Margarida Maia, PhD, science writer —

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

Alpha-synuclein prods neurons’ protein gain, causing them to die

Alpha-synuclein, the protein that builds up into toxic clumps in Parkinson’s disease, may trigger neurons (nerve cells) to increase their production of new proteins, ultimately causing them to die, according to a recent study. “Parkinson’s disease has major impacts on quality of life for patients, but also for their…

Low-dose fosgonimeton boosts cognition in dementia patients: Trial

Low-dose fosgonimeton (ATH-1017), an investigational small molecule, may have cognitive benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease-related dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies, according to recent data from a clinical trial. The small exploratory Phase 2 study, called SHAPE (NCT04831281), tested the safety and efficacy of fosgonimeton given once…

Cutting fossil fuels may save 5.1M lives per year, study finds

Phasing out fossil fuels could save an estimated 5.1 million lives each year worldwide by preventing deaths attributed to ambient air pollution, including those likely due to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, a study has found. Transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources is not only an effective intervention to…