Neural transplants
The possibility of replacing the dead and dying dopamine -producing cells in the brains of people with Parkinson’s with transplanted tissue has been of interest to researchers for some time. They hope the transplanted material will help to raise the dopamine levels in the brain to a more normal level, thereby reducing Parkinson’s symptoms.
Several different techniques have been or are being explored, including:
- Adrenal gland cell grafts : largely abandoned because of poor results and the complicated nature of this type of surgery.
- Foetal and embryonic cell implants : results have been very mixed and there are enormous ethical and technical considerations that are difficult to resolve. Still largely experimental, this type of transplant is unlikely to become a feasible form of treatment for Parkinson’s.
- Xenografts involving transplants of tissue from one species to another : Results have been mainly negative to date, mainly due to problems with the immune system rejecting the implanted cells. Research is ongoing.
- Stem cells (unspecialised cells that can develop into many types of body cells) : Research is currently taking place in many countries using stem cells derived from different sources, e.g. the earliest stages of embryo formation, the developing nervous system, the adult nervous system and bone marrow. Much more research is needed for scientists to ascertain whether this will be a valid treatment for Parkinson’s
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter produced in the substantia nigra, which forms part of the basal gangia in the brain. It sends messages from the brain to other parts of the body and has a major role in the control of movement. There is a shortage of dopamine in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease.
Nervous system
An important system in the body that involves the brain, spine and the nerves. Responsible for the body’s contacts and responses to the external world and also its internal communication.
See also Central Nervous System
