This resent research is important because it brings forth new and significant light into the treatment for those who suffer from Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's affects around 1 million people in the U.S. Doctors diagnose up to 60,000 new cases each year. Those with Parkinson's disease suffer from dyskinesias. It is one of the most common symptoms to occur to those who have it. Dyskinesias means, abnormality or impairment of voluntary movement. Neuroscientists assume dyskinesias come from fluctuations in dopamine. The drug that is usually used to restore dopamine levels is levodopa. The problem with levodopa is that sometimes dopamine levels become too high, and results are unstable and treatment for dyskinesias is unsafe. A team of researchers tested two drugs on whether the drug LY235959 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) or NBQX (an AMPA receptor antagonist) could calm hyperactivity and dyskinesia symptoms in Parkinson's model monkeys. Both drugs lowered the SPN firing frequency of levodopa by 50 percent. The results show dopamine levels stabilize and abnormal movements are merely diminished. The drugs aren't yet safe for human consumption but this new research adds more light and more insight for helping those with Parkinson's disease. With more and more research happening daily on this disease we hope that those that suffer can one day live a life with the ability to control the symptoms of dyskinesias.
http://news.emory.edu/stories/2018/01/papa_parkinsons_dyskinesiamech/
http://news.emory.edu/stories/2018/01/papa_parkinsons_dyskinesiamech/
I wonder how the two drugs LY235959 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) or NBQX (an AMPA receptor antagonist) effect the individuals tested on a molecular level? Possibly by knowing how the drugs work we can see why they are unsafe for humans and hopefully change them in a way to where it is possible to use them to treat humans.
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