Researchers say findings that diabetes drug lixisenatide can slow progression of motor symptoms could be exciting step forward

A drug similar to those used in “skinny jabs” could help to slow the progression of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, research suggests.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, more than 10 million people around the world are living with Parkinson’s – a condition in which nerve cells in the brain are lost over time causing problems with movement, balance and memory, among other effects.

Although treatments are available to help manage symptoms, there is no cure.

However, in recent years glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (or GLP-1R agonists) have caused excitement, with one such drug, a type 2 diabetes medication called exenatide, found to help slow the progression of motor symptoms in a small group of people with Parkinson’s.

Now researchers say another such drug, a type 2 diabetes medication called lixisenatide, appears to do the same, supporting the theory that Parkinson’s could be associated with insulin resistance in the brain.