Treatments and drugs

Your initial response to Parkinson's treatment can be dramatic. Over time, however, the benefits of drugs frequently diminish or become less consistent, although symptoms can usually still be fairly well controlled. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as physical therapy, a healthy diet and exercise, in addition to medications. In some cases, surgery may be helpful.

Medications
Medications can help manage problems with walking, movement and tremor by increasing the brain's supply of dopamine. Taking dopamine itself is not helpful, because it is unable to enter your brain.

*

Levodopa. The most effective Parkinson's drug is levodopa, which is a natural substance that we all have in our body. When taken by mouth in pill form, it passes into the brain and is converted to dopamine. Levodopa is combined with carbidopa to create the combination drug Sinemet. The carbidopa protects levodopa from premature conversion to dopamine outside the brain; in doing that, it also prevents nausea. In Europe, levodopa is combined with a similar substance, benserazide, and is marketed as Madopar.

As the disease progresses, the benefit from levodopa may become less stable, with a tendency to wax and wane ("wearing off"). This then requires medication adjustments. Levodopa side effects include confusion, delusions and hallucinations, as well as involuntary movements called dyskinesia. These resolve with dose reduction, but sometimes at the expense of reduced parkinsonism control.
*

Dopamine agonists. Unlike levodopa, these drugs aren't changed into dopamine. Instead, they mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain and cause neurons to react as though dopamine is present. They are not nearly as effective in treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, they last longer and are often used to smooth the sometimes off-and-on effect of levodopa.

This class includes pill forms of dopamine agonists, pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip), as well as a patch form, rotigotine (Neupro). Pergolide (Permax) has been withdrawn from the market because of its association with heart valve problems. A short-acting injectable dopamine agonist, apomorphine (Apokyn), is used for quick relief.

The side effects of dopamine agonists include those of carbidopa-levodopa, although they're less likely to cause involuntary movements. However, they are substantially more likely to cause hallucinations, sleepiness or swelling. These medications may also increase your risk of compulsive behaviors such as hypersexuality, compulsive gambling and compulsive overeating. If you are taking these medications and start behaving in a way that's out of character for you, talk to your doctor.
* MAO B inhibitors. These types of drugs, including selegiline (Eldepryl) and rasagiline (Azilect), help prevent the breakdown of both naturally occurring dopamine and dopamine formed from levodopa. They do this by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) — the enzyme that metabolizes dopamine in the brain. Side effects are rare but can include serious interactions with other medications, including drugs to treat depression and certain narcotics.
* Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors. These drugs prolong the effect of carbidopa-levodopa therapy by blocking an enzyme that breaks down levodopa. Tolcapone (Tasmar) has been linked to liver damage and liver failure, so it's normally used only in people who aren't responding to other therapies. Entacapone (Comtan) doesn't cause liver problems and is now combined with carbidopa and levodopa in a medication called Stalevo.
* Anticholinergics. These drugs have been used for many years to help control the tremor associated with Parkinson's disease. A number of anticholinergic drugs, such as trihexyphenidyl and benztropine (Cogentin), are available. However, their modest benefits may be offset by side effects such as confusion and hallucinations, particularly in people over the age of 70. Other side effects include dry mouth, nausea, urine retention — especially in men with an enlarged prostate — and severe constipation.
* Antivirals. Doctors may prescribe amantadine (Symmetrel) alone to provide short-term relief of mild, early-stage Parkinson's disease. It also may be added to carbidopa-levodopa therapy for people in the later stages of Parkinson's disease, especially if they have problems with involuntary movements (dyskinesia) induced by carbidopa-levodopa. Side effects include swollen ankles and a purple mottling of the skin.

Physical therapy
Exercise is important for general health, but especially for maintaining function in Parkinson's disease. Physical therapy may be advisable and can help improve mobility, range of motion and muscle tone. Although specific exercises can't stop the progress of the disease, improving muscle strength can help you feel more confident and capable. A physical therapist can also work with you to improve your gait and balance. A speech therapist or speech pathologist can improve problems with speaking and swallowing.

