Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

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…

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…