Lindsey Shapiro, PhD,  science writer—

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…

The global advertising company Havas Creative has launched an application — called the Staybl app — that’s designed to make the use of digital devices easier for people, including Parkinson’s disease patients, who experience involuntary shaking known as tremors. The new Staybl app was developed in a collaboration…

Injecting acidic nanoparticles into mice in a model of Parkinson’s disease protected against nerve cell loss and restored the ability of lysosomes, cell compartments responsible for breaking down excess or damaged proteins, to work as they should, a research team reported. “Our results support lysosomal re-acidification as a disease-modifying strategy for…

Combining a 12-week program of virtual reality (VR) training and motor imagery exercises with standard physical therapy (PT) significantly lessened motor symptoms — including tremors, slow movements (bradykinesia), and postural instability — among people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. “To the best of our knowledge, this…

Early results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of oral SAGE-718 showed the investigative therapy’s use was associated with cognitive gains in people with mild impairment due to Parkinson’s disease. These findings were presented at the AD/PD 2022 Advances in Science & Therapy International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…

OccamzRazor has received $6.1 million in investments to support its artificial intelligence (AI)- based platform aimed at accelerating the identification of new therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease. With the technology, which uses AI to analyze data from many published sources, novel treatment targets can be identified and…