Dr. Alberto Espay is a Professor and Research Director of the Gardner Center for Parkinson’s disease at the University of Cincinnati. He has published over 300 research articles and 8 books on neurodegenerative diseases.

The models used to define certain neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s, have largely remained the same for over a century. We have come to know a lot about our model of the disease we call Parkinson’s, but next to nothing about each individual affected. And this is important when it comes to developing novel treatments.

If we can change this latter aspect, and start matching these therapies to people with the appropriate biology to benefit from them, then and only then can we achieve a first success in disease modification.

The TEDx talk is a starting point: it offers the option of rescuing the brain of people with Parkinson’s by replacing the proteins being consumed in the process of fighting the individualized cause.