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# # # # At the end of each year, it is a useful process to take stock and review what we have learnt over the last 12 months. 2024 has been an important year for Parkinson’s research, with a lot of clinical trial results being reported and new insights being made. In today’s post, we will consider three big Parkinson’s-related research takeaways of 2024 (based on our humble opinions here at the SoPD), and then we will provide an extended overview of some of the important pieces of news from the last 12 months (Be warned: this is a rather long post). # # # # |
Source: Freepik
Science is mostly an iterative process.
A hypothesis is generated and tested. If it is found to be true, new hypotheses are spawned and tested. And brick-by-brick, the foundation of our knowledge grows.
To the outside observer, it must feel like a slow and cumbersome process. But each step needs to be built on a level of certainty. As Sir Prof John Hardy once said “I don’t care if I’m right or if I’m wrong, I simply want to be certain“
John Hardy. Source: Breakthrough
In Parkinson’s research, 2024 felt like a year in which we were looking for certainty across many different areas of activity. Regulators were looking for certainty with new therapeutics before they could be approved (the continuous levodopa delivery system called Produodopa – is a good example of this – click here to read an SoPD post on this topic). Researchers sought certainty through independent replication of previous findings (the data on DOPA decarboxylase as a new biomarkers for Parkinson’s is a good example of this – click here to read a previous SoPD post on this topic).
In addition, clinical trialists were looking for certainty regarding new experimental therapies. A number of new cell replacement therapy trials were initiated (the Aspen Neuroscience ASPIRO study is a good example here) and late stage small molecules studies (such as the GLP-1 receptor agonists and alpha synuclein trials – discussed below) gave answers and raised new questions.
2024 was an extremely eventful year for Parkinson’s research.
Below is a list of some of the more interesting Parkinson’s research findings of the year – by month, but starting with the top three according to the team here at SoPD HQ.
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# EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this blog is the director of research at the medical research charity Cure Parkinson’s. For the purpose of transparency and to eliminate any sense of bias, where Cure Parkinson’s is a funder of the research it shall be noted. The selection of research topics below are based on his opinion alone and do not reflect the thoughts of any other parties. # |
The 3 main SOPD highlights in Parkinson’s-related research for 2024
(in no particular order – just our opinion)
The Science of Parkinson's 