advances in developing innovative treatments for people living with Parkinson’s.”

Sunnybrook and UHN researchers have initiated the second phase of the study and are continuing the investigation.

“The upcoming study will further investigate MRI-guided low-intensity focused ultrasound and targeted enzyme replacement therapy on both sides of the brain. The ultimate goal is to improve the delivery of therapeutics to the brain in hopes of improving symptoms or slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease,” says Dr. Suneil Kalia, co-principal investigator and neurosurgeon and researcher at UHN.