Rick i think the pd community is leaning toward multiple causes of PD, while at the same time recognizing similarities in treatment options with other neuro illnesses. This is especially true of delivery systems, which have everything to do with the BBB.

I can't remember where I post what anymore so sorry if this is a repeat. i fear that information is being multiplied at such a manic rate, that treatment options will always lag way behind what we learn. [well this is a given]

That's why it is imperative to do more than chase the ultimate cure [s]and stop and take care of people along the way. Everything isn't a cure, but it can come close and much can be learned by its use on people.

Everything boils down to the expense. It should be boiling down to what prevents human suffering.

An article in the New York Times this week said avoid patient anecdotal information posted [funny that it said posted], in learning to understand your doctor. I can see the need to use good judgement about what you read, but the attitude behind that statement promotes the continuation of viewing the patient as inferior and subjected to the moods of medical personnel.

If a new "campaign" is being launched to regain the respect and control of doctors, it will only be as successful as the respect is returned by the doctors. Some patients may be medically illiterate, but a literate one can smell patronizing a mile away.

I'm ranting, yes, that article ruffled my feathers. What's my point? There are multiple causes, delivery systems, drugs, [some that already work] being withheld from patients, which is devastating their lives. A new report is coming out soon with stories of many patients whose lives were ruined by companies halting drugs. GDNF was hardly the first or only one.

This is what it boils down to in the end....a bio tech deciding to spend money on us. Unless....somebody finds it unexpectedly. And once again, GNDF rears up as a solution, being on the list to tighten the BBB, as well a s on the list of what can regenerate neurons. Logically, it would be used until something better comes along, so pd patients don't suffer.

I'll never stop driving this point home.
just ignore this and carry on...

paula

Never heard of the Many Hits Theory. Is there a reference? Can't find it on the Internet. Perhaps you mean The Multiple Working Hypothesis which was first expounded on by T. C. Chamberlin toward the end of the 19th century and has been a staple of scientific thinking since early in the 20th century.

Lloyd

...here is a recent varient. I've also seen "multi factoral" used.

1: Cell Transplant. 2006;15(3):239-50.

Progressive dopamine neuron loss in Parkinson's disease: the multiple hit
hypothesis.

Carvey PM, Punati A, Newman MB.

Department of Pharmacology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612,
USA. pcarvey@rush.edu

Animal models have been an essential tool for researchers and clinicians in
their efforts to study and treat Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, the various
ways 6-hydroxydopamine is employed, the use of MPTP in rodents and nonhuman
primates, the prenatal exposure to bacterial endotoxin, the postnatal exposure
to environmental toxins such as paraquat and rotenone, the assessment of
dopamine (DA) neurons in genetic knockout mouse, and even the behavioral
analysis of fruit flies and worms have added significantly to our knowledge base
of PD--or have they? Are these animal models manifesting a true model of PD?
Have the 7786 published studies (to date) on PD with animal models led to a
clearer understanding of its etiology, treatment, or progression? In this review
we critically assess this question. We begin with a succinct history of the
major contributions, which have led to the current animal models of PD. We then
evaluate the primary issue of the progressive loss of DA neurons, which, except
for a few studies, has not been addressed in animal models of PD, even though
this is the major pathological characteristic of the disease. Lastly, we discuss
the possibility that more than one risk factor for PD may be necessary to
develop an animal model that shows synergy--the progressive loss of DA neurons.
Thus, the multiple hit hypothesis of PD-that is, the effect of more then one
risk factor-may be the start of new era in animal models of PD that is one step
closer to mimicking the pathology of PD in humans.

PMID: 16719059 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]