A region in the alpha-synuclein protein has been identified as a possible target for inhibiting the conversion of oligomers — early aggregates, or clumps, of the protein — into toxic fibrils, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. Mutations in this region are also associated with…
An adult with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, who is nearing age 50, will compete on the world stage this summer as a mixed-doubles rower at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Todd Vogt of Portland, Oregon, who was diagnosed in 2018 with early-onset Parkinson’s at age 43, will represent…
Aspen Neuroscience has been awarded an $8 million grant to advance the clinical development of ANPD001, its investigational stem cell therapy that’s designed to replace dopamine-producing nerve cells lost in Parkinson’s disease. The grant, funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), will support the ongoing Phase…
The protein CD163, which is involved in the immune response, may play a protective role in Parkinson’s, particularly in females, by regulating how immune cells react to the toxic clumps of alpha-synuclein protein that lead to the disease’s symptoms, a study in mice finds. The study, led by Marina…
A host of entertainers and other celebrities turned out for the 27th annual Power of Love gala to celebrate country music star Blake Shelton and support the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the event was presented by…
Participating in a weekly dance class may not only help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their mobility, but also can be an important source of joy that helps patients feel closer to their loved ones. That’s according to a new study from Sweden that investigated the impact of the…
The presence of sleep disorders in the earliest stages of Parkinson’s disease correlated with blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of neurodegeneration, in a study. “This finding underscores the potential of sleep disorders as a robust clinical indicator of neuronal degeneration, closely linked with PD [Parkinson’s…
Enhancing mechanisms associated with the degradation of misfolded proteins at the proteasome, that is, cellular structures where these proteins are degraded, may be a new therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. That’s according to a new study in fruit flies, where researchers found that the ZIP7 protein,…
Six years before world champion boxer Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his young daughter noticed he was slurring his speech. It was around the time of Ali’s heavyweight championship fight against Leon Spinks. “People thought he was ‘punch drunk’ from boxing,” the daughter, Maryum “May May” Ali,…
The first 25 patients have been enrolled in a Phase 3 trial that’s testing the light-based, at-home therapy device called Celeste for treating Parkinson’s disease, its developer PhotoPharmics has announced. The “Celeste Light for PD Trial” is evaluating the device’s safety and effectiveness at easing both motor…
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