Surgery
Deep brain stimulation is the most common surgical procedure to treat Parkinson's disease. It involves implanting an electrode deep within the parts of your brain that control movement. The amount of stimulation delivered by the electrode is controlled by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in your upper chest. A wire that travels under your skin connects the device, called a pulse generator, to the electrode.

Deep brain stimulation is most often used for people who have advanced Parkinson's disease who have unstable medication (levodopa) responses. It can stabilize medication fluctuations and reduce or eliminate involuntary movements (dyskinesias). Tremor is especially responsive to this therapy. Deep brain stimulation doesn't help dementia and may make that worse.

Like any other brain surgery, this procedure has risks — such as brain hemorrhage or stroke-like problems. Infection also may occur, requiring parts of the device to be replaced. In addition, the unit's battery beneath the skin of the chest wall must be surgically replaced every few years. Deep brain stimulation isn't beneficial for people who don't respond to carbidopa-levodopa.

Creatine and Possible Benefits to Parkinson’s Disease Victims

Creatine, also known as creatine monohydrate, creatine phosphate or creatine citrate, is a naturally occurring amino acid compound in your body that is made by your liver and facilitates the production of energy in your body. Most of the creatine is stored in your skeletal muscles and the rest is found in your brain, heart and testes. You can eat foods that have creatine, such as red meat and fish. However, creatine is also available in supplement form through health food and drug stores.

Promoted in supplement form as an energy enhancement, creatine use is encouraged by the exercise and bodybuilding industries to increase exercise performance. It is this long-standing benefit that has lead scientists to organize large-scale national clinical trials of the product to determine if creatine can have a beneficial effect on symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a nutritional supplement, creatine is widely used by professional athletes and is considered safe for daily supplemental use.

Researchers have also concluded that creatine increases the available energy for brain nerve cells and that this process helps prevent the loss of mitochondria. As a result it has positive effect on the health and survival of your nerve cell. Recognizing that an increase in cellular energy is beneficial to the health of your nerve cells, researchers believe that the addition of creatine to the diet will prevent injury and the premature death of the neurotransmitters and cells of your brain that are affected by Parkinson’s disease.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s, progressively uncontrollable shaking of the limbs and degeneration in the ability to speak, result from a reduction of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which helps control movement. It is the hope of researchers that the introduction of creatine will increase the neurological response between brain cells and result in a potential treatment for the sufferers of Parkinson’s disease.

In prior 18 month clinical trials of several potential Parkinson’s treatments, in which the trials were designed to eliminate those that are proven to be futile, results indicated that creatine being noted as warranting of further large scale clinical study for efficacy. Researchers also noted that creatine was well tolerated by test subjects. Prior research on creatine, unrelated to study of Parkinson’s disease or its treatment, have also resulted in no long term or serious side effects.

The research studies to determine whether creatine will be instrumental in arresting the progression of Parkinson’s disease will last for 5 to 7 years. The subjects will be those that have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the last five years and have been treated for two years or less with drugs that increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Additional benefits of creatine, which have researchers optimistic in the study outcome, include its antioxidant properties that have been shown to prevent brain cell loss in laboratory mice that are affected with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are encouraged by this revelation, and hope to prove the same effects of creatine to be present in human test subjects.

Arrayit Corporation and The Parkinson's Institute Announce New Research Collaboration

Arrayit Corporation and The Parkinson's Institute Announce New Research Collaboration

ARYC 2.63, -0.37, -12.5%) , a proprietary life sciences technology leader, announces a new research collaboration with The Parkinson's Institute of Sunnyvale, California to discover biomarkers for Parkinson's disease. This unique study involves the prospective collection of samples from well-characterized Parkinson's patients combined with Arrayit's new H25K microarray technology. The first experiments have enabled rapid and efficient sample preparation of specimens from Parkinson's disease patients, an important step in the discovery of molecular markers for Parkinson's disease.
"This collaboration provides an important first step towards unraveling the mysteries of Parkinson's disease," stated Dr. Mark Schena, Ph.D., Arrayit President. "We look forward to working with The Parkinson's Institute to decipher the molecular basis of the disease," he continued. The Parkinson's Institute Assistant Professor Dr. Birgitt Schuele, M.D. added, "Parkinson's disease represents a serious and challenging medical condition. We are pleased to be deploying Arrayit technology to combat this illness."

