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Makes Up for Dopamine Deficit
Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, which makes up for the deficit of dopamine-producing cells in Parkinson’s patients, and helps treat the symptoms of the disease. Over extended periods of time, however, levodopa becomes less effective, and increased doses are needed, a media release from University of York explains.
“The current drug used for Parkinson’s Disease is effective to a point, but after a long period of use the body starts to breakdown the drug before it gets to the brain where it is most needed.
“This means increased dosage is necessary, and in later stages, sometimes, instead of tablets, the drug has to be injected. Investigations into nasal sprays have long been of interest as a more effective delivery because of its direct route to the brain via the nerves that service the nose, but the challenge here is to find a way of making it adhere to the nasal tissue long enough to release a good dosage of the drug.”
King’s College London
New gel technology achieves enhanced brain delivery of a Parkinson’s Disease drug.
A team of researchers from the School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences at King’s, led by Professor Khuloud Al-Jamal, Head of Medicines Development at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, have been working collaboratively with researchers from the University of York to optimise the brain uptake of a new gel designed to treat Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disease. Over 100,000 people live with the condition in the UK and it’s the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. The main symptoms of the disease are tremor, stiffness, and slowness of movement.
Prof David Smith Picture: John Houlihan A NASAL spray drug treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease is a step closer to becoming a reality thanks in part to York scientists. Researchers at the University of York have developed a new gel that can adhere to tissue inside the nose alongside the drug levodopa, helping deliver treatment directly to the brain. Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, which makes-up for the deficit of dopamine-producing cells in Parkinson’s patients, and helps treat the symptoms of the disease. Over extended periods of time, however, levodopa becomes less effective, and increased doses are needed.