HOUSTON: Researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging are continuing their investigation into the potential usefulness of lithium in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
New research shows that low doses of lithium administered to laboratory mice reduced involuntary motor movements, a troubling side effect of the medication most commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Prior to the lithium dosing, the mice were given a drug — sold under the name Sinemet — that is used to boost levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is lost in Parkinson’s disease. While Sinemet is the most effective treatment for managing Parkinson’s disease symptoms, long-term use causes abnormal involuntary movements.