PEOPLE with early signs of Parkinson’s disease are being sought for new research being done in Glasgow aimed at finding a cure.

Glasgow Memory Clinic, Scotland’s leading Alzheimer’s clinical research centre, has begun tests on a potential new medication that could slow or ultimately reverse the condition.

The Orchestra Study began in the summer and is designed for people who have very mild symptoms or have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and who are not yet receiving any specific treatment.

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It is the first of a number of Parkinson’s studies which will take place at the centre, with more scheduled to be introduced in early 2023.

A condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, affecting 12,400 people – one in every 375 adults – in Scotland. Comedian Billy Connolly, Hollywood actor Michael J Fox and singer Neil Diamond have all been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Glasgow Times: Michael J Fox, left, Neil Diamond, top right, and Billy Connolly, all have Parkinson's diseaseMichael J Fox, left, Neil Diamond, top right, and Billy Connolly, all have Parkinson's disease (Image: Newsquest)

Dr Jennifer Lynch, Glasgow Memory Clinic’s medical director, said: “Parkinson’s, like Alzheimer’s, is an important condition that needs new and better treatments.

“Existing therapies only treat some symptoms for varying periods of time and with variable success. We want to find treatments that really make a difference by either halting disease progression or ideally reversing the damaged neural networks.

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“Glasgow Memory Clinic has a strong track record in supporting international research programs and we are delighted to be able to offer this study to people with Parkinson’s. The clinical research process is similar to that of AD research and our highly experienced team are using the knowledge and skills gained there to now run programs in Parkinson’s, with more set to be introduced in early 2023.”

To potentially qualify for the study subjects should be aged between 40 and 75; have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the past two years; have experience of slowness of movement and at least one of the following: muscle stiffness/rigidity, tremor/shaking; have not taken any medications to treat Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms (symptoms related to movement); and are not expected to need any such medications in the next six months.

Call Glasgow Memory Clinic on 0141 948 0206 for more information.