Could a cough medicine help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease?

A large clinical trial will investigate whether the cough medicine ambroxol could slow the progression of Parkinson's disease by eliminating clumps of alpha-synuclein in the brain. The £5.5m ($7.7m) study will recruit 300 participants across 10-12 UK-based clinical centres and the last two years. The drug's impact will be measured based on its ability to slow the progression of the condition, using a scale that considers factors such as an individual’s movement ability and quality of life. Led by researchers at University College London, the study is being funded by UK charity Cure Parkinson's, in partnership with Van Andel Institute and the John Black Charitable Foundation.