By Meredith Bauer-Mitchell and Eva Sailly

Highlights:

• UF/IFAS researchers launch study of velvet beans as a potential plant-based Parkinson’s disease treatment.
• The research addresses global access challenges to Parkinson’s disease medications by evaluating velvet bean cultivars globally to understand how genetics, environment and cultivation affect L‑DOPA production, with field trials underway in Central Florida.
• In collaboration with UF Health, scientists are also looking at more consumer-friendly plants to potentially boost L-DOPA levels in commonly eaten crops like fava beans and soybeans.

A major challenge with Parkinson’s disease is managing tremors. Typically, one way they are treated is by taking medications that increase dopamine.

But what if instead, the prescription could be a plate of beans?

To read more, please visit UF News.

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