The variability and abundance of gut bacteria are associated with several early risk markers of Parkinson’s disease, particularly those related to motor impairments and constipation, study finds. Future studies investigating the impact of gut bacteria composition on the risk of Parkinson’s and on its early manifestations are…
High blood levels of uric acid, a powerful antioxidant, are linked to an increased risk of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in men with Parkinson’s disease, study finds. The study, “Sex-specific association of urate and levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the European Journal of…
When used as an add-on treatment to carbidopa-levodopa, Nourianz (istradefylline) reduced the duration of “off periods” — when symptoms are not adequately controlled — and increased the duration of “on periods” in Parkinson’s disease patients with and without pre-existing dyskinesia, a pooled analysis of several clinical trials…
Scientists have created a special matrix that allowed them to differentiate stem cells into nerve cells that, when transplanted into a rat model of Parkinson’s disease, eased the animals’ symptoms by replacing those nerve cells lost to the disease. This matrix is also able to stimulate differentiation of stem…
When used in combination with levodopa, Requip (ropinirole) patches result in greater improvements in motor function compared to placebo for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, a Phase 3 clinical trial has found. Trial findings also demonstrated the effectiveness of the new skin patch formulation was not inferior…
Scientists developed a new light-controlled tool that allows them to study the impact of mitochondrial damage in the live neurons of small transparent fish larvae, a study reports. By allowing researchers to understand the mechanisms by which mitochondrial damage affects neurons, the new tool may potentially be used to…
MeiraGTx is preparing to launch a new clinical trial of AAV-GAD, its investigational gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The company stated it is planning to file an investigational new drug (IND) application to obtain authorization to initiate the new trial testing the therapy in patients with…
Alcohol consumption does not seem to increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to data from a large European study. The study, “Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: Data from a Large Prospective European Cohort,” was published in the journal Movement Disorders. Although the…
Scientists have developed a new light-based deep brain stimulation method that when applied to neurons located in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) — a brain region involved in controlling movement — alleviated motor symptoms in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. The study detailing that research, “…
Special bioelectronic devices that can be placed inside a person to diagnose, monitor, and treat neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, may have taken a major step forward with the design of soft and flexible devices that are also biocompatible. Dion Khodagholy, PhD, assistant professor of…
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