Parkinson's Disease: Looking ... Video Transcript

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For example, we can suppress or minimize tremor, rigidity, we can improve the speed of movement and we can improve walking in patients with Parkinson's disease.

ANNOUNCER: In addition to this device therapy surgical options such as cell tissue transplantation are among the cutting edge therapies available. At the Miami Research Project, Dr. Dalton Dietrich heads a team studying Stem Cell Transplantation.

DALTON DIETRICH, MD: Cellular transplantation therapy is the ability to replace a population of neurons that have died by various mechanisms with a new population of cells. The use of adult as well as embryonic cells to replace dopaminergic neurons that are lost in Parkinson's patients. A disadvantage of cellular transplantation is once these cells are placed in the patient's brain, you no longer have control of these cells. That's why more science needs to be done before we move into the clinic.

BLAIR FORD, MD: Another possible treatment that's a source of much research is growth factors. Implanting growth factors that can support dopamine neurons or perhaps can support an implant of stem cells. These growth factors have complicated names. One of them is GDNF or glia cell-derived neurotrophic factor, and this can be injected directly into the brain, into the area where Parkinson's is. It will cause adjacent cells to grow or to sprout, and this is a very exciting possibility.

ANNOUNCER: Neuroscientists know that more needs to be done. They are fighting for a cure in laboratories across the country. The science is there but as panelists pleaded w the Senate subcommittee the money and support must be as well.

LIONNIE ALI: "We must provide the federal funds necessary to carry out this promising research. Muhammad has never done anything halfway, and has never settled for second best in anything he has done. The federal government must aim high and work hard to reach the goal of finding a Parkinson's cure. Together lets knock Parkinson's disease down for the count Thank you very much."

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