Brain scans from a trial of experimental treatment glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) have suggested it may have started to reawaken brain cells damaged by Parkinson's disease. The spatial and relative improvements in the brain scans of patients infused with GDNF surpassed those of previous trials, according to the University of Bristol's Alan Whone, a Parkinson's specialist and co-lead on the trial. In an editorial accompanying the study, published online today in Nature Neuroscience, Dr Whone said: "This is exciting news for people living with Parkinson's.
Brain scans from a trial of experimental treatment glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) have suggested it may have started to reawaken brain cells damaged by Parkinson's disease. The spatial and relative improvements in the brain scans of patients infused with GDNF surpassed those of previous trials, according to the University of Bristol's Alan Whone, a Parkinson's specialist and co-lead on the trial. However, the clinical trial failed to prove the treatment's effectiveness in slowing or stopping the disease.