Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Most people are searching for new treatment technologies. Recently, exciting developments have emerged in the area of treatment and offer hope for a better quality of life for patients that face this disease.
Innovative drug therapies, including deep brain stimulation techniques, and even studies into gene therapy and stem cells are among such treatments for Parkinson’s disease. These advances are established in the area of controlling symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease.
In this article, we shall discuss the latest treatment options and what this might mean in terms of living with Parkinson’s disease.
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a medical condition of the brain. In this condition, there is malfunction in movement. The cells that produce dopamine, one of the chemicals affecting movement control, begin to die. This deprivation of dopamine causes the disruption of the signal between the brain and the muscle; it explains the symptoms: trembling, stiffness, and an inability to walk or stand.
Imagine wanting to walk but feeling like your feet are stuck to the ground. This is how Parkinson’s disease patients feel when they lose control over some movements. This has nothing to do with shakiness in hands, but it could penetrate the mouth, movement in general, and even mood swings. Some people may feel they are moving in slow motion or having various problems performing short actions.
This disease develops slowly, and symptoms differ from one individual to the other. Some may have slight effects that do not completely pull them back from the mainstream world, while others may face challenges in greater ways with a need to be treated and supported. However, treatment for Parkinson’s disease has no cure, yet treatments can take the form of drugs, therapies, and lifestyles to ensure quality.
New Therapy Available for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder of motor movement, tremors, stiffness, and loss of balance. Though its treatments with drugs and surgery are very efficient, the latest drugs are quite exciting new visions of managing and sometimes even improving symptoms. Here are some new treatment for Parkinson’s disease:
- Stem Cell Therapy: This is the new treatment that uses stem cells to replace damaged neurons in the brain. Their ability to differentiate into dopamine-producing neurons with the competency of controlling movement which is very essential.
- Gene Therapy: Researchers are working hard to possibly amend genes to either produce dopamine at the receptor sites in the brain or keep the cells that normally produce dopamine intact.
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): DBS may not be a recent treatment procedure, but technology for it is continuously improving. Better electrodes and programming techniques have made the treatment more effective in reducing tremors and overall movement control.
- Wearable Devices: Advanced new wearable technologies help monitor symptoms and change treatments in real-time. The wearable devices track movement patterns and give useful data to doctors, which makes treatment easier.
- Neuroprotective Drugs: Researchers have been working on new drugs that can protect the cells of the brain from degeneration. Neuro-protective drugs have focused on several pathways involved in Parkinson’s disease and might slow the disease’s progression.
- Immunotherapy: This newest treatment will aim at the abnormal proteins that confer Parkinson’s disease and will eliminate them using the individual’s own immune system. It is a new form of therapy that might help to stop or reverse the damage caused by the disease.
The Bottom Line
The newest Parkinson’s disease treatments, most notably advanced treatments like gene editing and stem cell therapy, ensure better control and even disease modification. These innovations open doors to a better quality of life and more efficient solutions for patients suffering from this challenging condition.
For a better healthcare consultant, you can choose Global Stem Cell Care. We will provide assistance in every step of the treatment. You can check our FAQ section if you have any questions about Parkinson’s disease.