Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

People with Parkinson’s disease who are lonely are more likely to have more severe symptoms and worse quality of life, a new study shows. The findings highlight the importance of social connection for people with Parkinson’s, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdowns. The study, “…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SpeechVive is making remote calibration software and training free for its medical device — also called SpeechVive — which aims to help people with Parkinson’s disease overcome speech problems. “Approximately 89% of people with Parkinson’s disease will have speech issues. Access…

Mutations in the gene TNEM4, previously associated with essential tremor, may also be a cause of Parkinson’s disease, at least in its early onset form, a study reported. However, this finding is only suggestive of a link and further research is necessary, its scientists said. The study, “…

The Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a study sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, is expanding to recruit more participants, the Foundation announced. Currently, the study (NCT04477785) is recruiting new participants — both with and without Parkinson’s disease — at Banner Research Institute in…

Mood problems have a greater impact on quality of life among Parkinson’s patients who have had the neurodegenerative disorder for a long time, compared with those who are earlier in their disease course, new findings show. The results were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, in the study, “Mood…

People with Parkinson’s disease who have higher levels of the protein kininogen-1 in the fluid surrounding their brains and spinal cord are more likely to experience early cognitive impairment, a new study suggests. The study, “Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Kininogen‐1 Indicate Early Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease,”…

Nanoparticles as transport agents have a potential to more effectively deliver medications to the brain, opening neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease to new treatments, a study suggested. But work is needed to further refine these particles, assuring their safety as well as their efficacy, its researchers wrote. The study,…

Most people with Parkinson’s disease have positive attitudes about telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, a small Japanese study reveals. The study, “Attitudes towards telemedicine of patients with Parkinson’s disease during the COVID‐19 pandemic,” was published in Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience. It was funded by…

A new wearable device could enable monitoring of motor symptoms as well as electrical activity of the brain, heart, and muscles in people with Parkinson’s disease. The device was described in the journal Sensors, in the study “A Multi-Sensor Wearable System for the Quantitative Assessment of…

People with young onset Parkinson’s disease have unique features that should be taken into account when providing care and conducting research, a recent review article highlights. The paper, “Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease: A Modern and Tailored Approach,” was published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s usually…