Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

The way that cells in the nose sense scents is more complicated than previously thought, a study reports. A better understanding of this system could be important to interpreting better how the brain processes scents, and in understanding neurological diseases, like Parkinson’s, where loss of smell is a common early…

An inflammatory pathway that plays a key role in the proper removal of faulty cells during brain development could open new avenues for studying or treating neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s. The study, “AIM2 inflammasome surveillance of DNA damage shapes neurodevelopment,” was published in Nature. During…

Therapy given over the phone can help to lessen symptoms of depression in people with Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests. The study, “Telephone-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in Parkinson disease,” was published in Neurology. Although often thought of as a movement disorder, Parkinson’s non-motor…

People with Parkinson’s disease can face “hidden sorrows” during the COVID-19 pandemic, like increased stress and limits on physical activity, that could worsen their symptoms. But ways exist to mitigate these “less visible” threats of social distancing and other changes in daily routines. Indeed, the pandemic may facilitate wider…

A proposed system for classifying subtypes of Parkinson’s disease is strongly linked to disease duration and severity, a new study found. This suggests that the system’s proposed subtypes might actually reflect different stages of the disease, rather than distinct clinical subtypes. The study, “The role of disease…

Genetic differences influence the physical properties of the brain’s cerebral cortex and likely play a key role in cognition and risk of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, a new study has found. Titled “The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex,” the study was published in the…

Genetic elements that are able to “copy and paste” themselves into different sections of DNA help to control the development of neurons, a new study suggests. Understanding this process could have important implications for designing therapies for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The study, “Transdifferentiation of…

Compounds extracted from chia seeds could lower the inflammatory activity of brain immune cells, a study suggests. Although additional research is needed, these findings could have implications for patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. The study, “Neuroprotective effect from Salvia hispanica peptide fractions on…

People who have higher levels of vitamin B12 in their blood when they’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease may be less likely to develop dementia, a study suggests. The study, “Higher vitamin B12 level at Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is associated with lower risk of future dementia,” was…

Using an engineered sound-sensitive protein, researchers have developed neurons that can be activated by ultrasound. This could be useful in studying, and even developing therapies for, neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s. The study, “Sonogenetic Modulation of Cellular Activities Using an Engineered Auditory-Sensing Protein,” was published in Nano Letters.