About Arrayit Corporation
Arrayit Corporation, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, leads and empowers the genetic, research, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic communities through the discovery, development and manufacture of proprietary life science technologies and consumables for disease prevention, treatment and cure. It now offers over 650 products to a customer base of more than 2,500 laboratories worldwide, including most every major university, pharmaceutical and biotech company, major agricultural and chemical company, government agency, national research foundation and many private sector enterprises. Please visit www.arrayit.com for more information.
About The Parkinson's Institute
The Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center (PI) is America's only independent non-profit organization that provides basic and clinical research, clinical trials and a comprehensive movement disorder patient clinic for Parkinson's disease (PD) and related neurological movement disorders, all under one roof. Our mission is to find the causes, provide first class patient care and discover a cure. Our unique freestanding organization supports a strong collaboration of translational medicine designed to more directly connect research to patient care -- from the "bench to bedside." Please visit www.thepi.org for more information.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information contained herein, statements made in this release that would constitute forward-looking statements may involve certain risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements made in this release are based on currently available information and the Company assumes no responsibility to update any such forward-looking statement. The following factors, among others, may cause actual results to differ materially from the results suggested in the forward-looking statements. The factors include, but are not limited to, risks that may result from changes in the Company's business operations; our ability to keep pace with technological advances; significant competition in the biomedical business; our relationships with key suppliers and customers; quality and consumer acceptance of newly introduced products; market volatility; non-availability of product; excess inventory; price and product competition; new product introductions, the outcome of our legal disputes; the possibility that the review of our prior filings by the SEC may result in changes to our financial statements; and the possibility that stockholders or regulatory authorities may initiate proceedings against Arrayit and/or our officers and directors as a result of any restatements. Risk factors associated with our business, including some of the facts set forth herein, are detailed in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal first quarter ended March 31, 2008 and Form 10-Q for the fiscal second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Long Term Results Similar in Two Parkinson's Medications

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - People with Parkinson's disease may worry over which of two kinds of medications to use when first starting treatment, but a study published on Monday indicates the results are similar either way.

Researchers compared disability levels and quality of life after six years for people who started out taking either the standard generic drug levodopa or privately held German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim's Mirapex, also called pramipexole.

The two drugs are generally employed as the first line of treatment for Parkinson's disease. In different ways, they address the decline in production of the brain chemical dopamine that occurs with the disease.

Parkinson's undermines control over movements and speech. Patients can have stiffness or rigidity of the arms and legs, slowness or lack of movement, and walking difficulties, along with tremors in their hands, arms, legs, jaw or face.

Levodopa is seen as better to deal with mobility issues and tremors. But it can cause involuntary movements known as dyskinesia, and its effectiveness also may wear off over time.

Mirapex may be less effective at handling motor control symptoms and can cause sleepiness. But it is less likely to cause involuntary movements or lose effectiveness over time.

"Despite a little bit of variations in how people were doing in specific areas, in terms of overall quality of life and disability measurements, the two groups looked the same," University of Rochester Medical Center neurologist Dr. Kevin Biglan, one of the researchers, said in a telephone interview.

"Then it becomes more of an individual decision in terms of short-term issues and individual preferences about some of these complications, potentially," he said.

Mirapex is in a class of drugs called dopamine agonists that also includes GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) (GSK.N) Requip, or ropinirole.

The researchers tracked 222 patients in the study published in the journal Archives of Neurology.

Of those who started on Mirapex, 90 percent of them ended up also taking levodopa, a drug that has been around for more than four decades, Biglan said. But the side effects differed depending on which drug they started on, he added.

"There's been all this research trying to address what's the better initial treatment strategy. And patients have struggled with whether they were making the right decision in terms of what treatment to go with initially," Biglan said.

"So they could probably make a decision regarding either treatment without being overly worried about the long-term implications," he added. Boehringer funded the study. (Editing by Julie Steenhuysen)