Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Brain cells called astrocytes behave differently under stressful conditions in humans as compared with mice, new research suggests. Because mice are a commonly used model for research in Parkinson’s disease, these “species-specific differences” could have important implications for how such research is done, according to a team of…

More than a third of people with Parkinson’s disease who are prescribed antipsychotics stop treatment within six months of starting, a new database analysis suggests. The data also indicate that rates of treatment discontinuation are lower with Nuplazid (pimavanserin) than with other antipsychotics. The findings were published in …

A program of jaw-related exercises, coupled with individualized advice for oral hygiene, can improve quality of life as it relates to oral health among people with Parkinson’s disease, a small study reported. The study,  “Effect of orofacial physiotherapeutic and hygiene interventions on oral health related quality…

People with Parkinson’s disease have lower-than-normal levels of certain fatty acids in their blood, which is not explained by dietary differences, a new study shows. The low levels of some of these fatty acids among Parkinson’s patients are associated with more severe motor symptoms, while high levels of…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has released a new guide that aims to help people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones make informed decisions about deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical treatment for the disorder’s motor symptoms. The 22-page guide, which is freely available online,…

In Parkinson’s disease, DNA that leaks out of mitochondria — small organelles that generate energy — leads to cell death and inflammation, according to a new study. The finding indicates that getting rid of this mitochondrial DNA could be a promising therapeutic strategy. The study, “Cytosolic dsDNA of…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected an application from Verily Life Sciences that sought to add a Parkinson’s disease symptom assessment tool to the company’s clinical research-focused smartwatch. In its response letter, the FDA said there was not enough evidence that the criteria evaluated…

The first patient has been dosed in a still-recruiting Phase 1 clinical trial testing DA01, an investigational cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. A separate Phase 1 trial of a potential gene therapy for Parkinson’s is also recruiting eligible patients in the U.S., according to a press release from…

The use of antipsychotics by people with early Parkinson’s disease (PD) has fallen substantially since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings about treating dementia with these medications, according to a database study of patients in Wales. Black-box warnings, which indicate a risk of death or serious…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Medtronic‘s SenSight Directional Lead System, which offers both sensing and directional capabilities allowing for more precise use of deep brain stimulation (DBS), a widely approved surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The first SenSight directional lead systems were implanted in a…