Parkinson’s Research Is Set Back by Failure of Fetal Cell Implants “A carefully controlled study that
tried to treat Parkinson’s disease
by implanting cells from aborted
fetuses into patients’ brains not only
failed to show an overall benefit but
also revealed a disastrous side effect,
scientists report.

In about 15 percent of patients, the cells apparently grew too well,
churning out so much of a chemical that controls movement that the
patients writhed and jerked uncontrollably.

The researchers say that while some patients have similar effects
from taking too high a dose of their Parkinson’s drug, in this case the
drugs did not cause the symptoms and there is no way to remove or
deactivate the transplanted cells.” Sad news; this technique had excited high hopes for Parkinson’s patients and their doctors, as well as those with other neurodegenerative conditions. New York Times