Transplant drug protects against Parkinson's disease

Scientists from the University of Sheffield found the drug rapamycin, which is an immune suppresser used to prevent transplant organs being rejected, blocks the damaging effects of two mutant genes known to cause inherited forms of Parkinson’s.

Because the drug weakens the immune system it is unlikely it will be used alone to treat patients, but it could lead to new discoveries into treatments for the condition.

The debilitating disease, which affects the nerves that co-ordinate movement, occurs when nerve cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine die off.

Dopamine ensures the right signals are sent to control movement, but when there is a reduced amount of the chemical patients suffer Parkinson’s symptoms of muscle rigidity, shaking, and loss of balance.

Dr Alex Whitworth, who led the research team, said: ‘Although rapamycin is not a ‘wonder drug’ for treating Parkinson’s, our study does show that the animal and human models that we used may be a valuable tool in the discovery of new drugs for directly treating the condition.’

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