Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

People with Parkinson’s disease have less variability in their heart rate than adults of a similar age, and this difference can be detected with noninvasive, wearable sensors, according to a new study. Because lesser heart rate variability is associated with a greater disease risk, its researchers proposed that measuring…

An increase in a type of cellular damage called oxidative stress in certain brain regions may be the reason dementia develops in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a study in rat models. The study, “Investigating key factors underlying neurodegeneration linked to alpha-synuclein spread,” was published…

Although common, delirium often goes undocumented in the medical records of many Parkinson’s patients who experience the symptoms, results from a new study show, and those who have been diagnosed with delirium often lack instructions for future care. The study, “Documentation and Diagnosis of Delirium in Parkinson’s…

A novel method that involves looking for disease-associated alpha-synuclein inside of neuron-derived extracellular vesicles — packets of cellular cargo that are released by nerve cells in the brain, and can be isolated in a person’s blood — may help to diagnose and monitor the progression of Parkinson’s disease. A…

ABBV-951, AbbVie‘s experimental under-the-skin formulation of levodopa/carbidopa, was generally well-tolerated and increased average “on” time by more than three hours among people with Parkinson’s disease. Those results from a Phase 3 open-label clinical trial were shared at the 8th European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress in Vienna, Austria, in…

Among people with Parkinson’s disease, lower levels of a bacterial compound called butyrate in the gut are associated with more severe depression, a new study indicates. Results also revealed that altered butyrate levels in Parkinson’s patients are associated with epigenetic changes in these individuals’ cells. The study, “…

Among people with Parkinson’s undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS), those who receive stimulation in a certain brain region — the medial and ventral subthalmic nucleus — are more likely to develop a distressing side effect known as mania, a yearlong study in more than 100 DBS patients reported.

Analyses that estimate the length of a person’s vocal tract, which involves controlling muscles used in speech, could help to identify Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. “The standard clinical method for classifying parkinsonian voice is by perceptual evaluation, which however is subjective,” the researchers wrote. “Computerized voice analysis…

Inbrija, an approved treatment for “off” episodes of Parkinson’s disease, has now been launched in Germany. The medication is being sold in Germany by Esteve Pharmaceuticals under an agreement with its developer Acorda Therapeutics. In exchange for supply of the product, Acorda will receive a significant…

Two European pharma companies have teamed up to create a technology platform that will help people with Parkinson’s disease find the best time to take their medication and make personalized adjustments to their treatment schedules. Gerresheimer AG is partnering with Finnish MedTech start-up Adamant Health Oy on new…