- Ropinirole is a medication already approved as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
- Researchers are now saying the drug may be an effective treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
- The Japanese scientists reached that conclusion after conducting a clinical trial involving 20 people being treated for ALS.
Ropinirole, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease, showed promise in delaying the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a
Researchers from Japan reached that conclusion after conducting a clinical trial to examine whether ropinirole could help people with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The researchers reported on 20 people receiving care at Keio University Hospital in Japan enrolled in the study. None of the participants carried genes that predisposed them to the condition. On average, they had lived with ALS for 18 months.
The trial was double-blind for the first 24 weeks, meaning the participants and doctors were unaware of who received ropinirole and who was getting a placebo. For the next 24 weeks, any participant who wanted to continue received ropinirole.
In the end, seven people receiving ropinirole and one person given placebo completed the entire trial regimen.
The researchers looked at several measures throughout the trial and for four weeks after treatment concluded.
The measurements included:
- Participants’ self-reported physical activity and ability to eat and drink independently.
- Activity data from wearable devices.
- Physician-measured changes in mobility, muscle strength, and lung function.
The researchers reported that participants who received ropinirole during both phases were more physically active than the placebo group. They also had slower rates of decline in mobility, muscle strength, and lung function and were more likely to survive.
Dr. Hideyuki Okano, a professor and the chair of the Department of Physiology at Keio University School of…
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