Author Archives: Marisa Wexler

A pilot study in Sweden shows the feasibility of testing how exercise benefits neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adjust and make new connections in response to stimuli or damage — in people with Parkinson’s disease, making a larger and more scientifically rigorous clinical trial possible. An ability to replicate…

A new microscope technology that allows real-time imaging of brain cell activity could have important applications in understanding the biology of the brain, and of brain diseases such as Parkinson’s. The technology was described in Nature Methods, in a study titled “Kilohertz two-photon fluorescence microscopy imaging…

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who live in rural areas of the United States face unique challenges, such as limited access to experts, according to a study that also suggests that technology could help overcome these obstacles. The study, “Considering Health Care Needs in a Rural…

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…