Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

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…

Electrical implants in the spine can clear up feelings of lightheadedness upon standing — the result of a condition called orthostatic hypotension — in people with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, new research shows. Orthostatic hypotension refers to a sudden drop in blood pressure when a person moves from…

Treatment with GT-02287, an experimental oral therapy for Parkinson’s disease, corrected numerous damaging abnormalities associated with Parkinson’s in cell models, according to new data shared at a recent conference. “The data we presented at the Synuclein Meeting demonstrates further encouraging disease modifying potential for patients with Parkinson’s disease who currently…

A loss of social support due to the COVID-19 pandemic is tied to poorer mental health and more severe cognitive problems in people with Parkinson’s disease, a study based on a patient and caregiver survey reported. The study, “Impact of Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic on…

Markers of age in the retina — the layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball chiefly responsible for sensing light — can be used to predict the risk of future Parkinson’s disease, a new study indicates. The study, “Retinal age gap as a predictive…

ND0612, an investigational formulation of carbidopa/levodopa delivered continuously via a subcutaneous pump, was generally well-tolerated for more than four years of treatment in a Phase 2 clinical trial of Parkinson’s patients, new data show. Findings reveal that the vast majority of adverse events (side effects) reported in…

Over-expressing a fly gene called clueless (clu) can lessen mitochondrial defects in fruit fly models of Parkinson’s disease, a new study reveals. The results also showed that CLUH, the human equivalent of the fly clueless gene, has a similar function, which may pave the way toward new treatment approaches for…