Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

The more years of formal education that people with Parkinson’s disease have, the better they seem to respond to deep-brain stimulation — as seen in a greater ability to “dual-task,” or engage in higher-level thought while walking, a study suggests. “Education level affects dual-task gait after deep…

A planned Phase 2 clinical trial will assess the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol (CBD) in treating Parkinson’s-related psychosis. The trial was announced by Parkinson’s UK, which is investing £1.2 million (roughly $1.5 million) to support the study, due to begin enrolling patients in 2020. Psychosis…

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has awarded a five-year, $20 million grant to researchers looking for a way to image misfolded proteins in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, which could greatly advance diagnosis and disease monitoring. Parkinson’s disease is thought…

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is more common among males, but it tends to progress faster in females. This and other sex-based differences in the neurodegenerative disease were highlighted in a recent review, titled “Parkinson’s Disease in Women and Men: What’s the Difference?” and published in the…

Electronically monitoring Parkinson’s symptoms as people go about their day is a feasible way of collecting clinically relevant data, a proof-of-concept study shows. Titled “Monitoring Parkinson’s disease symptoms during daily life: a feasibility study,” the study was published in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease.  Currently, most healthcare…

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, of the National Institute of Health (NIH), has awarded a large grant to researchers who are seeking to understand the molecular structure of toxic proteins that drive brain disorders. Irregular clumps of certain proteins are thought to be the…

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to three companies that sell cannabis-based products containing cannabidiol (CBD), cautioning them that making unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of CBD could lead to legal action. The agency “urges the companies to review all claims made for their…

Trouble sleeping is incredibly frequent among people with Parkinson’s disease in Ethiopia, a new study suggests. Titled “Prevalence of sleep disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients in two neurology referral hospitals in Ethiopia,” the study was published in the journal BMC Neurology. Sleep disorders are common among…

A new Phase 3 clinical trial, called the “BouNDless study,” will soon compare continuous administration of ND0612 to oral immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa (CD/LD) in people with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing motor fluctuations, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA) announced. Both of the above-mentioned treatments work by increasing the level of…

PDGENEration, a new program offered through the Parkinson’s Foundation, will provide free genetic testing for people with Parkinson’s disease. Around 15% of Parkinson’s cases are thought to involve a significant genetic component — but genetic testing for the disease has not been common. “Mutations in several…