The Dopamine Debate

This week we're doing something a little bit different on Movers & Shakers. We're joined in the pub by Dr Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein, a distinguished American cardiologist with a controversial idea: that Parkinson's might be caused by too much, rather than too little, dopamine. Sackner-Bernstein's ideas call into question the underlying assumptions of the condition and have been refuted by many of his colleagues. But the debate is worth having – not least as the opposition is eloquently represented by Dr Kit Wu – because it shows just how much we still don't understand about PD, dopamine, and the human brain.

Each week, Rory Cellan-Jones guides us between the laughs and moans in the pub. To read Rory's summary of this week's episode, click here.

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Guest Biographies

Dr Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein

Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein is an American physician. His research has ranged from cardiac care to the efficacy of drugs. He has undertaken research into the cause of Parkinson's Disease and his data has so far suggested that 'neurons that drive Parkinson's experience the disease as a state of dopamine excess - not deficiency, relevant because of potential for dopamine's break-down products causing neuronal toxicity.' Sackner-Bernstein has launched a company to test such a drug treatment strategy in Parkinson's. [Source: Wikipedia]

Dr Kit Wu

Dr. Kit Wu is a Consultant Neurologist practising at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and The Wellington Hospital (Platinum Medical Centre and Wellington Elstree). Specialising in Movement Disorders and General Neurology, Dr Wu manages a broad spectrum of neurological disorders including headaches, migraines, epilepsy, and peripheral neuropathy, and plays an integral role in the Parkinson's Disease Centre of Excellence at King's College Hospital. [Source: HCA]

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