Ana Pena, PhD,  —

Biomarkers of brain inflammation could provide a useful means for classifying Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients and defining the mechanisms underpinning each person’s disease. Testing for these biomarkers could support clinicians in providing precision medicine, by helping people with the progressive neurodegenerative disorders to choose treatments with a greater…

The first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 study testing NLY01, an investigational compound with a new mechanism of action designed to stall the progression of Parkinson’s disease. NLY01, being developed by Neuraly, could prevent nerve cell loss in the brain by stopping the…

Dizziness — including sensations of fainting, imbalance, and vertigo — is common among Parkinson’s patients and may be a potential non-motor symptom of early-stage disease possibly associated with cognitive decline, a study has found. Typically, dizziness episodes are short and frequent, lasting seconds to minutes and occurring several times…

Together with dying nerve cells, dormant neurons also may be at the root cause of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study in animal models. Reawakening these neurons by targeting a type of brain cells called astrocytes can restore dopamine production in the brain and reverse Parkinson’s…

A saliva test may help diagnose Parkinson’s and assess disease severity, according to a recent study. Biomarkers that reflect problems in the production of energy, with nerve cell messengers, and in gut microflora — each easily detected in saliva — may all contribute to the metabolic changes…

Not everyone’s brain connections map at exactly the same location, which may explain why deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy, used for severe cases of Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions, works for some patients and not for others, a study has found. The findings,”Integrative and Network-Specific Connectivity of the…

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans could be used to detect early and subtle markers of cognitive impairment in people with Parkinson’s, which may help predict patients’ prognoses and disease progression, a recent study suggests. Such early detection also allows people with the neurodegenerative disease to start…

Researchers have found new gene networks associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease, which may help them understand the underlying mechanisms of this neurodegenerative disorder and identify potential new therapeutic targets. The study, “The landscape of multiscale transcriptomic networks and key regulators in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in…

Earlier onset of disease, early impairment of memory and thinking, and higher daily use of antiparkinson medication, are associated with increased risk of death related to Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study that followed newly diagnosed patients for more than 10 years. Conversely, being male, the severity of…

Researchers have discovered a new enzyme that might aid in “putting the brakes” on Parkinson’s by inhibiting the LRRK2 pathway, known to play a critical role in this neurodegenerative disease. The findings are still at an early stage, but the team is already trying to find compounds that can…