A compound formed by nerve cells as they break down cholesterol appears to be involved in the formation of toxic alpha-synuclein protein clumps in the brain — clumps, or aggregates, that are tied to Parkinson’s disease — making this byproduct a potential therapeutic target, a new study in patients…
Male and female mice show different responses to toxic alpha-synuclein clumps, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, with males experiencing faster and more aggressive neurodegeneration and females showing earlier brain damage before motor symptoms appear, a study has found. Understanding these sex differences could help develop better, more personalized…
A global team of researchers has identified the molecular switch in a protein complex that regulates how cellular waste disposal mechanisms clean up and recycle unwanted materials — like the toxic alpha-synuclein protein clumps, or aggregates, that drive the death of nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease, according to a…
Newronika plans to use the 13.6 million euros (about $14.3 million) raised in a funding round to support what could be a pivotal clinical trial of its adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS) system, designed to adjust treatment in real time to better control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease…
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…
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