Promising Results with UDCA that Boosts Motor Abilities in Early Parkinson's Patients

UDCA (ursodeoxycholic acid – AKA ursodiol)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursodeoxycholic_acid. UDCA is a bile acid naturally produced in humans and has been used to treat bile duct, liver, and gallstone disorders. Fats are digested using bile acids. UDCA also shows significant promise to reduce cholesterol in the intestine. The recent primary use of UDCA is in primary biliary cholangitis (PBD), an autoimmune disease of the liver.

Japan and China have used UDCA since the seventh century. Bear bile provided a fresh source of UDCA until 1955 when the molecule was synthesized for the first time. The United States approved UDCA as a drug in 1987.

Parkinson's New of 2023

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/news/gains-parkinsons-motor-symptoms-seen-with-naturally-occurring-udca/. Improved mitochondrial function is noted when using UDCA. Parkinson's patients typically have cellular energy problems – the cells are not producing the required energy to support all body functions. Mitochondria energy levels increased when UDCA was present in patients with bile duct issues.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) Early Symptoms

https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/what-is-parkinsons-disease/. Symptom frequency, severity, and order of appearance are not the same with every PD patient. Tremors, loss of smell, depression, fatigue, trouble rising from a chair, stooping/hunching over, arms not swinging while walking, fewer facial expressions, and more are typically early signs of PD.

There are four motor issue conditions associated with PD – abnormally slow movements (bradykinesia), tremors (uncontrolled shaking), rigidity (stiffness), and postural instability (difficulty with balance and walking). One hundred percent of all PD patients have bradykinesia. Eighty percent of PD patients have tremors. The other motor issues subdue PD patients over time.

Diagnosis

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376062#:~:text=Currently%2C%20there%20isn't%20a,a%20neurological%20and%20physical%20exam. There is no single test used to diagnose PD. Neurologists evaluate the patient's symptoms and rule out any other diseases with similar symptoms with appropriate testing. Early PD patients do not have motor skill issues. Molecular changes in the brain are evaluated to determine the early onset of PD.

Clinical Trials Using UDCA to Treat PD

https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.29450. In May 2023, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of UDCA to treat PD patients was published in the journal Movement Disorders. The results indicated improvement in motor skills, and additional, larger-scale testing is planned.

Another proof-of-concept study – double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled – concentrated on PD patients less than three years after symptoms manifested. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03840005. Dosages were increased weekly, and the testing ended after 48 weeks.

All PD patients were given eight weeks off to assess treatment efficacy. Brain scans showed increased mitochondrial function. Post-treatment assessment of motor function showed increased walking cadences in the control group and a significant decrease in the placebo group. Scientists need larger group testing to verify the improvements noted during this study.

Conclusion

UCDA has been used for over 30 years and is considered safe. The results of the latest studies demonstrated safety with higher-dose regimens. Like most tests and studies, more is better to make definitive statements regarding the ability to delay, impede, or reverse PD symptoms.

Live Long & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com