Parkinson’s disease patients carrying the G2385R mutation in the LRRK2 gene, a known risk factor for the disease, show a slower worsening of tremors and less daytime sleepiness than those idiopathic Parkinson’s, whose disease has no identified cause, a study from China reports. The study also found that…
Neuron-supporting cells called astrocytes produce regular pulses of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that suppresses excessive brain activity, that appear to help maintain the body’s circadian rhythms and consistent sleep-wake cycles. That’s according to a study in mice. The findings, if confirmed in humans, may “help us to better understand…
A framework called the neuronal alpha-synuclein disease integrated staging system (NSD-ISS) to stage patients in the early stretch of Parkinson’s disease, or who have yet to manifest symptoms, can help predict how quickly they may progress to clinically meaningful milestones. In a study led by Tanya Simuni, MD,…
A small pump that’s worn as part of a teeth retainer can continuously release high daily doses of a paste formulation containing levodopa and carbidopa, easing motor symptoms for patients who need a steady supply of medication, such as those with advanced Parkinson’s disease, a study has found.
The first six Parkinson’s disease patients given the investigational stem cell-based therapy TED-A9 in a clinical trial showed safety and an easing in their symptoms over one year of follow-up, the company developing the treatment, S.Biomedics, reported. A total of 12 adults, all diagnosed with Parkinson’s…
People with Parkinson’s disease who have orthostatic hypotension — that’s where the blood pressure drops suddenly upon standing up from a sitting or lying position — appear more likely to develop heart and digestive problems, act out their dreams, and go through motor fluctuations, a study finds. These clinical…
While loss of dopamine is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, patients with tremor may actually have pools of dopamine in a specific region of the brain, a study by researchers at Champalimaud Foundation in Portugal found. The results could pave the way for targeted treatments to control shaking at…
Mice modeling Parkinson’s disease performed better on tests of memory and spatial recognition when given daily under-the-skin injections of PNA5, an experimental ProNeurogen therapy targeting cognitive symptoms — suggesting the treatment’s potential to slow cognitive decline in patients. In this preclinical study, researchers from the University of Arizona…
An upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial is due to test NEU-411, a brain-penetrant oral small molecule that Neuron23 is developing to slow the progression of Parkinson’s in people with early-stage disease who carry variations in the LRRK2 gene. The trial, called NEULARK (NCT06680830), is expected to…
People with Parkinson’s face risks during hospital stays, even when admitted for reasons other than the neurodegenerative disease itself, leading researchers to urge hospitals and health systems to adopt better practices, such as those recommended by the Parkinson’s Foundation. “Patients with Parkinson’s disease are at increased risk for…
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