帕金森病的最新研究进展

New medical research into a possible cure for Parkinson's disease is focusing on finding biomarkers in patients so that doctors can start treatment early before tremors and other symptoms start. Actor Michael J. Fox's recent commitment of $40 million toward finding a cure for Parkinson's is helping to fund the new research.
The current clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s is based on visible tremors and stiffness of limbs. But researchers say a more comprehensive diagnosis is needed. Dr. Fernando Pagan at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington is the director of the National Parkinson Foundation Center.
"There are not only motor symptoms, which has been traditionally the mainstay since 1817, but now we are looking at the non-motor features and understanding when they come into play," Dr. Pagan said.
They are looking specifically at a biomarker - or a gene - found in many people with Parkinson’s.
"One of the most important genes that we have found out is LRKK2 gene,” he added. “So if we can understand this particular one, we may be able to find a treatment, or a specific cure, for LRKK2."
Dr. Pagan says that up to 40 percent of Parkinson's patients from northern Africa, and some Arab countries, have this gene, and between 11 to 14 percent of patients of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Dr. Pagan says the LRKK2 gene may help doctors make an early diagnosis of the disease, but he and other experts stress it is not a cure-all, because Parkinson's has many variations.
Right now, the only thing doctors can do is treat the progressively worsening symptoms.
Dr. Pagan has been involved in a series of trials on methods of intervention.
"All three trials showed that a treatment was better than no treatment and the progression of the disease was slower in those who were early treated virus those who received delayed treatments,” said Dr. Pagan. “We are clearly learning now that treating Parkinson’s from the time we make diagnosis does modify the disease."
Medical researchers say Parkinson's Disease is the second most common degenerative neurological disorder after Alzheimer's with some 10 million people suffering from the disease around the world.
有关帕金森氏症的最新研究，焦点放在找出病患的生物标志，医生们因此可以在颤抖或其它症状出现之前，及早开始治疗。最近，电影演员迈克尔·福克斯承诺募集4千万美元寻找帕金森氏症的治疗方法，为这项新的研究提供了资助。
目前对帕金森氏病的诊断是基于可见的颤抖和四肢僵硬。但是研究人员说，需要更全面的诊断方法。乔治敦大学医院国家帕金森氏病基金中心主任费尔南多·帕甘博士说：
 “不仅仅是1817年起开始使用的运动机能诊断法，我们现在还要注意非运动技能方面，并且了解这些因素什么时候发挥作用。”
他们把目光放在许多帕金森氏症患者身上都存在的一个生物标志，或者说一个遗传因子。
帕甘博士说：“我们发现的最重要的遗传因子之一，叫作LRRK2基因。如果我们能够了解这个基因，我们也许就能够找到治疗、或者治愈这种LRKK2的特殊方法。”
帕甘博士说，在北非和一些阿拉伯国家，多达百分之40的帕金森氏症患者具有这种基因。在德系犹太裔中，也有百分之11至14的患者有这种基因。
帕甘博士介绍说，LRRK2 遗传因子也许可以帮助医生对帕金森氏症作出早期诊断。但是他和其他专家都强调，这不是一种能治愈所有帕金森氏症的方法，因为帕金森氏症有许多类型。
现在，医生们唯一能做的就是治疗不断恶化的症状。
帕甘博士参与了一系列介入疗法的试验。
他说：“所有三种试验都显示，治疗比不治疗要好。及早治疗的病人，病情恶化的速度比延迟治疗的病人要慢。我们清楚地知道，确诊以后立即治疗，确实可以控制病情。”
医学研究人员说，帕金森氏症是仅次于老年痴呆症的第二普遍的神经退行性疾病。全世界大约有1千万帕金森氏症病人。