Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A new test that can detect extremely small concentrations of clumped alpha-synuclein may help to detect Parkinson’s disease and related disorders in early stages. The test, reportedly able to spot single protein fibrils, was described in the study, “Toward the quantification of [alpha]-synuclein aggregates with digital…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Medtronic‘s Percept RC deep brain stimulation (DBS) system, clearing it for use to treat Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. DBS is a surgical procedure in which an electrode is implanted in the brain to provide electrical stimulation…

Scientists have created an implantable device that can provide electrical stimulation in the body without need for a battery. The new technology, which is powered by ultrasound, may serve as a useful platform to develop next-generation implantable devices to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The team described its…

A plant compound called afzelin lessened motor abnormalities in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. Afzelin, found in certain plants like some water lilies and trees, has been shown to have a variety of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, that might benefit people with…

A team led by scientists in the Netherlands is proposing a new screening strategy to test whether pesticides or other chemicals might increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease. “We are still largely in the dark about the safety of these substances. The current admission criteria for pesticides provide insufficient…

Throughout 2023, we at Parkinson’s News Today brought you coverage of the latest scientific advances and developments in treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Here we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most-read stories published this past year. We look forward to continuing to share more developments with you in…

American football players at the professional level may be more likely to have symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson’s disease, but the association remains inconclusive, a new study reports. The study, “Examination of parkinsonism in former elite American football players,” was published in Parkinsonism and Related…

Researchers have figured out a new way to predict how brain cells communicate, which may have important implications for how deep brain stimulation (DBS) — a Parkinson’s disease treatment that involves implanting a device to stimulate targeted regions of the brain — is delivered. The ultimate goal, according to…

Nuplazid (pimavanserin) outperformed a placebo at managing psychosis in people with Parkinson’s disease dementia in a Phase 3 clinical trial. This finding “supports the maintenance of antipsychotic efficacy and safety of [Nuplazid] in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia and psychosis,” the researchers wrote. Their study, “…

Scientists have developed a more efficient method for using stem cells to create new dopaminergic neurons, the dopamine-making nerve cells whose death and dysfunction causes Parkinson’s disease. The technique was detailed in Nature Communications, in the study, “Enhanced production of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from lineage-restricted human…