MedNews — Parkinson's Disease
Simvastatin Halves Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Risks
The statin, Simvastatin, has been found to cut the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by 50 percent.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine analyzed diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and demographic data of around 4.5 million people. This data was collected from various medical centers across the country.
To analyze the effects, researchers used three different models and examined the effects of the statins simvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin on people. More »
New Hope for Parkinson's Disease Therapy
Parkinson's disease destroys a specific type of nerve cells, resulting in movement and balance problems for those afflicted with the disease.
Researchers from Finland have found a molecule called CDNF that can prevent the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells, and help damaged nerve cells recover.
The scientists from the University of Helsinki conducted experiments on rats that were bred to show symptoms of Parkinson's. In tests, CDNF protected 96% of the animals' nerve cells.
Source: BBC News (7/14/07)
