There is hope for the 10 million people around the world living with Parkinson's, devastating neurodegenerative disease and at the moment without cure. It comes from a study published in New England Journal of Medicine (I link it here).
According to researchers, a drug commonly used for diabetes, lixisenatide, would be able to slow the worsening of motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's, such as tremors, slow movement and balance problems.
A new chapter in the fight against Parkinson's?
Research, conducted in France on 156 patients with early-stage Parkinson's, compared the effects of lixisenatide (sold under the brand names Adlyxin and Lyxumia) with those of a placebo.
And after a year of follow-up? The group treated with the drug showed no worsening of motor symptoms, unlike those who received the placebo.
A result which, although defined as "modest" by the authors themselves, could open up new scenarios in the battle against this disease.
It is the first time that we have clear results, which demonstrate an impact on the progression of symptoms and we explain it with a neuroprotective effect
Olivier Rascol, neurologist at the University of Toulouse and senior author of the study.
Hope in GLP-1 receptor agonists
Lixisenatide is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a gut hormone and are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity. Researchers have long been interested in exploring their potential to protect neurons, but until now evidence of clinical benefits in Parkinson's patients was limited and initial studies were inconclusive.
Lights and shadows of the results
Caution is needed, obviously, and further investigation is needed to confirm safety and effectiveness before treatment can be considered for patients. The experts themselves are not in tune.
Michael Okun, medical director of the Parkinson's Foundation, noted that the differences in patient outcomes were not clinically significant. Although it deserves interest and attention from a statistical and comparative point of view with other studies. He also expressed concern about weight loss side effects, potentially problematic for Parkinson's patients.
Rodolfo Savica, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA, added that the data are suggestive of a possible effect, but that the study should certainly be replicated. He also noted that by having grouped patients between the ages of 40 and 75, an analysis by age group could reveal the ages at which the treatment is most effective.
Parkinson, maybe we found something
In summary, we are faced with promising but preliminary results, which require further confirmation before we can call it a miracle. However, they represent an important step forward in understanding the mechanisms of Parkinson's and potential therapeutic strategies to slow its progression.
The authors of the study themselves say they are eager to see the results of other upcoming trials, which could provide the definitive seal on their findings. The road to an effective cure for Parkinson's is still long and tortuous, but every small advance is a victory for the millions of people who live with this disease.
A hope that, as always, is the last to die. And today, thanks to this study, she is a little more alive.
