http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp...&nav=menu606_2

Posted: Jan 10, 2008 06:11 AM

Parkinson's Disease Breakthrough

UNMC researchers hope they're one step closer to a vaccine to treat an incurable and debilitating disease. Local research some say provides a breakthrough in treating patients with Parkinson's disease.

Monnie Lindsay can barely lift a glass to her mouth without shaking. "For us, living with Parkinson's is a horrible disease that continues to progress," says Lindsay.

Monnie was diagnosed with Parkinson's 14 years ago. She says her right arm stopped moving when she was only 38 years old. "It's like living life in a locked box, locked inside our own body."

UNMC researchers now say they may have unlocked the secret to creating a vaccine. "That can be used to treat the disease and alleviate much of the suffering and debilitations that people incur," says one of the lead researchers, Dr. Howard Gendelman.

Dr.Gendelman says certain proteins build up in the brain, clogging like a drain. He says the brain cannot get rid of the clogs and in large amounts, the proteins damage the nerve cells. "If we believe we can harness the immune system and attack these aggregates, we can break them down and allow the brain and the natural immune system to clear them and get at the root cause of Parkinson's disease," says Dr. Gendelman.

It's exciting news for patients like Monnie. "It's a huge development and huge breakthrough, so I'm hoping that we can continue to work with Dr. Gendelman and his team and that we can bring some exciting research to Nebraska," says Lindsay.

A breakthrough researchers hope will lead to a vaccine.

It could still be years before the FDA approves a vaccine for Parkinson's disease. But, researchers say their recent findings will serve as a cornerstone for other scientists to look for new treatments.