Joana Carvalho, PhD, managing science editor —

Joana holds a bachelor’s in biology, a Master of Science in evolutionary and developmental biology, and a PhD in biomedical sciences from Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Her work has been focused on the impact of non-canonical Wnt signaling in the collective behavior of endothelial cells — those that make up the lining of blood vessels — found in the umbilical cord of newborns. In addition to several research fellowships, she was awarded two Erasmus scholarships to conduct part of her studies in France.

Articles by Joana Carvalho

Caffeine Plus Coffee Compound Linked to Serotonin Help Protect Brain from Toxic Damage, Mouse Study Says

Two compounds found in coffee — caffeine and EHT, a fatty acid molecule derived from serotonin — work together to protect the brain from damage induced by alpha-synuclein, a study in mice reported. The study, “Synergistic neuroprotection by coffee components eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide and caffeine in models of Parkinson’s disease and…

Chinese Herbal Medicine Can Ease Brain Inflammation and Protect Neurons, Mice Study Reports

A concoction made from several Chinese herbal medicines helped reduce brain inflammation and promoted nerve cell survival in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, a study finds. The study, “Curative Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Chinese Optimized Yinxieling Formula in Models of Parkinson’s Disease,” was published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Treatment With AZD0328, Nicotine Loses Effectiveness as Parkinson’s Progresses, Study Shows

  AZD0328 and nicotine, two nicotinic receptor agonists, lose their effectiveness in treating involuntary muscle movements as a consequence of long-term levodopa treatment throughout the course of Parkinson’s disease, a mouse study finds. The study, “Dyskinesia and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels after long-term levodopa and nicotinic receptor agonist treatments in female mice…

Deterioration of Nerve Cell Structure Not the Main Cause of Early Parkinson’s Symptoms, Mouse Study Suggests

Although the structure of dopaminergic neurons gradually deteriorates before cell death, these alterations do not seem to account for the subtle impairments seen during the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, a mouse study has found. The study, “Progressively Disrupted Somatodendritic Morphology in Dopamine Neurons in a Mouse Parkinson’s…

Lack of Research and Way of Measuring Visual Hallucinations in Parkinson’s Hinders Its Treatment, Study Says

Research into the best ways of managing visual hallucinations in patients with Parkinson’s disease over the long term is severely limited and affecting treatment, a review study has found. In particular, the lack of a universal rating scale renders data interpretation and comparison between studies difficult. To overcome this limitation,…

Facial Expressions in Parkinson’s Patients Mirror Asymmetry Seen in Motor Symptoms, Study Says

Although no marked differences in the asymmetry of facial expressions distinguished Parkinson’s disease patients and healthy individuals in a study, patients most clearly expressed an emotional reaction on the side of the face corresponding to the side of the body less affected by Parkinson’s motor symptoms, a study found. Its researchers concluded patients’…