Joana Fernandes, PhD,  —

Researchers at London’s Institute of Cancer Research have found that mutations in a Parkinson’s disease gene called PARK2 can be found in a third of all human cancers and play a role in helping cancer cells survive. The study “PARK2 Depletion Connects Energy and Oxidative Stress to PI3K/Akt Activation via PTEN S-Nitrosylation”…

Stimulating a specific type of brain neuron could restore movement in Parkinson’s disease longer than other approaches, a study in mice reports. The research, “Cell-Specific Pallidal Intervention Induces Long-Lasting Motor Recovery In Dopamine-Depleted Mice,” was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. A hallmark of Parkinson’s is loss of…

The stress hormone cortisol prevents dopaminergic neurons from dying by promoting the expression of parkin, a protein that is in short supply in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients, a study indicates. The research, “Hydrocortisone-Induced Parkin Prevents Dopaminergic Cell Death Via CREB Pathway In Parkinson’s Disease Model,” was published in…

Researchers have identified why patients with Parkinson’s disease gain weight after deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure performed to treat their neurological symptoms and help control their movements. They found that, after this procedure, patients have an increased desire for food and an increase in impulsiveness, which leads to…

Acorda Therapeutics, which recently announced a corporate restructuring, will focus on the late-stage development of its two therapies for Parkinson’s disease, CVT-301 and tozadenant. The news comes after a March 31 ruling by the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, invalidated four Acorda patents related to multiple sclerosis therapy Ampyra. Acorda, based in…

Researchers have discovered a way to transform certain brain cells into the neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter whose loss is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The findings could pave the way for a therapy that stops the disease’s progression by replacing lost or damaged dopamine-producing, or dopaminergic, neurons. The study, “…

Anavex Life Sciences therapies reversed Alzheimer’s-related cognitive deficits in mice and improved processes connected with the disease, according to presentations at an international conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The presentations at the 13th International Conference on Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases dealt with the experimental treatments Anavex 2-73, Anavex 3-71, and Anavex…

Herantis Pharma will conduct a Phase 1-2 clinical trial in Sweden to investigate whether its experimental drug CDNF can help Parkinson’s disease patients. The announcement came after the Medicines Agency of Sweden authorized the trial. Recruitment of the 18 patients for the trial will begin in the first half…

Hepatitis B and C patients are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD) than people without hepatitis, according to a British study, “Viral hepatitis and Parkinson disease,” that appeared in the journal Neurology. Hepatitis is a chronic liver inflammation usually triggered by viral infection. Hepatitis B and C are spread…

Treating Parkinson’s disease with CVT-301 — an investigational, inhaled levodopa — causes no changes in lung function, according to results of two clinical trials led by Acorda Therapeutics of Ardsley, New York. Acorda is developing CVT-301 to treat “off” episodes in Parkinson’s patients who are taking oral carbidopa/levodopa. The inhaled formulation delivers a precise…