Partydroge ecstasy a Parkinson's drug?

Ecstasy properties help with Parkinson's therapy

11/08/2012

Ecstasy is mainly known as an illegal party drug of the Rave culture. However, the included methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) may also be the „involuntary movements“ Alleviate Levodopa by Treating Parkinson's with the drug, according to a study by an Australian research team led by Professor Matthew Piggott of the University of Western Australia (UWA).

The scientists report that the positive effects of ecstasy on the side effects of levodopa therapy in Parkinson's patients have been known for some time, but the MDMA „no therapeutic potential“ will be awarded, „because it is users high makes.“ In addition, there is evidence that ecstasy may have a neurotoxic effect, or at least for „the long-term, adverse changes in the chemistry of the brain“ responsible, report Prof. Piggott and colleagues. However, his team succeeded in separating the negative characteristics of the MDMA from the positive, so that a use in the context of Parkinson's therapy would be possible.

Uncontrolled jerky movements as a side effect of Parkinson's therapy
Parkinson's patients suffer from severe impairment of their motor skills, which makes their movement much more difficult at a later stage of the disease. The drug Levodopa helps those affected to maintain their ability to move. However, long-term use often causes significant side effects. On the one hand shorten the periods in which the patients are largely symptom-free (reduction of the therapeutic effect) and on the other hand, the more often referred to as dyskinesia „jerky, involuntary movements“, write Prof. Piggott and colleagues in the journal „Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology“. According to the researchers, dyskinesia is often misjudged as a symptom of Parkinson's disease, while in reality it is a side effect of levodopa treatment.

Ecstasy-like substance improves Parkinson's treatment
In collaboration with Parkinson's experts from Toronto, Professor Piggott and colleagues from the University of Western Australia have succeeded, „to separate the beneficial effects of MDMA from its undesirable properties.“ They developed new compounds based on so-called MDMA analogues (MDMA analogues) „MDMA-like chemical structure“, so the message of the UWA. „The best compound we call UWA-101 is even more effective than MDMA in improving the quality of levodopa therapy“, reports Professor Piggott. In model animal experiments, UWA-101 prolonged the periods when the Parkinson's drug was effective by 30 percent. More importantly, UWA-101 continued to improve symptom control (not disabling dyskinesia) by 178 percent over the duration of its duration, Piggott continued.

Hope for Parkinson's patients
Should the properties be transferred to a Parkinson's drug, „This would mean that Parkinson's patients need to take their medicines less frequently and at the same time have a better quality of treatment“ can be achieved, explained Professor Piggott. Psychopharmacologist Professor Mathew Martin-Iverson and PhD student Zak Millar from the University of Western Australia have also shown in rat experiments that UWA-101 is unlikely to be psychoactive and non-toxic to brain cells. When examined using a cell line, the MDMA-like substance had shown no neurotoxicity. „UWA-101 is therefore a promising lead for the development of new medicines to improve the quality of life for Parkinson's patients“, so the conclusion of Professor Piggott and colleagues. (Fp)

Also read about Parkinson's:
Screaming in the sleep Note Parkinson's
Parkinson's: Tai Chi helps with balance disorder
Helicobacter bacteria suspected under Parkinson's
Ibuprofen as protection against Parkinson's?
Sleep research: 8016351a2cc0b08c03hlafmangel

Picture credits: Gisela Peter