Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

American football players at the professional level may be more likely to have symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson’s disease, but the association remains inconclusive, a new study reports. The study, “Examination of parkinsonism in former elite American football players,” was published in Parkinsonism and Related…

Researchers have figured out a new way to predict how brain cells communicate, which may have important implications for how deep brain stimulation (DBS) — a Parkinson’s disease treatment that involves implanting a device to stimulate targeted regions of the brain — is delivered. The ultimate goal, according to…

Nuplazid (pimavanserin) outperformed a placebo at managing psychosis in people with Parkinson’s disease dementia in a Phase 3 clinical trial. This finding “supports the maintenance of antipsychotic efficacy and safety of [Nuplazid] in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia and psychosis,” the researchers wrote. Their study, “…

Scientists have developed a more efficient method for using stem cells to create new dopaminergic neurons, the dopamine-making nerve cells whose death and dysfunction causes Parkinson’s disease. The technique was detailed in Nature Communications, in the study, “Enhanced production of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from lineage-restricted human…

The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given Mission Therapeutics clearance to launch a Phase 1 clinical trial testing MTX325, its experimental oral therapy for Parkinson’s disease. “The MHRA’s authorisation marks a major step forward in our mission to develop MTX325 as a disease-modifying therapy for…

Nanoplastics — very tiny particles found in the environment when plastic breaks down — that reach a person’s brain can increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease or its progression by prompting the protein alpha-synuclein to clump and turn toxic. “A recent study found that polystyrene plastic pollution, among a…

One month of a high-dose nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplement — thought to boost energy production in the body’s cells — was well-tolerated and eased motor symptoms among people with Parkinson’s disease in a small clinical trial. But the researchers caution that these results are preliminary, and note that data…

Scientists have developed a handheld device that can be used to measure levels of biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. “This portable diagnostic system would allow testing at-home and at point of care, like clinics and nursing homes, for neurodegenerative diseases globally,” Ratnesh Lal, PhD, said in…

When an advanced treatment for Parkinson’s disease such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) stops working, changing treatments or adding a new treatment often can help control disease symptoms, a new study reports. “Based on the results of our study, we can now make a clear recommendation for action. If…

ATH434, an experimental therapy that’s currently in clinical trials for a type of atypical parkinsonism known as multiple system atrophy (MSA), has antioxidant activities that may protect mitochondria and contribute to its therapeutic effects. Data supporting its actions were presented this month at the Society for Neuroscience in Washington,…