This appears to be a secondary phase of a legitimate clinical trial in Japan at Jichi Medical University in Shimotsuke- trials began in 2007. Not to worry, here we may have access to the treatment, in say, twenty years?

-Laura

Note: I think the reason it sounds "iffy" is due to fact that information on this is gleaned from sources in Japanese, so there very well may be things lost in the transliteration and translation of the journals and newspapers.

Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

From Pub Med:

A clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AAV vector-mediated gene transfer of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, an enzyme that converts L-dopa to dopamine, is underway. With this strategy patients would still need to take L-dopa to control their PD symptoms, however, dopamine production could be regulated by altering the dose of L-dopa. Another AAV vector-based clinical trial is also ongoing in which the subthalamic nucleus is transduced to produce inhibitory transmitters.