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In response to Lang et al’s
letter in response to the Lancet Neurology’s editorial, Lang et al
laud deep brain stimulation as “a clear alternative for anyone
who would have been a candidate for the GDNF trial.”
The authors totally ignore the
autopsy results of a Bristol Phase I participant which showed
regrowth of nerve fibers in the putamen area of the brain as a
direct result of GDNF infusion. (1) There is no other treatment for
Parkinson’s disease that has demonstrated this. How can people with
Parkinson’s not ask for GDNF knowing it has been shown to regenerate
nerve fibers?
And as Dr. Lang says, “deep
brain stimulation will not prevent the disease from worsening, slow
its progression or prevent the development of later problems like
dementia”(2)
For many of us, time is running
out. We need GDNF now. We need trials on humans to recommence now.
Jean Burns
Person with Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson Pipeline Project
(1) Nature Medicine, July 2005
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-46022.html
(2)
http://www.innovations-report.com/print/print_en01.php3?id=21917&ctyp=1
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