Parkinson's cure: Daily pill could help prevent disease from developing

Following tests with mice and using cells from people with the condition, the news raises hopes for tens of thousands of people in Britain living with the disease.

Currently there is no cure for Parkinson's and all existing treatment is designed to relieve the symptoms.

In the UK, around 145,000 people are living with Parkinson's and it is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

Forecasts suggest that that between 2020 and 2030 the number of cases will rise by a fifth.

Biopharmaceutical company, Samsara Therapeutics has developed a treatment which looks at boosting a process known as “autophagy”.

Peter Hamley, chief scientific officer at Samsara Therapeutics, said the research has revealed that by boosting autophagy, the toxic protein is reduced and all movement and motor control is regained in the mice that were tested in the trial.

He said: “We think there is a chance of reversing [Parkinson's], although it's more likely that it would halt it.”

The company is hoping to launch its first human trial later this year which is expected to take place in Holland.

Following the trials, the drug would be on course to be released in around five or six years' time.

Hamley added: “At the moment there are no drugs which actually have an effect on the condition and the progression of it.”

He also suggested that in the future, there may be a potential to use autophagy to extend a person's healthy lifespan.

He said: “My view is, once we get a safe drug on the market that we know induces autophagy or other interesting longevity mechanisms, then we can see that applying that to people who don't have a disease, but I think that is a long way off.”

It comes as part of a wave of interest in science that could help people live better for longer.

Technology grandees including Amazon's Jeff Bezos, PayPal founder Peter Thiel and Google founder Larry Page all have invested in longevity companies.