Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

In people with Parkinson’s disease, patterns of brain atrophy over time are consistent with patterns of alpha-synuclein spreading through the brain, an imaging study in patients suggests. The study, “Regional changes of brain structure during progression of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease – A longitudinal study using deformation…

Deterioration in a small brain region called the locus coeruleus is associated with worse apathy and cognitive problems among people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. The study, “Locus Coeruleus Integrity from 7 T MRI Relates to Apathy and Cognition in Parkinsonian Disorders,” was published in …

Curcumin, an antioxidant naturally found in turmeric, was well tolerated by participants in a small Parkinson’s disease clinical trial. However, trial results did not show evidence that taking curcumin improved quality of life or eased symptoms for Parkinson’s patients. “Our study failed to show that curcumin can improve the…

More research is needed to develop models of how family caregiving tends to work in Parkinson’s disease and to test interventions aimed at offering support to caregivers. That’s the argument made by a pair of scientists in the study, “Nursing research in caregivers of people with Parkinson’s…

People with Parkinson’s disease who experience side effects from their medications are more likely to require a blood transfusion, a new analysis indicates. Digestive problems, particularly bleeding in the gut, also was associated with a higher likelihood of Parkinson’s patients needing a blood transfusion. “The findings of this study…

Nanoparticles that simultaneously deliver levodopa and curcumin, a potentially neuroprotective compound, directly to the brain may be “a promising novel therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease,” researchers in Brazil and France reported. The tiny particles created by these scientists might also help to overcome some of the drawbacks of current …

Two different types of rehabilitation-focused exercise programs — activity-based training and strength exercises — improved measures of dexterity and upper limb function in a small clinical trial of people with Parkinson’s disease. The study, “Effect of Activity-Based Training Versus Strengthening Exercises on Upper Extremity Functions in Parkinson’s Patients; A…

People with Parkinson’s disease who have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood are less likely to experience cognitive impairment or dementia, a new study suggests. The results provide support for future research to test whether vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of cognitive problems for Parkinson’s…

UB-312, an experimental vaccine targeting aggregated and toxic forms of alpha-synuclein to treat Parkinson’s disease, was generally well tolerated at multiple doses in a clinical trial in healthy adults. Study data also suggest that UB-312 prompted an immune response, as designed, against the alpha-synuclein protein. With two doses now selected…

Parkinson’s patients who have more severe motor symptoms are more likely to derive a benefit from high-cadence dynamic cycling, an analysis of two cycling studies indicates. Findings were in the study “Body Mass Index and Exercise Effort Influences Changes in Motor Symptoms After High-Cadence Dynamic Cycling in…