The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a consortium to support clinical studies designed to better understand the link between the gut and brain in Parkinson’s disease. The Gut-Brain Communication in Parkinson’s Disease Consortium is motivated by the fact that there are compelling data indicating that the gastrointestinal…
Researchers in China have identified three genes — GPX2, CR1, and ZNF556 — with increased activity in people with Parkinson’s disease that could play a role in its development. If validated in future studies, these genes could ultimately serve as disease biomarkers to facilitate Parkinson’s diagnoses. “Our study identifies…
The Parkinson’s disease therapy entacapone may disrupt the balance of microbes in the gut by starving them of iron, a study in healthy human fecal samples suggests. Supplementing patients with iron could prevent entacapone’s gastrointestinal side effects, but more research is needed to fully understand how the medication affects…
Researchers have developed a “double-hit” rat model of Parkinson’s disease wherein neurodegeneration is driven by both genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to toxins. The rats were genetically engineered to accumulate human alpha-synuclein protein in the brain like existing models, but were also injected with an inflammation-inducing toxin. The animals…
Among adults in the U.K., poor hand grip strength is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, especially among those who also have genetic risk factors for the neurodegenerative condition, according to a new report. Indeed, “compared with those with high [grip strength], low-[grip strength] individuals had…
Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to recent research. “These findings advocate for comprehensive management of MetS [metabolic syndrome] as a pivotal strategy…
Inbrain Neuroelectronics has raised $50 million in funding to continue developing its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology using ultra-thin graphene electrodes, designed for more personalized treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions. BCIs are implanted devices that can be used to decode and modulate brain activity.
Transplanting stem cells genetically engineered to have reduced activity of a faulty SNCA gene improved motor function and extended lifespan in a mouse model of SNCA-associated Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. “The results of this study suggest an innovative therapeutic approach that combines stem cell therapy and gene therapy…
Therapeutic nanocapsules designed to simultaneously increase dopamine levels and decrease neuroinflammation were able to improve motor and cognitive function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, a study found. The scientists who developed the nanodrug, which was also engineered to have enhanced brain delivery, said they believe that simultaneously…
Genetic variants found in the DNA of mitochondria, the cell compartments that produce energy, were associated with the severity of Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic condition seen in Gulf War veterans that’s associated with environmental toxin exposure, a study found. The research team, led by scientists at the…
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