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In what could be called an important step towards the management of Parkinson’s disease, a new study conducted by French researchers has shown that the diabetes drug lixisenatide can slow the progression of symptoms of the degenerative brain condition.
The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, included 156 people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease symptoms and taking Parkinson’s medications. While half of this group was given the said GLP-1 drug for a year, the other half was given a placebo. After one year, those who did not receive diabetes medication saw their symptoms drop by three points on the severity scale of the degenerative disease, while the other group saw no progress in symptoms. However, researchers also noted side effects of lixisenatide. About 46% of people taking this medication experienced nausea, while about 13% reported vomiting. (Also Read | Parkinson’s disease can be detected 20-30 years before clinical diagnosis: Study)
Lixisenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. GLP-1 stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas, increases the amount of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and reduces the release of glucagon.
Studies have shown a link between diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. People who have both disorders report a faster decline in their symptoms than those who have only Parkinson’s. A progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s affects the central nervous system and obvious signs include tremors in one arm, slow movements, stiffness in body limbs, and problems with balance and coordination. In more advanced stages, the legs may become stiff to such an extent that walking and maintaining balance while standing may become impossible, requiring the use of a wheelchair.
“For 30 years, we have been trying to understand how to slow the decline associated with Parkinson’s disease over time. In this context, the positive results of the Lixipark Phase 2 trial show reduced progression of motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease at one year which is an important step in the future management of the disease. We look forward to confirming these encouraging results in the future, so that such findings can be translated into clinical practice,” the study’s lead investigators, Professor Vasilios Meissner and Olivier Rascol, were quoted as saying by The Guardian.
“We are all alert. Parkinson’s has a long history of trying different things that ultimately didn’t work,” he says. He says a three-point difference in rating scores is a small change—one that many people with Parkinson’s will notice. “What happens in 5 years? So is it 15 points, or is it still a 3? If it’s still a 3, it’s not worth it,” says David, a neurologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Standaert, who was not involved in the trial, was quoted by Nature.
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