Ana de Barros, PhD,  managing science editor—

The incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and parkinsonism increased significantly in the 30 years from 1976 to 2005, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Neurology titled “Time Trends in the Incidence of Parkinson Disease.” Researchers say the trend was particularly strong in men…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) announced it has set aside a $2 million prize for the development of a PET tracer capable of visualizing the protein alpha-synuclein, the main therapeutic target and biomarker candidate in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. Announced at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging…

The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF) has announced research investments of $4 million for early career scientists addressing Parkinson’s disease (PD). The foundation’s increased investment in early-career scientists is showcased through its new Stanley Fahn Junior Faculty Awards, a program named after PDF’s longtime scientific director. The awards provide…

One of the main topics discussed at the 2nd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Copenhagen, Denmark, focused on early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to Prof. Günther Deuschl of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel and the president of the EAN, “new, neuroprotective or disease-modifying…

Addex Therapeutics recently published the results of the company’s Phase 2 trial of its drug candidate dipraglurant in patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD-LID). The manuscript, “A Phase 2A Trial of the Novel mGluR5-Negative Allosteric Modulator Dipraglurant for Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease,” was published…

Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) has recently joined a Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) effort by agreeing to collect induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from 85 people in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). The project, ‘Golub Capital iPSC PPMI Sub-study’, is sponsored by Golub Capital and run by…

PhotoPharmics, Inc. is currently conducting a pivotal study to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of specialized phototherapy for the treatment of  Parkinson’s disease (PD). Accumulating evidence shows that the eyes are involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease, since PD patients have damaged retinal dopamine neurons. Recent discoveries…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has announced the start of the Tour de Fox 2016 Series. The summer cycling events in Canada and the U.S., invite cyclists of all ages and abilities to check bike tires, grab helmets, and take on the challenge of helping find a…

Senior Helpers has launched its Parkinson’s Care Program, developed together with specialists from the National Parkinson Foundation’s Center of Excellence, to provide caregivers the specialized training and certification needed to create individualized care plans for people with Parkinson’s disease. “Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder that affects nearly one million…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for the first time a drug to treat the hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP). The drug, Nuplazid (pimavanserin), produced by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, had been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the FDA in 2014. “Today’s approval of NUPLAZID represents a…