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

Exposure to Pesticides May Speed Symptom Progression

People with Parkinson’s disease who are exposed to a high level of certain pesticides may see their motor and non-motor symptoms progress faster compared with those who are not as exposed, a U.S. study found. Among the 10 pesticides whose high exposure was found to be associated with faster…

Blood Vesicles May Help ID Atypical Parkinsonism vs Parkinson’s

Blood levels of neuron-derived small vesicles containing alpha-synuclein and tau protein clumps — both linked to neurodegenerative disorders — can accurately distinguish between people with Parkinson’s disease and those with atypical parkinsonism, a study found. When isolated from the blood, these nerve cell vesicles may “provide a window…

Krill Oil Reduces Hallmarks of Parkinson’s Disease in Animal Model

Krill oil, which comes from a shrimp-like animal, protected dopamine-producing neurons from age-related degeneration and boosted neurologic processes dependent on the brain chemical messenger in a worm model of Parkinson’s disease, a study showed. The production of dopamine is gradually impaired in people with Parkinson’s due to the progressive…