A medicine approved in the late 1970s to clear the respiratory tract and thin mucus can also cross the blood-brain barrier and possibly protect cells there from the damage seen in Parkinson’s disease, a small Phase 2 clinical trial has found. The study detailing these results, “Ambroxol for the Treatment…
A team of researchers at Purdue University won a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to advance the development of a synthetic neuron platform to support future studies into brain health and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Diseases like Parkinson’s progressively damage and kill nerve cells,…
A bioactive agent called baicalin prevented neurodegeneration of Parkinson’s disease in rats by protecting against oxidative stress and neuronal death, according to a recent study. The results, “Neuroprotective effect and mechanism of baicalin on Parkinson’s disease model induced by 6-OHDA,” were published recently in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease…
A Phase 1 clinical trial of MODAG Neuroscience Solutions’ lead candidate anle138b is now underway and recruiting healthy participants at its one site in Nottingham, England, to study the compound’s safety. The small molecule is being developed to treat multiple system atrophy (MSA), but holds the potential to…
Aspen Neuroscience, a new biotech company, has raised $6.5 million to develop cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease using patients’ own cells. The company was co-founded by renowned stem cell scientists Jeanne F. Loring, PhD, and Andres Bratt-Leal, PhD, and initially supported by Summit for Stem Cell, a…
Second-hand smoke may have a neuroprotective effect, as exposure to this type of indoor pollutant seems to be associated with a decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. Conversely, exposure to certain air pollutants — like nitrogen dioxide and ozone — might contribute to…
An experimental model of Parkinson’s in non-human primates leads to the accumulation of iron — known to contribute to the underlying causes of the disease — in a brain area linked to motor control. This metal accumulation can be detected using a neuroimaging technique called susceptibility-weighted imaging, according…
A small molecule that can protect the function of mitochondria — known as the powerhouses of cells — and prevent cell death can also prevent brain damage in a rodent stroke model, highlighting its potential as a possible therapeutic candidate for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, a study…
Tiny and traceable man-made crystals, known as quantum dots, may be useful in carrying toxins to select cells in the brain, allowing researchers to better understand Parkinson’s neurodegenerative processes by being able to model and visualize them, researchers in Canada report. Their study, “Quantum dot conjugated saporin activates…
Cooper concentrations are significantly affected in the blood serum of Parkinson’s patients, suggesting this metal metabolism could somewhat influence the mechanisms behind this neurodegenerative disorder, a study reports. The results, “Assessment of copper, iron, zinc and manganese status and speciation in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study,”…
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