Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

More than 30% of gut microbial species are found at abnormal numbers in Parkinson’s disease patients, according to a new analysis that assessed the gut microbiome in more detail than most prior studies. “We have shown that there is a widespread imbalance in the Parkinson’s [gut bacteria], creating an environment…

Pairing at-home healthcare visits with peer mentoring may help to prevent the strain of caregiving from worsening over time among people caring for homebound loved ones with advanced Parkinson’s disease, a study reported. “As the volume of family caregivers exponentially increases, peer mentoring — already a successful model in…

An experimental vaccine that stimulates immune responses against three regions of the alpha-synuclein protein — whose toxic clumps contribute to Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) — is moving into late-stage preclinical research aimed at supporting future requests to test it in clinical trials. Called PV-1950R,…

New machine learning models based on walking patterns accurately distinguished between Parkinson’s patients and healthy people, and between different stages of the disease, a study showed. “We chose gait parameters as the key criteria because gait impairments appear early in Parkinson’s and get worse over time, and also because…

A machine-learning tool that combines genetic and clinical data can distinguish, with a high level of accuracy, between fast- and slow-progressing Parkinson’s patients, a study reported. The tool could be used to predict those patients who are more likely to progress over the short term — and who could…

Variations in small, repetitive DNA sequences called short tandem repeats (STRs) are associated with an altered risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a new study reports. “We demonstrate for the first time that these complex repeat regions in fact influence a person’s risk of disease and chip away at understanding…

Transposable elements, a common feature in the so-called “dark genome,” are associated with clinical differences in how Parkinson’s disease progresses among different people, a new study indicates. “Our main finding is that the presence or absence of [transposable elements] changes progression trajectory of [Parkinson’s], and we provided clinical, imaging,…

In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease animals show signs of inflammation in the gut, and treatment with cell therapies that reduce this inflammation help to ease symptoms of Parkinson’s, according to a new study. These results suggest that inflammatory conditions in the gut may contribute to the development…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted NeuroOne Medical Technologies clearance to market its Evo stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) electrode technology for temporary use of less than 30 days. The device — previously cleared by the FDA for use of less than one day — is used to measure…

People with Parkinson’s disease have generally positive attitudes toward using therapies derived from human embryos, according to a new study based on interviews with patients in Sweden. The study, “Patients’ views on using human embryonic stem cells to treat Parkinson’s disease: an interview study,” was published in BMC Medical Ethics.