Researchers from Kyoto University (Japan) aim to inject the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease millions of iPS (for induced pluripotent stem cells) pluripotent stem cells capable of transforming into any type of cell. Once injected, they will develop into neurons dopamine producers, a neurotransmitter necessary for good movement control and which is lacking in people with Parkinson’s.
The clinical trial will involve 7 participants aged 50 to 69 and will begin on Wednesday August 1. The researchers will monitor the patients’ condition for two years. This test follows a first experiment carried out on primates and which allowed monkeys suffering from a form of Parkinson’s to regain the ability to make movements.
The cell reprogramming using stem cells is also the treatment path currently being followed by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
Read also :
Parkinson’s disease starts in the intestine
Parkinson’s disease: can we beat it?