Saturday 25 February 2023
The C word has only 4 letters but it’s a big word. A word that used to be used in open conversation but is now taboo. These days, if it is said at all, it is said in hushed tones with an air of embarrassment. It’s no longer acceptable to throw it into serious talk, let alone casual chatter. Dare I actually spell it out here?
Finding a ‘cure’ was once everyone’s objective. And not just a cure for Parkinson’s. As neuroscience evolved there was confident talk of curing Alzheimer’s and Motor Neurone Disease, and various other neurodegenerative conditions.
But now we speak of ‘therapies’ and, if we are feeling really bold, ‘disease modifying therapies’ which stop or slow down progression. The consensus amongst other Parkies that I sit on various advisory committees with is along the lines of , “it would be nice if we could make the disease get worse a bit more slowly…”
The reality is that Parkinson’s (and Alzheimer’s and MND and others) have turned out to be way more complicated that anyone anticipated and, after decades of research, we still don’t actually understand what’s going on. My personal view is that we need to understand the underlying biochemical mechanisms if we are to be successful in turning the tide on these conditions.
I also believe we should never give up. Given enough effort, we will figure this out and prevail. We are too smart as a species not to. Sure, a ‘disease modifying therapy’, or two, would be a big step in the right direction, but the ultimate objective should remain the same: like smallpox, wipe it off the face of the planet.
It may take a long time. It may not happen in my lifetime. But I firmly believe we should keep striving for the day when humanity can proudly announce:
“We’ve found a cure for Parkinson’s. Now, what’s next?”
