Parkinson’s Medicine Side-Effects Study – Alarming Reports
Jack, a 30-year-old man, stood in front of the mirror, trying to raise his hand, but he understood that there was no coordination. But suddenly, he learned that there was no coordination. The feeling of stiffness in his body and instability in his posture began to worsen. It was unimaginable for him. Never in his dreams, he thought he would lose control over his body movements.
According to statistics, more than 10M people worldwide are suffering from Parkinson’s.
Once thought to affect only older people, is now becoming common even in younger ones.
The treatments used for many of the diseases come along with side effects. These side effects can range from insignificant changes to highly impacting conditions.
A very common side effect of treating Parkinson’s disease is difficulties observed in decision-making.
In Japan, researchers from Fujita Health University identified that a part of the brain is involved in initiating side effects. This identification helped in understanding and offering a solution to the existing problem.
They used a drug called Pramipexole. It is an FDA-approved drug used in treating Parkinson’s. Patients with Parkinson’s disease have a low dopamine level in their brains. The drug has an action similar to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Parkinson’s Medicine Side-Effects
Researchers developed mouse models with Parkinson’s disease. They injected pramipexole to observe the mechanism of action of the drug. Generally, pramipexole is used to improve dopamine levels in the brain. The results showed that the drug is effective against Parkinson’s but comes with a few harmful side effects. They generally include over-eating, excessive gambling, and shopping.
After the treatment, the mouse models were allowed to take up a few challenges. These activities simulated the part of the brain involved in gambling. Similar to the addiction that is seen in gambling people, the results showed harmful compulsive behaviors. The mouse was observed to make risky choices.
There were some unusual activities seen in the part of the brain called the external globus pallidus. This portion of the brain controls voluntary and subconscious movements. The area was observed to be unusually active in the case of gambling mice.