<H1>All right, all right, all right, let's go</H1>

Early August,2017 - reports describe a small study of a drug that may benefit PwP. I don't know if we should get our hopes up, but the drug Exenatide, normally used to treat diabetes, may be the one we have been waiting for; a drug that slows the progress of PB. If true, it would be a dream come true but we all know our dreams can be elusive so here is the reality of the situation

1. Current drugs mask the symptoms of PD, but those pesky little brain cells keep on dying.
2. Currently, our futures don't look good because there ain't no cure for PD.
3. At University College London, 62 people were given either the drug, exenatide, or a placebo. After 48 weeks, guess what?
4. The placebo people continued to decline, but
5. people given the drug remained stable.
6. Three months after the research stopped, those who had been taking exenatide were still better off than the placebo group.
7. Things are looking up. As one researcher, Professor Foltynie said,"

   "This is the first clinical trial in actual patients with Parkinson's where there has been anything like this size of effect.

   "It gives us confidence exenatide is not just masking symptoms, it's doing something to the underlying disease. "We have to be excited and encouraged, but also cautious as we need to replicate these findings."

8. Calm yourself, the study was too small to ensure accurate outcomes. There needs to be far more subjects taking the drug for a longer period before there can be any assurance the drug can slow down or even stop the progress of our dark passenger
9. Don't despair, although the study had its limitations, the positive result of this small group warrants further study, i.e., bigger group, longer period. Personally, I am cautiously optimistic; however
10. Dr Brian Fiske, from the The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, said:

    "The results from the exenatide studies justify continued testing, but clinicians and patients are urged not to add exenatide to their regimens until more is known about their safety and impact on Parkinson's."

Okay, we get it. Might be good news; might not. Just do us one favour, get on with it. Find out if the drug is effective or ineffective or even harmful. We PwP have gone through too many trials and tribulations with respect to possible cures, clinical or natural, that only make some people, purveyors of "snake oil", rich.

Exenatide may be the magic bullet so, figure it out. Good or Bad News!??