Prostrate drug could slow Parkinson's, say scientists

A drug that can treat enlarged prostates may also slow the progress of Parkinson's disease, say scientists.

Terazosin, which can lessen the impact of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may also be able to prevent brain cell death caused by Parkinson’s.

Academics from the University of Iowa and the Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders say they can activate an enzyme called PGK1 in terazosin which might slow Parkinson's progression for the first time ever.

Findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation are based on analysis of the medical records of millions of US men with both BPH and Parkinson's. The study found patients taking the drug had less symptoms and slower progression of Alzheimer’s.

Lead researcher Dr Michael Welsh said: “I’m really excited about this finding because I think it has the opportunity to change the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease.

“Today we have zero treatments that change the progressive course of this neurodegenerative disease" added Dr Welsh, the director of the Pappajohn Biomedical Institute at the University of Iowa.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s and currently Parkinson's treatments can't slow or reverse the loss of neurons caused by the disease.

The study involved 2,880 Parkinson's patients taking terazosin or similar drugs that target PGK1 and a group of 15,409 Parkinson's patients taking a different treatment for BPH that had no action on PGK1.

Patients on the drugs targeting PGK1 showed less symptoms for Parkinson's disease and progression. The researchers believe more study in clinical trials is needed and they will start later this year.

An earlier study involved testing the drug on rats, which revealed nerve cell damage in the rodents seemed to slow.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is estimated to affect approximately six million people worldwide

Professor David Dexter from Parkinson's UK said: "These exciting results show that terazosin may have hidden potential for slowing the progression of Parkinson's, something that is desperately needed to help people live well for longer.

"While it is early days, both animal models and studies looking at people who already take the drug show promising signs that need to be investigated further."