Parkinson's: Neurons Destroyed By Three Simultaneous Strikes
http://www.scienceda...90429132222.htm
Researchers had previously suspected dopamine, alpha-synuclein and calcium channels were involved in killing the neurons, but could not pin the deaths on any single molecule.The new paper, along with previous studies with Dr. Ana Maria Cuervo at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, shows that it is the combination of all three factors that kills the neurons.
The studies found that neurons die because calcium channels lead to an increase of dopamine inside the cell; excess dopamine then reacts with alpha-synuclein to form inactive complexes; and then the complexes gum up the cell's ability to dispose of toxic waste that builds up in the cell over time. The waste eventually kills the cell.
The neurons will survive if just one of the three factors is missing, Drs. Sulzer and Mosharov also found. "It may be possible to save neurons and stop Parkinson's disease by interfering with just one of the three factors," Dr. Mosharov says.
That means that one drug already in clinical trials – which blocks the culprit calcium channel – may work to slow or stop the progression of the disease, an achievement none of the current treatments for Parkinson's disease can accomplish.
Anyone know the name of the drug offhand?
EDIT: looks like it is called Isradipine and it is already in generic form.
http://news.bbc.co.u...lth/6740109.stm
http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Isradipine
Edited by prophets, 29 April 2009 - 06:52 PM.