A leading Alzheimer’s clinical research centre in Glasgow has began testing of a new medication that can counter Parkinson's disease.
The Glasgow Memory Clinic started the ‘Orchestra’ Study in the summer, designed for people who have very mild symptoms or have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and who are not yet receiving any specific treatment.
With the search for a breakthrough continuing, the study is the first of a number of Parkinson’s studies set to take place at the facility.
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Parkinson’s, which sees parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with around 145,000 people in the UK currently living with the disease, according to Parkinson’s UK.
An estimated 12,400 people have a diagnosis of Parkinson's in Scotland, equating to one in every 375 adults, and the number is growing - another 1500 people will be diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2022, which is about 30 people per week.
Dr Jennifer Lynch, medical director at Glasgow Memory Clinic, said: “Parkinson’s, like Alzheimer’s is an important condition and a condition that needs new and better treatments.
"Existing therapies only treat some symptoms for varying periods of time and with variable success. We want to find treatments that really make a difference by either halting disease progression or ideally reversing the damaged neural networks.
“Glasgow Memory Clinic has a strong track record in supporting international research programs and we are delighted to be able to offer this study to people with Parkinson’s. The clinical research process is similar to that of AD research and our highly experienced team are using the knowledge and skills gained there to now run programs in Parkinson’s, with more set to be introduced in early 2023.”
Those looking to take part in the study need to be aged 40 to 75 and be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the past two years, have experience of slowness of movement and at least one of the following: muscle stiffness, tremor, have not taken any medications to treat Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms and are not expected to need any such medications in the next six months.
For more information and to complete a “Pre-Screener” registration form, visit here.
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