Below research indicates a role Of inflammation in PD.
I take Glucosamine for my joints! I understand it is anti-inflammatory so it may help my PD too????????? ... any opinions????

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...28012008-1.htm
January 28, 2008: 07:00 AM EST


MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Vasogen Inc. , a biotechnology company engaged in the research and commercial development of therapies designed to target the destructive inflammatory process associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, today announced the publication of preclinical findings demonstrating that Vasogen's VP025, the leading candidate from its VP series of drugs, provides a significant neuroprotective effect in a model of Parkinson's disease. The research, which was conducted at the University College Cork, Ireland, was published in the European Journal of Neuroscience (Vol 27, pp.294-300, 2008).

Evidence is accumulating that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Microglial cells (immune cells resident in the brain) are activated in Parkinson's disease, producing pro-inflammatory factors that result in the death of nerve cells in an area of the brain called the nigrostriatal pathway. The published research was based on a well-established model of Parkinson's disease that involves the generation of a lesion on one side of the brain by the introduction of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), inducing abnormal behaviour resulting in rotational movement. Both Parkinson's disease and 6-OHDA administration are associated with inflammatory processes that lead to the death of certain nerve cells, the dopaminergic neurons, which produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. It is the loss of these neurons and thereby the dopamine they produce that results in the movement abnormalities seen in this model.

The published study assessed the effect of pre-treatment with VP025 on 6-OHDA-induced rotational behaviour in response to amphetamine. Treatment with VP025 prior to 6-OHDA administration led to behavioural improvement demonstrated by a substantial (50-75%) and significant (p<0.001) reduction in rotation rate. VP025 also protected against the loss of dopaminergic neurons and provided significant protection against the reduction in levels of striatal dopamine induced by OHDA. The absence of rotations was maintained for up to three weeks while partial protection against the loss of dopaminergic neurons and reduction in striatal dopamine levels was still evident four weeks after lesion induction, indicating that VP025 has a potential long-term neuroprotective effect in this model.

Parkinson's disease, a chronic and progressive neurological condition, affects up to 1.5 million Americans.

While its cause is unknown, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease are primarily the result of degeneration of areas of the brain that control and modulate movement. Symptoms include a number of movement abnormalities such as tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness and rigidity of limbs, and gait or balance problems. As the disease progresses, these symptoms usually increase and impact a person's ability to work and function.

VP025, the lead product candidate from a new class of structurally related drugs, is being developed for the treatment of chronic neuro-inflammatory disorders. VP025 is designed to interact with immune cells leading to the modulation of cytokines - potent chemical messengers that regulate and control inflammation. Neurological conditions that are associated with an inflammatory response in the central nervous system include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). These indications are characterized by increased levels of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, leading to the death of nerve cells and the eventual loss of functional activity. Due to the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality associated with neuro-inflammatory diseases, they represent a significant medical, social, and financial burden.

About Vasogen:

Vasogen is a biotechnology company engaged in the research and commercial development of therapies designed to target the destructive inflammatory process associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. The Company's lead product, the Celacade(TM) System, is designed to activate the immune response to apoptosis - an important physiological process that regulates inflammation. Celacade has received European regulatory approval under the CE Mark for chronic heart failure and is being marketed in the EU by Grupo Ferrer Internacional, S.A. Celacade is also in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of chronic heart failure in the United States. Vasogen is also developing a new class of drugs for the treatment of certain neuro-inflammatory disorders. VP025 is the lead candidate from this new class of drugs