The problem is as you mentioned in a previous post, that sham surgery can result in an increase in dopamine secretion. Since in PD there is dopamine depletion, the placebo response in PD is not "no treatment". Its powerful enough that Barry Snow says he has sen it detected in the PET scans of other sham surgery patients in previous PD studies. But its not a durable response.
So while at 6 months the science says there is no statistical difference in this study, following the patients for long enough that the placebo response wanes could reveal a different outcome. We need to be patient enough to really be confident in the results.
LCT Price at posting:
3.3¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held
