Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world, after Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, nearly one million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and that number is expected to further increase as the population ages. It is estimated that by 2030, 1.2 million Americans will be living with PD.
“The main medication for PD, carbidopa/levodopa, was developed in the late 1960s/early 1970s and is still the primary medication used today. However, new therapies that may stop or halt PD symptoms are on the horizon and entering clinical trials,” James Beck PhD and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the Parkinson’s Foundation, told BlackDoctor.org.
In his role as CSO, Dr. Beck oversees the research strategy of the Parkinson’s Foundation. He ensures that resources are directed effectively to have the maximum impact on halting the progression of the disease and improving the quality of life for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
What are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are crucial for developing new treatments, providing essential data for regulatory approval, and enabling public access to potentially life-saving therapies. They offer eligible patients the opportunity to receive experimental treatments, advancing medical knowledge and potentially saving numerous lives.
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Clinical trials for PD medications advance through three key phases. Phase I trials are typically small with 10-20 participants, allowing researchers to confirm that a medication is safe in healthy people and those with PD. Phases II and II are larger – 50 to 300 participants – and simultaneously track both the safety of the medication and whether or not it will impact PD.
Benefits of Participating in a Clinical Trial
Access to experimental treatment can be attractive to some patients as their health care provider closely monitors them throughout the trial. This can be a comforting and reassuring component when battling disease. Healthy patients who enroll in clinical trials may feel a sense of pride and accomplishment from knowing they’re contributing to medical research and potentially improving lives.
“Clinical trials are a way to pay it forward for those living with PD,” Dr. Beck explained. “Enrolling in clinical trials may mean that those in younger generations may be able to avoid the impact of PD through new medications therapies.”
The Cleveland Clinic Brain Study, for example – which will monitor 200,000 healthy patients over twenty years – is focused on determining early biomarkers of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and stroke. In this study, researchers will have access to numerous data points per participant to better understand, identify, and diagnose PD. The Cleveland Clinic Brain Study is actively enrolling participants and encouraging healthy, Black Americans over the age of 50.
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“It’s important for people of all backgrounds to participate to ensure medications are safe and effective for everyone,” Dr. Beck explained. “This is particularly true of new precision medicine trials that look to understand how changes in a person’s genes may cause a disease and test new medications to stop it. This has led to great success in the cancer fields and is only beginning to happen in brain diseases.”
Types of Clinical Trials for Parkinson’s Disease
The Cleveland Clinic Brain Study is not the only clinical trial for Parkinson’s disease. The LUMA Study, for example, is evaluating the safety of an investigational drug’s ability to delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease for those in the early stages of the condition.
Researchers with Zhittya Genesis Medicine are studying whether or not administering a drug that has been proven to grow new blood vessels in the heart can treat Parkinson’s by doing the same but in the brain. Over the last two years, patients who have received the fibroblast growth factor drug, FGF-1, have reported improved motor movement as well as improvements in balance, sleep, and cognition.
The University of California at San Diego Health is currently enrolling eligible participants in six different Parkinson’s disease clinical trials, including a Phase I and II stem-cell trial measuring the safety and efficacy of transplantation.
Finding a Clinical Trial
There are several online databases where patients can access information about current Parkinson’s disease clinical trials including the Parkinson’s Foundation website, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Michael J. Fox Foundation website, and the American Parkinson’s Disease Foundation website.
The BlackDoctor.org Clinical Trial Resource Center for Black Americans is a clinical trial research database committed to increasing enrollment of Black patients in a variety of trials.
“Because people of different ancestries are likely to have different genes impacting their disease, it is important to have as diverse a population as possible to enroll into these studies,” Dr. Beck told BlackDoctor.org. “The next generation of precision medicine therapies should be for everyone and available to everyone.”
if you’re interested in learning more about clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease, the first step is to reach out to your doctor. Your health care provider can help you determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for a clinical trial and even connect you with a clinical research trial that may not be publicly listed.
Considerations for Participation
Before enrolling in a clinical trial it’s important to consider of course the eligibility criteria and evaluate any risks or side effects. Collaborate with your doctor and discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider and family to ensure you’re making the most informed decision possible.
Final Thoughts
Parkinson’s disease affects millions of Americans and the numbers are only expected to rise, but ongoing clinical research trials aim to enhance outcomes and improve quality of life for PD patients. Participating in clinical trials is not only beneficial for medical advancement, but also offers patients experimental research to potentially improve quality of life.
