> The team will also look for clinical benefits. But because researchers grade Parkinson’s symptoms by observing patients performing specific tasks, assessments are largely subjective, and symptoms vary over time; everyone has good days and bad days, Sulzer says. Because the control group will not undergo surgery, it will be especially hard to rule out placebo effects.

> Yet Sulzer is giving studies like Benabid’s the benefit of the doubt. The absence of a clear mechanism isn’t a reason to dismiss the therapy, he says. “There are many things we don’t understand,” Sulzer says. “I am skeptical and also think it is an intriguing area of pursuit.”

That's a really difficult testing setup for sure, but Sulzer also demonstrates a really reasonable and commendable stance toward the results and interpretations--hope it works out.