Scientists test drug to dampen involuntary movements

Scientists have tested a new treatment for tackling involuntary movements caused by Parkinson's disease.

Revealed at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, the study was written and conducted by Dr Ravi Anand, a consultant with Newron Pharmaceuticals in Italy.

The research spanned two years and was carried out with patients in the mid-to-late stages of the disease.

Of the 669 people taking part in the trial, some were given the new treatment safinamide and others took a placebo in order to ascertain the drug's effectiveness.

The safinamide was used in addition to levodopa and other dopaminergic treatments.

Showing that patients who took 100 milligrams of the new drug reduced movement issues by 24 per cent in those who scored four or higher on the scale prior to the start of the treatment, the tests demonstrated the drug had less impact at 50 milligrams.

"These results are an important step forward in understanding how safinamide impacts patients with severe Parkinson's disease," commented Dr Anand.

The American Academy of Neurology has over 22,000 members and its annual meeting took place in Honolulu on April 9th.