Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A compound that affects some of the same receptors in the brain as cannabis could help reduce dyskinesia — involuntary muscle movement — that develops following levodopa treatment in Parkinson’s disease, a new study done in mice suggests. The mice were treated with HU-308, an…

In Parkinson’s patients, the risk of falls increases depending on disease duration and having the postural instability/gait disturbance (PIDG) subtype, but is not signficantly correlated with non-motor symptoms, a study suggests. The study, titled “Falls in persons with Parkinson’s disease: Do non-motor symptoms matter as much…

Interactive sessions, including games that are intended to help elderly Parkinson’s patients learn strategies to avoid falling, are well-received, a small Brazilian study suggests. The study, “Gerontotechnology for fall prevention of the elderly with Parkinson,” was published recently in Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem.  Falling is a major…

Defects in chaperone proteins that interact with alpha-synuclein and work as a type of “molecular bodyguard” may help drive the formation of Lewy bodies, which are a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The findings were published in the journal Nature, in a study titled “Regulation of…

Changes in facial expression are limited by Parkinson’s disease, and people with PD also are less able than others to read emotions expressed through facial changes or shifts in eye gaze, a study suggests. Its researchers say this “impaired emotion recognition” may be related to problems patients have with social…

Implantable electrodes made of glassy carbon may be safer for use in MRI scans than traditional electrodes made of metal for people who undergo deep brain stimulation, a new study shows. The study, “Glassy carbon microelectrodes minimize induced voltages, mechanical vibrations, and artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging,” was…

A medical device worn in the ear can help people with Parkinson’s speak louder and more clearly, by working on a natural reflex that aids in overcoming difficulties with speech brought on by disease progression. Hypophonia is the tendency to speak softly, generally as a result of impaired coordination in…

Video games carefully designed to improve the upper limbs — including grip strength, dexterity, and coordination — may be a rehabilitation aid for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), a small study in patients suggests. The study, “Leap motion controlled video game-based therapy for upper limb rehabilitation in…

There currently is not enough data to support the use of fecal transplants as a treatment in Parkinson’s disease, a new review suggests. Published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, the review is titled “Faecal Transplantation, Pro- and Prebiotics in Parkinson’s Disease; Hope or Hype?”…

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…