A new study has found that a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease is able to safely slow the progression of an incurable form of motor neurone disease for over six months.
Some patients were more responsive to ropinirole treatment than others, according to the findings published in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Top Health Stories Today To test ropinirole's safety and effectiveness in patients with sporadic ALS, the team recruited 20 patients receiving care at Keio University Hospital.
To determine whether the drug was effective at slowing the progression of ALS, the researchers monitored several different measures throughout the trial and for four weeks after treatment concluded. They also showed slower rates of decline in mobility, muscle strength, and lung function, and they were more likely to survive.