Gene Therapy for Parkinson's: Myths vs. Facts

In this episode of the Parkinson’s Podcast, learn about gene therapy for Parkinson’s, including common misunderstandings and ongoing research about it. 

This episode contains some technical terms and abbreviations. For your convenience, here is a short list of definitions that might be helpful.  

AADC – Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase: An enzyme that helps make dopamine (not a rock and roll band) 

AAV – Adeno-Associated Virus: A harmless virus used to deliver gene therapy 

CDNF – Cerebral Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor: A protein that helps keep dopamine-producing cells healthy 

DBS – Deep Brain Stimulation: A surgical treatment that uses electrical signals to help control symptoms 

GAD – Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase: An enzyme that helps rebalance brain circuits.  

GBA – A gene linked to Parkinson’s risk 

GCH1 – GTP Cyclohydrolase 1: An enzyme that supports dopamine production.  

GDNF – Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A protein that helps protect brain cells 

Glucocerbrosidase – An enzyme associated with supporting cellular health by supporting fat breakdown and lysosomal function. This enzyme's production is associated with the GBA gene.

LRRK2 – A gene linked to Parkinson’s risk 

PARK2 – A gene linked to Parkinson’s risk 

PET – Positron Emission Tomography: A brain scan that shows chemical activity  

PINK1 – A gene linked to Parkinson’s risk  

SNCA – A gene linked to Parkinson’s risk 


More information about Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s is available here: 
https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/bl...  
   • The REGENERATE-PD Trial: Unpacking Gene Th...   
   • An Overview of Cell and Gene Therapies: Em...   

This podcast is sponsored by AskBio.

Sign up for updates on webinars, events, and resources for the Parkinson’s community: https://dpf.org/newsletter-signup