Lindsey Shapiro, PhD,  science writer—

A prior COVID-19 infection in mice increased their susceptibility to nerve cell loss caused by MPTP, a neurotoxin known to cause symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The findings suggest that while COVID-19 alone likely does not cause Parkinson’s, it may make nerve cells more sensitive…

A group of cells in the hypothalamus, a specific brain region, are responsible for stimulating the production of adult-born nerve cells, or neurons, in another region called the hippocampus. Activating these new nerve cells leads to better memory performance in mice, a study reported. These findings suggest that stimulating the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upheld its decision that the Evo stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) electrode, designed to monitor brain activity in people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions in a minimally invasive way, cannot be marketed for long-term use until more safety data is provided. Last…

Gait variability, or changes in stride while walking that associate with a greater risk of falls in people with Parkinson’s disease, significantly eased with patients’ use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) but not dopamine-increasing medications, a study showed. “We found that … DBS reduced step-to-step variability in a range…

Olfactory hallucinations (OH), or phantom smells, were present in over 18% of people with Parkinson’s disease and were associated with the presence of other hallucination types, but not objective sense of smell, according to a recent study. The findings overall suggest that olfactory hallucinations are a more prevalent Parkinson’s…

A previously identified risk factor for the development of Parkinson’s disease  — indigestion — and two protective factors (exercise and caffeine consumption) are associated with the severity of symptoms after disease onset, a study has found. Caffeine use also was tied to a later age of disease onset. “Our…

Three-dimensional (3D) “BrainSpheres” made from human stem cells may be a promising new model for investigating the mechanisms that underlie Parkinson’s disease, a study has found. When treated with certain toxins, the spheres, which are composed of functional nerve and support cells, showed molecular changes similar to those observed…

WCG IRB will now serve as the institutional review board (IRB) for the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s (MJFF) ongoing Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) study, WCG announced. The PPMI study (NCT04477785), renamed PPMI 2.0 in July 2020, is a longitudinal, observational study of individuals with and without…

A research team in Canada is embarking on a project that will apply MRI to identify new biomarkers for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease and monitoring its progression over time. The potential findings may speed Parkinson’s diagnoses and help patients receive treatment sooner. Identifying easily recognizable MRI signatures of Parkinson’s could…

Diabetes and high blood sugar were associated with elevated levels of neurofilament light (NfL) — a biomarker of nerve cell damage — and worse cognitive function among people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. “Our study is the first to show that diabetes and [a measure of…