Treatment with stem cell methods enters a new phase. Japanese scientists will be the first in the world to conduct human stem cell trials to treat Parkinson's.
Scientists from Kyoto University plan to inject five million Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS) into the patient's brain. IPS cells are stem cells that can later turn into any cells needed by the body.
The hope is that iPS cells can stimulate the formation of dopamine-forming cells. The absence of dopamine in the brain is one indication of Parkinson's disease in a person.
"This stem cell trial for humans is the first in the world for Parkinson's, after trials on animals showed positive results," the researchers said in a statement, quoted by Channel News Asia.
The trial will be conducted on 7 participants aged 50 to 69 years. After the injection, the researchers will monitor the patient's condition for 2 years.
In previous animal trials, the monkeys that were subjected to increased activity and movement. Researchers also ensure that iPS cells injected will not turn into cancer cells and tumors.
Parkinson's is a chronic neurological disease that attacks the motor nervous system. Parkinson's patients usually experience convulsions and a vibrating body accompanied by difficulty moving and moving.