New Insights on Parkinson’s Disease: Rethinking Dyskinesia Causes
Recent scientific exploration from the University of Arizona is shedding new light on Parkinson’s disease and its associated complications. Published in the journal Brain, the study investigates the involuntary movements, known as dyskinesia, that many patients encounter.
Parkinson’s treatment frequently involves the administration of levodopa, a drug that, over prolonged use, may result in these involuntary movements. The study challenges existing beliefs regarding the motor cortex’s role in triggering these movements.
According to Stephen Cowen, an associate professor in the psychology department at the University of Arizona, the research contradicts prior assumptions. “So we thought the motor cortex was directly causing these dyskinetic movements. And instead, we found that that wasn’t apparently the case,” he explained. This indicates a disruption in the motor cortex during dyskinesia, suggesting that other neural circuits are responsible for the movements.
Additionally, the findings propose the potential for ketamine infusions to serve as an innovative treatment for dyskinesia. However, as Torsten Falk, a neurology professor at the university, pointed out, FDA approval remains a crucial step. “So the studies in the lab will actually help provide mechanistic understanding that FDAs will be interested in,” he noted.
The study received financial backing from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as well as the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission, underscoring the significance of this research in advancing Parkinson’s treatment options.
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