Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Mental illness in people with Parkinson’s disease, more frequently found in female and older patients, appears to associate with more severe disease, a new study reports. Titled, “Comorbid Depression and Psychosis in Parkinson’s Disease: A Report of 62,783 Hospitalizations in the United States,” the study was published…

Mindfulness yoga seems to be better than conventional exercise at alleviating depression and anxiety in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The study with that finding, which was published in the journal JAMA Neurology, is titled, “Effects of Mindfulness Yoga vs Stretching and…

Women working in fields that include teaching, healthcare, and — especially — social work “defined broadly” may be at a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, a large observational study has found. The study, “Occupation and Parkinson disease in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study,” was published in…

Veterans of the Gulf War are not, as a whole, more likely to experience Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, a new study has found. However, veterans with Gulf War illness do appear to be at greater risk of these symptoms. The study, “Do Gulf War veterans with high levels…

The National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF) announced it will launch the first 3D cellular models of Parkinson’s disease, and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), to the International Space Station (ISS) to study the cells in low-gravity conditions. “This innovative approach to study has the potential to provide…

A new report describes two Indian men with Parkinson’s disease who experienced “creative awakenings” after they started being treated with levodopa. Appropriately titled, “A tale of two patients: Levodopa and creative awakening in Parkinson’s disease – A qualitative report,” the study was published in the Asian Journal…

A new study highlights some of the differences in perspective on disease management between people living with Parkinson’s disease and doctors treating them. The study looks at non-motor symptoms, method of medication delivery, and awareness of support services as places where doctors’ and patients’ perceptions don’t line up, and suggests…

Measuring how often a person spontaneously blinks could help predict motor changes in people with Parkinson’s disease being treated with levodopa, a study suggests. The study, “Using Spontaneous Eye-blink Rates to Predict the Motor Status of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease,” was published in the journal Internal…

Ballet practice may not improve balance and gait in people with Parkinson’s disease — at least not over the long term, a small study in patients engaged in dance for at least a year suggests, possibly contradicting earlier research reporting evidence of such benefits. But the work did find probable…

Yoga focused on mindfulness — a mental exercise focused on accepting oneself in the present — could lower anxiety and depression as well as motor impairment in people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, a study says. The study, “Effects of Mindfulness Yoga vs Stretching and Resistance…