Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Many elderly people who do not have Parkinson’s disease nonetheless experience some Parkinson’s-like symptoms, especially slowness of movement, a new study from Sweden highlights. These symptoms, while reported to impact quality of life, typically are not enough to warrant a formal Parkinson’s diagnosis. Instead, they’re often referred to…

A novel machine learning tool, called CRANK-MS, was able to identify, with high accuracy, people who would go on to develop Parkinson’s disease, based on an analysis of blood molecules. The algorithm identified several molecules that may serve as early biomarkers of Parkinson’s. These findings show the potential of…

A high-intensity boxing program can be a safe way for people with Parkinson’s disease to exercise both mind and body, according to a new feasibility study. Nine of the 10 patients in the study reported less severe symptoms after taking part in the program for about four months.

Crowdsourcing — collecting data from large groups of individuals via the internet — could be used in clinical studies to assess the real-world effect of voice and speech therapy on voice quality in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. Researchers used crowdsourcing to evaluate speech samples…

Eurofarma and Dentsu Creative have teamed up to launch a new app that allows people with Parkinson’s disease to engage with social media by changing their facial expressions. The app’s goal is to give patients a fun and easy way to exercise their facial muscles. The idea…

PharmaTher Holdings has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking that ketamine be given fast-track designation as a potential treatment for dyskinesia, or uncontrolled movements, that occur as a side effect of levodopa being used by people with Parkinson’s disease. The fast-track designation is designed…

Abbvie is funding a clinical trial called PROSPECT to assess how clinical outcomes and disease burden change over time for people with Parkinson’s disease whose symptoms are not adequately controlled with available treatments. Interim data from the trial, presented at this year’s American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual…

An assay using skin biopsies, called the Syn-One Test, was able to detect the alpha-synuclein protein that characterizes Parkinson’s disease and like conditions in more than 90% of the patients enrolled in a clinical trial. “These results validate cutaneous [skin-based] alpha-synuclein as a reliable biomarker for Parkinson’s disease and…

People with Parkinson’s disease given deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the right side of the brain experienced fewer cognitive side effects following treatment compared with those who received the procedure to the left side of the brain, according to new findings from a…

People prescribed certain medications to treat asthma or high blood pressure are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, according to an analysis of healthcare data in Norway. The finding implies these therapies may have protective effects in Parkinson’s, which are currently being explored in preclinical models. Trond Riise, PhD,…