Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A calcium channel called Cav2.3 plays a role in neuronal death, and may be a useful therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease, suggests a new study done primarily in mice. The study, titled “Cav2.3 channels contribute to dopaminergic neuron loss in a model of Parkinson’s disease,” was published…

A new biosensor system may make it easier to monitor stem cells changing into mature cells like neurons, which could allow for a better understanding of diseases like Parkinson’s and support the development of new treatments. The system was described in the paper, “Dual-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Characterization of…

Studies on gut bacteria in Parkinson’s disease differ in their findings and important methodological details, according to a new review that highlights these differences and proposes strategies to mitigate them in the future. The study, titled “Increasing Comparability and Utility of Gut Microbiome Studies in Parkinson’s Disease:…

Parkinson’s disease may be classified by into two distinct subtypes based on where in the nervous system the disease starts, a study proposes. Its findings could have major implications for the development of new treatments. The paper, “Brain-First versus Gut-First Parkinson’s Disease: A Hypothesis,” was published in…

Exposure to pesticides, severe head injury with fainting, and consumption of soda, nuts and red meat appear to be risk factors for Parkinson’s disease among people in Cyprus, a Mediterranean island with an interesting genetic mix, a study suggests. Study results further suggest that smoking and…

Inappropriate antipsychotic medications — those approved for ills like schizophrenia but used to treat depression — given to elderly people with Parkinson’s disease increase their risk of pneumonia, a study suggests. The study, “Risk of pneumonia associated with atypical antipsychotic use in nursing home residents with Parkinson’s…

Parkinson’s UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK have teamed up to help fund a project that will test whether a “waste disposal system” in the brain could be exploited to help in the understanding and treatment of these diseases, Parkinson’s UK announced. The new project, which is expected to…

A particular signaling protein in the brain, called melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), was seen to help regulate impulse control in rats, a study reports. This finding may have implications for disorders where impulse behaviors manifest, from binge eating and drug addiction to Parkinson’s disease. The study, “Hypothalamus-hippocampus circuitry…

Both power and strength training can improve muscle performance in people with Parkinson’s disease, but these improvements may not translate to functional movement, a new study has found. The study, titled “Power vs strength training to improve muscular strength, power, balance and functional movement in individuals diagnosed…

A newly developed compound called CM101 helps to clear toxic proteins in the brains of mice, and could be a viable avenue for the treatment of some neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, researchers say. This finding was recently presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience,…