Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Multiple alterations to a class of fat (lipid) molecules called glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are observed in the blood of people with Parkinson’s disease compared with those without the disease, according to a recent study. These changes, some of which are linked to Parkinson’s symptoms such as motor and cognitive…

Women with Parkinson’s disease experience more and worse pain than men with the neurodegenerative condition, according to a new study that highlights sex differences in the prevalence and severity of these symptoms. Chronic pain, pain related to motor symptom fluctuations, mouth/face (oro-facial) pain, and discoloration/swelling were all more prevalent…

More co-existing health conditions in people with Parkinson’s disease is associated with a greater self-perception of stigma and a lower quality of life, a study has found. Thyroid disease, depression and anxiety each were linked to stigma and life quality, with demographic factors — including a younger age, less education…

Researchers have identified distinct changes to introns — a historically understudied component of genes — associated with the presence and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Learning more about these changes and the signaling pathways they impact may help in identifying biomarkers and treatment targets for the neurodegenerative disease, the researchers…

Poor quality of sleep is linked to worse motor and nonmotor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease, a study has found. Greater deviations from an estimated ideal bedtime, time in bed, and duration of sleep are linked to more severe symptoms, data show. “Sleep disorders have a significant effect…

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…