Everyday People Matter

Scientists Report Progress in Stem Cell Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

| Nov 7, 2013 | Applying for benefits, Parkinsons Disease

Scientists at Cambridge University’s Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have announced the identification of a compound that they believe can help reverse the toxicity found in central nervous system cells of a person suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

The results of the research were published recently in the journal Science, with scientists cautioning that there is still a lot of work to be done. The results are very preliminary, and the study is still in its early stages. In fact, the scientists are not even using the word “drug” to refer to the molecule that they identified while analyzing more than 200,000 compounds. In other words, it will still be a long while before the molecule is actually converted into an ingredient that human beings who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease can take safely.

The molecule was tested on persons who suffer from a form of Parkinson’s Disease. The scientists created stem cells from the samples, and from those stem cells, they generated neurons that are affected in a person who suffers from Parkinson’s. They found that the special molecule managed to reverse the signs of disease in nerve cells. The researchers say that they will now focus on modifying the compound, so that they can move on to the next stage, which is testing in animals.

Many individuals with Parkinson’s are still able to work in the early stages, and may be able to earn an acceptable income. Because of this, social security disability benefits applications are often denied at the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, and more severe symptoms set in, applications are more likely to be successful, especially if the disability has existed for at least 12 months.

It’s important to seek the help of a qualified Atlanta disability attorney after you’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This will ensure you and your family take all the best steps for ensuring your treatment and your finances are in order, and also account for the backlog that exists in the SSD system.