Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

The use of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications was linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease in women 65 and older, a U.S. study found. Using more than one of these medications, or changing medications over time also were significantly tied to a further increased risk, data showed. “Study findings…

Eight weeks of leg strength training failed to prevent sudden drops in blood pressure upon standing, a condition called orthostatic hypotension, in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a small pilot study. “Further controlled clinical trials with larger sample sizes and sufficient power are required to investigate the effect…

A protein called TMEM175 is critically important for maintaining the proper acidity of lysosomes — cellular compartments that clear waste — and its deficiency led to the buildup of the toxic protein alpha-synuclein in the brains of mice. That finding from a recent study may underlie the previously identified link…

Small-scale, or microstructural, brain alterations observed on the MRIs of people with Parkinson’s disease were associated with worse bimanual coordination, a type of complex movement, a study found. “[D]istinct changes in microstructure cause an impediment of structures involved in attention, working memory, executive function, motor planning, motor control, and…

Researchers have proposed a set of voice exercise games to help speech quality in people with Parkinson’s disease, which licensed speech therapists found to be a generally feasible, promising approach. If adopted in speech therapy routines, the games could motivate patients to practice more often at the home so…

A first study in patients of an intranasal-delivered  therapy for Parkinson’s disease is now complete, and early findings support the treatment being safe and leading to improvements in motor function, Zhittya Genesis Medical, the therapy’s developer, announced. Zhittya is offering a first look at the trial data via a…

The buildup of alpha-synuclein in cells and brain tissue in Parkinson’s disease patients is linked to the disruption of processes involved in degrading RNA, the template used for protein production, a study has found. The findings uncover a new biological role for the alpha-synuclein protein, its researchers said. “Our…

A clinical trial will evaluate how well a wearable “exoskeleton” device aids rehabilitation training to improve walking mechanics and neuromuscular function in people with Parkinson’s disease. “Findings linked with the proposed study will likely give substantial solutions to the management of gait and postural disorders (posture, balance, and gait) in [Parkinson’s]…

Inhibition of a DNA-destroying enzyme called PAAN protected against nerve cell death and lessened motor symptoms in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease, a study found. The findings overall demonstrate an important role for PAAN in Parkinson’s disease mechanisms and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting this enzyme as a…

Electroconductive hydrogels prevented the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells (neurons) and motor function when injected into the brain, a study in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease showed. The gels were also able to promote neuronal growth and prevent inflammation in cell cultures. “Our work is the first to…