People with chronic kidney disease, a condition characterized by a progressive loss of kidney function, have alpha-synuclein protein deposits in their kidneys, a study in China has found. Alpha-synuclein is a key marker of Parkinson’s disease, suggesting a possible link between kidney function and the neurodegenerative condition. “These findings are…
A large proportion of people with Parkinson’s disease struggle with sleep problems, including issues with falling asleep or maintaining uninterrupted sleep, according to a large study out of Maynooth University in Ireland. Certain factors, such as being male or receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis at a younger age, may…
The U.S. Department of Defense has granted $4 million in funding to support an investigation by U.S. researchers into the underlying factors contributing to the increased risk of Parkinson’s disease in people who experience sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD. The focus for the researchers is…
Despite an accuracy rate of 91% in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease, misdiagnoses still occur in the clinic, particularly with Lewy body dementia being mistaken for Parkinson’s — the two share some symptoms — or people with Parkinson’s being incorrectly told they have Alzheimer’s disease, researchers report. “The findings of…
A dopamine transporter scan — an exam that visualizes dopaminergic neurons, the nerve cells that are affected in Parkinson’s disease — may help in predicting which patients are at risk of aspiration, when food or liquid enters the lungs instead of the stomach. Dysphagia, which happens when Parkinson’s…
Parkinson’s disease patients saw an average increase of more than four hours in the duration of their symptom control, without the presence of dyskinesia, with a consistent supply of A-dopamine directly to their brain, according to a small Phase 1/2 clinical study. DIVE-I (NCT04332276)Â tested how safe A-dopamine, a…
Biotin (vitamin B7) supplementation may offer protection against manganese-induced brain cell damage, according to a recent study. Manganese is a naturally occurring metal that can cause manganism, a condition characterized by parkinsonism-like symptoms, such as tremors and cognitive issues. In the study led by Souvarish Sarkar, PhD, an assistant…
Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. are developing brain implants using small clusters of lab-grown cells in combination with electrical impulses to rebuild brain circuits worn down in Parkinson’s disease. “Our ultimate goal is to create precise brain therapies that can restore normal brain function in…
Levels of a retrovirus that entered the human genome via infections millions of years ago — an endogenous retrovirus called HERV-K that is still part of a person’s DNA — were lower in people with Parkinson’s disease and linked to more severe symptoms and longer disease duration, a study…
Aging microglia, the immune cells of the brain that protect it by fighting infections and clearing debris, may mount a weaker immune response than younger microglia, according to a study that used lab-grown cells collected from mouse pups. Although both young and old microglia react to inflammation, they appear to…
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