The Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario is donating $12,000 towards research being done at the University of Windsor.
Dr. Siyaram Pandey is a professor of biochemistry at the university. He's leading the research which is testing the effectiveness of a natural plant extract to guard against the symptoms of Parkinson's by protecting neurons from dying.
Pandey is hoping the plant extract — ashwagandha — will prove to be doubly effective when combined with Ubisol Q-10 which has been shown to block neurodegeneration in rats.
Pandey hopes to have results by this time next year.
"If it is good results, then we'll require an elaborate experiment, then we'll require bigger funding — as seed money it is fantastic," says Pandey. "It is not just the amount of dollars, but it is the passion behind the dollar. I see the people who work around and raise this money in hope that this research will lead to some better treatment."
University of Windsor Masters candidate Caleb Vegh is one of the students joining Dr. Pandey's research team thanks to the donation.
"Yeah I'm really excited," says Vegh. "This is the first time I've done work like this. I've just joined Pandey's lab just a few months ago and I'm already thrilled."
Parkinson's is a slow, progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is typically seen in people between 50 and 60 years old, but isn't uncommon to see people between 35 and 40 years old diagnosed. It's estimated 100,000 Canadians are affected by Parkinson's.