Inês Martins, PhD, managing science editor —

Disturbed sleep, like that due to sleep apnea, significantly associates with poorer cognition in Parkinson’s disease patients, particularly in the domains of attention, executive function, and memory, a study reported. The study, “Sleep Disturbances and Sleep Disordered Breathing Impair Cognitive Performance in Parkinson’s Disease,” was published…

Hidrox, a compound extracted from olives, can significantly ease Parkinson’s motor symptoms, reduce alpha synuclein buildup, and slow neurodegeneration in animal models of the disease, a recent study has found. Though Hidrox is known mostly for its antioxidant effects, its benefits in Parkinson’s went beyond a decline…

Astrocytes, the star-shaped cells that provide physical support for neurons in the brain, also appear to contribute to the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease, a recent study suggests. Compared with healthy astrocytes, those containing Parkinson’s mutations showed multiple hallmarks of the disease, including the presence of…

A high-resolution 3D model of the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) protein provides some hints as to how this molecule participates in Parkinson’s disease — and suggests ways to sidestep its abnormal behavior, a new study reported. In its active form, LRRK2 binds to structures of the cell’s…

The total amount of alpha-synuclein in certain fluids and tissues failed to accurately distinguish between people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy individuals, and cannot be used to help diagnose the disease earlier, a large study has now shown. According to the study, levels of this protein in the…

A group of brain-derived small molecule RNAs that can be measured in the blood may serve as biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a recent study suggests. The processes by which these molecules influence brain functions also were uncovered, providing additional information about the molecular players…

The severity of small vessel disease in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients is significantly associated with apathy, and may serves as a marker to predict its progression in these people, a recent study found. It might also be useful in distinguishing apathy from depression, which have…

The diets of people with Parkinson’s disease  mostly match those of the general population, but a large portion consume inadequate levels of vitamin D, vitamin B1, zinc, and iron, a Belgian study based on patient questionnaires and dietary pattern records found. Fewer than 20% of these…

The content of dreams, namely dreams with negative emotions, seems to significantly predict long-term cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s disease, a recent longitudinal study suggests. The association was independent of factors known to impact dream content and cognitive impairment in these patients, its researchers noted. The…

Infusions with plasma from young adults is safe and well tolerated in people with moderate Parkinson’s disease, and appear to result in rapid and sustained improvements in phonetic fluency and self-esteem, according to findings from a small Phase 1 trial. These results not only demonstrate the safety and benefits…