Research to Customise Parkinson’s Treatment
Parkinson’s WA has awarded Parkinson’s Centre (ParkC) scientists a $70,000 Zrinski Research Grant to identify subtypes of Parkinson’s in a first-of-its-kind study to help improve quality of life.
Over a number of years, using sophisticated analysis of data collected, researchers will identify groups of people based on the pattern of their thinking skills.
Research Director, Dr Andrea Loftus, explains the team will examine how participants differ in terms of their quality of life, sleep, and mood.
“Using this information, we will conduct research into how the different subtypes respond to interventions such as non-invasive brain stimulation and cognitive training,” Dr Loftus says.
“It may be that a particular group, for example, those who have difficulties with planning, respond better to cognitive training or brain stimulation than others.
“Parkinson’s is an umbrella term which we think encompasses a range of different symptom groups. It is clear that no one person’s Parkinson’s is the same as another’s, but there are some characteristics which some people have in common,” Dr Loftus continues.
“We think it is important that these subtypes are identified so we can develop the most effective, customised (to the subtype) intervention.”
Dr Loftus says determining the subtypes and identifying subsequent symptom progression would have major, tangible benefits for people with Parkinson’s in terms of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
“We hope this research will also offer another future avenue for interventions to improve cognition and quality of life with Parkinson’s,” she says.
“The end goal is to identify and optimise methods of managing and slowing the progression of Parkinson’s, as well as improving the symptoms and individual experiences.”
According to Dr Loftus a study using such a large number of participants and unique style of analysis had not been performed before.
