It is hoped that new breakthroughs in research into Parkinson's disease could lead to pharmaceutical labels being printed for better treatments for the condition.

A study carried out at Louisiana State University in the US has found that the Helicobacter pylori bacteria which causes stomach ulcers could also trigger Parkinson's.

Dr Traci Testerman and her team found that mice infected with strains of the bacteria went onto develop the degenerative disease within five months.

"Our findings suggest that H. pylori infection could play a significant role in the development of Parkinson's disease in humans," she told a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

Meanwhile, scientists at Oxford BioMedica told the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy that an injection of genes into the brain of Parkinson's sufferers could significantly reduce their symptoms.

Tests have shown that patients given the particular combination of genes saw up to a 61 per cent improvement in their condition.

Britain's estimated 120,000 Parkinson's sufferers may now be hoping to see pharmaceutical labels being created for these potential treatments soon.

Denny Bros Ltd, 23 May 2011