Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

AlphaSyn-SAA test accurately detects Parkinson’s, study finds

A test called the alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay, or alphaSyn-SAA, can detect Parkinson’s disease with high accuracy, a new study reveals. The research was conducted as part of the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), an international study led by the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research…

Greater apathy, depression at diagnosis tied to cognitive decline

People with Parkinson’s disease facing anxiety, depression, apathy, and other mental health challenges when diagnosed are more likely to experience a decline in their cognitive abilities with disease progression, a study reported. “Considering the importance of cognitive dysfunction … it is critical to identify factors that could predict a…

Experimental therapies bind to Parkinson’s-associated proteins

AT-04 and AT-07, experimental therapies Attralus is developing to treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, are able to potently bind to several proteins that form toxic clumps in these conditions. That’s according to new data shared at the AD/PD 2023-International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and…

Long-term Anavex 2-73 reduced dementia, motor symptoms

One year of treatment with Anavex 2-73 (blarcamesine) safely led to a reduction in symptom severity for 20 people with Parkinson’s disease dementia in an extension study of the Phase 2 ANAVEX 2-73-PDD-001 trial. This finding was in sharp contrast with the worsening of symptoms observed in the months that…

Blocking synuclein nitrase eases paralysis in mouse study

Blocking the activity of the synuclein nitrase enzyme reduced the levels of toxic clumps of the alpha-synuclein protein and lessened paralysis in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease, according to new data from Nitrase Therapeutics. Formation of toxic aggregates of alpha-synuclein is a hallmark of Parkinson’s and “has been…