Anti-Inflammatory Parkinson's Drug Helps Protect Vulnerable Neurons

Scientists are still searching to find a cure for Parkinson's disease--a neurodegenerative illness that results in the loss of dopamine neurons. 

Recent findings published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease have shown that an experimental anti-inflammatory drug, known as XPro1595, could be successful in protecting already vulnerable neurons, as well as reducing motor deficits commonly seen in those suffering from the medical issue.

For the study, researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta studied the drug on rat models. They injected the rodents with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in just one side of their brains, which reproduced similar aspects of Parkinson's disease. For example, neurons found in the injected side of the brain died, leading to impaired movement on the opposite of the body.

One group were then given the drug XPro1595 for a three-day-period after the 6-OHDA injection. Findings revealed that just 15 percent of the dopamine-producing neurons were lost five weeks later. However, in the control group, 55 percent of the same neurons were lost.

By reducing dopamine neuron loss with XPro1595, researchers were also able to reduce motor impairment that greatly correlated with immune cell activation.

Furthermore, when researchers gave XPro1595 to the models two weeks following injection, they also found that 44 percent of the vulnerable neurons were still lost, suggesting a limited window for the drug's capabilities.

"Recent clinical studies indicates there is a four or five year window between diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and the time when the maximum number of vulnerable neurons are lost," Dr. Tansey concluded, in a news release. "If this is true, and if inflammation is playing a key role during this window, then we might be able to slow or halt the progression of Parkinson's with a treatment like XPro1595."