NIH Radio
Amphetamines Reverse Parkinson's Symptoms in Mice
Brief Description:
In a study funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health, scientists were able to reverse Parkinson's disease symptoms in mice by using amphetamines.
Transcript:
Schmalfeldt: For most of the estimated 500-thousand Americans suffering from Parkinson's disease, treatment of their symptoms includes dopamine replacement therapy. Unfortunately for most, the effectiveness of that treatment wanes over time. And the treatment itself can lead to fluctuations in motor control and other adverse reactions. Now, research at Duke University Medical Center shows that there may be hope for useful alternatives to the current "gold standard" of treatment. In a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, scientists were able to reverse Parkinson's symptoms in mice using amphetamines. The mice used in the study lacked any detectable brain levels of dopamine and exhibited all the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, including tremors, slow movement or an inability to move, rigid limbs and a shuffling gait. Researchers caution that more study is needed, since amphetamines are known for their toxic and addictive side effects. Assistant Research Professor Raul Gainetdinov says researchers will continue to look into the chemical structure of amphetamines in the hope of developing drugs that might provide a longer lasting and beneficial alternative to dopamine replacement therapy in the treatment of the debilitating neurological disorder.
Gainetdinov: We hope that by further development of this line of research, we will be able to find some amphetamine derivatives which will be non-toxic or non-addictive, because there are many, many more absolutely unstudied amphetamine derivatives.
Schmalfeldt: About 50-thousand new cases of Parkinson's Disease are reported each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. These figures are expected to rise as the average age of the population increases. From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 8/21/2005
Reporter: Bill Schmalfeldt
Sound Bite: Dr. Raul Gainetdinov
Topic: Parkinson's Disease
Institute(s): NINDS
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