Parkinson’s Disease and stem cells
Parkinson’s disease is caused when nerve cells degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is a chemical produced by nerve cells in the brain that sends signals to the part of the brain which controls movement. When there is insufficient dopamine movements can become jerky and uncontrolled.[1] Parkinson’s is a progressive condition which can considerably impact the quality of life of sufferers.
While Parkinson’s is not fatal, it can affect the life expectancy of sufferers. 1 in 20 people with Parkinson’s disease are under the age of 40 when diagnosed.[2] One study found that the earlier the onset of Parkinson’s disease, the greater the reduction in life expectancy.[3]
There are approximately 1.1 million people in the United States with Parkinson’s disease as of 2025, a figure which is expected to increase to 1.2 million by 2030.[4] Current treatments are symptomatic and while there is currently no cure, stem cell research could hold the key to finding one.
Parkinson’s is estimated to cost the US nearly $61.5 billion per year, counting both direct medical costs as well as indirect and non-medical costs such as loss of productivity from both patients and unpaid care partners.[4]
Parkinson’s Disease Facts
- Approximately 1.1 million people in the US have Parkinson’s. This is expected to increase to 1.2 million by 2023 [4]
- It is estimated that 90,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year[4]
- Men are more likely to be affected than women [4]
- Most people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are over the age of 60 [2]
Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells
Researchers in Japan have begun a clinical trial using induced pluripotent stem cells to treat Parkinson’s by creating dopamine neurons. This will enable researchers to study the reason why cells degenerate and to test new drugs in human neurons for the first time.[5,6]
The reason cancer therapies have been able to progress so greatly is, in part, because researchers can take biopsies from human tumors and use those cells to design drugs. Stem cells have the potential to enable scientists to study neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, comparatively.[5]
A study in China used mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood to treat Parkinson’s disease. While the study was small it found that there was improvement in clinical symptoms and improved the quality of life to some extent.[7]
There are currently 22 clinical trials investigating the application of stem cells in Parkinson’s disease.[8]
References
- https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/parkinsons-overview
- http://www.cafamily.org.uk/medical-information/conditions/p/parkinsons-disease/
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2095626/
- https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics
- Takahashi J. (2020). iPS cell-based therapy for Parkinson’s disease: A Kyoto trial. Regenerative therapy, 13, 18–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reth.2020.06.002
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17165-w
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4628010/
- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=Parkinson%27s+stem+cell&Search=Search
- https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1915872
The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.
