Lindsey Shapiro, PhD,  science writer—

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…

Administration of tiny cargo-carrying vesicles called exosomes derived from human umbilical cord blood eased motor and cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent report. The exosomes were able to prevent neurodegeneration, promote nerve cell regeneration, and protect against dysregulated cellular processes implicated…

Researchers have identified a mechanism underlying an addiction-like psychiatric complication of levodopa treatment known as dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) in people with Parkinson’s disease in a recent preclinical study. In a mouse model, a DDS-like state was associated with abnormal activation of a certain population of nerve cells…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Turing Medical’s automated brain mapping technology designed to help doctors develop personalized plans for deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other neuromodulation therapies in people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Called Bullsai Identify, the platform uses artificial intelligence…

People with a history of damage to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, called the gastrointestinal mucosa, had an elevated risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in a recent U.S. study. “We found that a history of upper GI mucosal damage was associated with a 76% greater risk…

The gut microbiome of people with Parkinson’s disease exhibits substantial compositional and functional shifts relative to that of healthy individuals, with some of these changes linked to a faster progression of motor issues over time, according to a new study. “The [Parkinson’s disease] microbiome is functionally…

Researchers have developed a new mouse model that affects nerve cells in the eye that could help in studying disease mechanisms and treatment approaches in Parkinson’s disease. The mice are lacking the protein VPS35 in specific cells of the eye and developed protein deposits that contain alpha-synuclein, neurodegeneration, and…

A person’s body composition, like the ratio of fat to muscle mass, could influence their risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, according to a large database study in the U.K. Among the more than 400,000 middle-aged adults followed for years, higher levels of abdominal and…