José Lopes, PhD,  managing science editor—

Altered forms of the alpha-synuclein protein travel along the vagus nerve from the gut to the brain where they accumulate, according to a study in mice. It also suggests that blocking this transport could prevent the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The work lends support to theories that Parkinson’s begins…

Oral treatment with Accordion Pill-Carbidopa/Levodopa (AP-CD/LD) lessened the variability of levodopa plasma levels and eased motor fluctuations in people with advanced Parkinson’s, according to results of a Phase 2 trial. The study, “Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a novel formulation of carbidopa-levodopa (Accordion Pill®) in Parkinson’s disease”…

Blocking an enzyme that converts compounds derived from certain foods and tobacco in the brain may become a therapeutic target for people with Parkinson’s, according to a new study of mice. The research, “Mitochondria-targeted cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 is involved in monomethylamine-induced neuronal damage in mouse models,”…

Using ultrasound coupled with the intravenous injection of microbubbles lessened brain damage in a mouse model of early Parkinson’s and may provide a noninvasive way to successfully deliver therapies into the brains of people with the disease, a study reports. A clinical trial with Alzheimer’s disease patients has been…

Measuring the amount of alpha-synuclein in tiny vesicles collected from blood serum may help diagnose early Parkinson’s and identify patients with different types of this disease. The study with that finding, “Central Nervous System-Derived Exosomal Alpha-Synuclein in Serum May Be a Biomarker in Parkinson’s Disease,” was published…

Patients with bipolar disorder appear to have a nearly seven times higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life, according to a nationwide study in Taiwan. The study, “Bipolar disorder and risk of Parkinson disease: A nationwide longitudinal study,” was published in the journal…

Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — adult stem cells with regenerative effects — is safe and well-tolerated, and improves motor function in people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, according to early findings from an ongoing small study. The research, “Preliminary Report on the…

Crystals of the LRRK2 protein grown aboard the International Space Station could improve the understanding of Parkinson’s disease and help develop more effective therapies for this disease, according to researchers. Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson’s and result in…

Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a lower quality of life if their memory is impaired, according to a study that also revealed that MCI is associated with more severe attention and memory dysfunction in people with the disease. The study, “Mild…

Treatment with the experimental oral therapy ITI-214 was safe and well-tolerated in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, according to a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Trial findings also suggested that ITI-214 may ease motor symptoms in these patients. The study, “A Phase I/II Clinical…