It seems the Biomedical Sciences Department at Iowa State University has made a major discovery pertaining to Parkinson's disease. Without getting in over my head in medical jargon, it appears that a protein known as Protein kinase-C (PKC) is responsible for killing the cells that normally produce Dopamine, the chemical responsible for the regulation of movement.
More importantly though, Professor Anumantha Kanthasamy and his research team have also identified a compound that will neutralize PKC and allow the Dopamine producing cells survive. They are however still looking for additional compound options to find the safest choice with the fewest chances of side effects.
Unfortunately for sufferers of Parkinson's, Kanthasamy says it may well take up to 10 years to find and thoroughly test the new options. This discovery does however herald the possibility of breakthrough treatments and a possible cure for Parkinson's Disease as well as advancement in the understanding of related conditions such as Tourette's Syndrome.
Article on Futurity.org
Article on KCCI of Des Moines
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