Latest news with #Parkinson'sEurope
Euronews
31-07-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Light stimulation shows promise in slowing Parkinson's, scientists say
French scientists are experimenting with a new way to combat Parkinson's disease: using light to stimulate damaged nerve cells in the brain. Researchers from a biomedical research centre affiliated with Grenoble University Hospital announced their progress on Radio France, explaining that while the trial is still at a very early stage, it could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of the neurodegenerative disease. Around 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson's, and that figure is expected to double by 2050, according to Parkinson's Europe. There is no cure, but researchers have been searching for ways to slow the disease and alleviate symptoms, which include tremours, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement. If it is successful in larger studies, the French clinical trial could help disrupt the progression of the disease through a non-invasive technique that stimulates the functional recovery of neurons, or nerve cells. The study targets dopamine-secreting neurons, which are critically affected as Parkinson's progresses. Around half of these cells may be damaged by the time symptoms appear, while patients lose an average of 10 per cent of their dopamine receptors per year, according to Dr Stephan Chabardès, a neurosurgeon at Grenoble University Hospital. The aim of the trial is to slow down patients' neurological deterioration, Chabardès said. The technique directs light beams to neurons deep inside the brain to target mitochondria – responsible for energy production within the cell – to stimulate them and improve their function, thereby revitalising the damaged cells. Chabardès said that in order to access these deep brain regions, the researchers developed a special compact device that combines advanced expertise in electronics, photonics, and nanotechnology, enabling the system to get smaller without sacrificing performance. "It is the combination of this medical expertise in neurosurgery with expertise in micro and nanotechnologies that makes it possible to achieve these medical feats," he said. So far, the technology has been applied to seven patients with early stages of the disease, and preliminary results indicate a slowdown in the deterioration of symptoms in three of them, especially with continued stimulation. It appeared that the light stimulation helped restore some brain function in these three cases, Chabardès said. "It's very preliminary, but what we are seeing is quite promising," Chabardès said. He noted that researchers will only launch a larger clinical trial if the study finds a tangible and stable effect.
Euronews
06-03-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Parkinson's cases could double by 2050, reaching 25 million worldwide
The global burden of Parkinson's disease is expected to more than double in the coming decades as people live longer and some countries experience a population boom, a new study suggests. The number of people worldwide with the neurodegenerative condition will reach 25.2 million by 2050, up from 11.9 million in 2021, according to the projections from researchers at Chinese and Canadian universities, which were published in the BMJ. Independent experts said the findings underscore the urgency of finding new treatments and shoring up social support for people with Parkinson's. 'It just shows that it absolutely needs to be addressed now, because there is no way that any of the global health services can cope with that level of demand from one specific condition,' Amelia Hursey, strategic director at the advocacy group Parkinson's Europe, told Euronews Health. The prevalence of Parkinson's could reach 267 cases per 100,000 people in 2050, up 76 per cent in three decades, the study found. About 10.9 million people in East Asia will have Parkinson's in 2050, a greater toll than any other region. South Asia will follow with an estimated 6.8 million cases. Meanwhile, western parts of sub-Saharan Africa will see the fastest growth in Parkinson's cases in the coming decades (292 per cent), driven largely by population growth but also ageing. What are the factors behind the rise in Parkinson's? Hursey, who was not involved with the study, added that as countries become more developed, rates of physical activity tend to fall. Exercise appears to offer protection against Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative conditions. 'What you're potentially seeing is, as people become more sedentary in their work, in their world, you're actually ending up with a less healthy brain,' she said. While lower- and middle-income countries are expected to see the sharpest uptick in Parkinson's burden, increases are expected in every part of the world by 2050. Cases are expected to rise by 50 per cent in Western Europe, for example, and by 28 per cent in Central and Eastern Europe. The researchers said the geographical divides could be due to differences in socioeconomic status, changes to how populations are structured, lifestyles, and toxic environments due to industrialisation and urbanisation. For example, some studies have pointed to air pollution as a risk factor for Parkinson's. Research on other environmental pollutants – such as on certain pesticides and cleaning chemicals as well as microplastics – suggests they may raise Parkinson's risks, but much remains unknown about the drivers of the disease. Even so, the study results indicate that 'the likelihood of increased [Parkinson's] numbers is significant in the world that we live in now, if we don't change anything about the … environment as it stands,' Hursey said. David Dexter, research director at Parkinson's UK, told Euronews Health that investments are needed in research, medical care, and support services for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers. Today, he said, 'people with Parkinson's are not getting the healthcare and services they need to live well'.
