Ultra-micronized Palmitoylethanolamide: An Efficacious Adjuvant Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Title:Ultra-micronized Palmitoylethanolamide: An Efficacious Adjuvant Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Volume: 16 Issue: 6

Author(s): Stefania Brotini*, Carlo Schievano and Leonello Guidi

Affiliation:

• Neurology Unit, - San Giuseppe Hospital - Viale Boccaccio - 55053 Empoli (FI),Italy

Keywords: Adjuvant therapy, motor and non motor symptoms, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, Parkinson's disease, ultra-micronized palmitoylethanolamide.

Abstract: Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the subject of intense efforts to develop strategies that slow down or stop disease progression and disability. Substantial evidence points to a prominent role for neuroinflammation in the underlying dopaminergic cell death. Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (um-PEA) is well-known for its ability to promote the resolution of neuroinflammation and exert neuroprotection. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of um-PEA as adjuvant therapy in patients with advanced PD.

Method: Thirty PD patients receiving levodopa were included in the study. The revised- Movement Disorder Society/Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) questionnaire was used to assess motor and non-motor symptoms. Clinical assessments were carried out before and after addition of um-PEA (600 mg). MDS-UPDRS questionnaire total score for parts I, II, III, and IV was analyzed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model, followed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate the difference of each item’s mean score between baseline and end of um-PEA treatment.

Results: Addition of um-PEA to PD patients receiving levodopa therapy elicited a significant and progressive reduction in the total MDS-UPDRS score (parts I, II, III and IV). For each item, the mean score difference between baseline and end of um-PEA treatment showed a significant reduction in most nonmotor and motor symptoms. The number of patients with symptoms at basal was reduced after one year of um-PEA treatment. None of the participants reported side effects attributable to the addition of um-PEA.

Conclusion: um-PEA slowed down disease progression and disability in PD patients, suggesting that um-PEA may be an efficacious adjuvant therapy for PD.

Cite this article as:

Brotini Stefania *, Schievano Carlo and Guidi Leonello , Ultra-micronized Palmitoylethanolamide: An Efficacious Adjuvant Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2017; 16 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527316666170321124949

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527316666170321124949	Print ISSN 1871-5273
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1996-3181