Brain therapy breakthrough for Parkinson's

A BRITISH-led gene therapy that rewires the circuits of the brain has been hailed as a “game changer” for the millions of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

- By Lucy Johnston

Scientists say a tiny, onetime injection deep in the brain could be the start of a “new era” in the treatment of the disease, which affects more than 160,000 UK patients.

Trials have shown the novel treatment appears to “reset” faulty wiring, helping patients move properly again - and early evidence suggests it may slow the disease itself.

'Changed the circuitry of patients we treated'

“It’s one of the most exciting things we’ve done,” said Dr Alexandria Forbes, boss of London biotech firm MeiraGTx.

“We saw using AI that our therapy had changed the brain in a way that allows people to move, but may also slow degeneration. It really is a breakthrough.”

The therapy, known as AAV-GAD, has been tested in three groundbreaking early-stage studies in Parkinson's patients.