US researchers have stated that gene therapy is successful in treating Parkinson's disease, as shown in clinical trials for the first time.
As part of the brain dies, slow movement, stiffness and shaking is caused by the illness.
In about 50 per cent of the patients, there were decreased symptoms due to a virus that was added genes to brain cells.
The study was welcomed by Parkinson's UK and also stated the need of more research was there.
As of now, in the UK, about 120,000 people are affected and all these are more than 50 years of age.
No cure is available for this but benefits are seen with deep brain stimulation and some drugs too.
A chemical called GABA is in reduced quantities in patients who suffer from Parkinson's disease in their brain.
GABA production was made to increase with a virus made by researchers that infects cells with a gene.
About 22 patients were given the virus that was put in their brains and sham surgery was given to about 23 people. Over six months, their motor function was scored
About 23.1 per cent improvement was seen among patients who had gene therapy and people who got the sham surgery did not see more than 12.7 per cent improvement.