PhotoPharmics’s Spectramax light therapy reduces disease severity, lessens non-motor symptoms, and improves the quality of life of Parkinson’s patients, according to recent results of a controlled clinical study. The study,“Double-blind controlled trial of Spectramax™ light therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease patients on stable dopaminergic…
Biogen has presented data of its research programs evaluating potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, an atypical parkinsonian disorder (APD). The data were presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS), held Oct. 5-9, in Hong Kong, China. Parkinson’s disease…
Short-term supplementation of vitamin D in high doses may improve balance in people with Parkinson’s disease younger than 66, according to results of a Phase 2 pilot study. The study, “A randomized, controlled pilot study of the effects of vitamin D supplementation on balance in Parkinson’s…
Researchers may have discovered why certain tremors and asthma medications increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Their findings suggest they were caused by the underlying clinical indications that led physicians to prescribe these medications in the first place — tremors and smoking-related lung conditions — rather than the medications…
Telemedicine has the potential to become a critical component of healthcare in people with Parkinson’s disease, but larger studies are required to determine its role, a review study contends. The study, “Current perspectives on the role of telemedicine in the management of Parkinson’s disease,” was published in…
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can effectively reduce tremor in people with Parkinson’s disease, regardless of the brain region stimulated, according to a recent review study. The review, “STN vs. GPi deep brain stimulation for tremor suppression in Parkinson disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published in…
Low-frequency subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS), but not high-frequency STN-DBS, reduces freezing of gait in Parkinson’s patients while preserving their ability to simultaneously process motor and cognitive information, a recent study shows. The study, “Decreasing subthalamic deep brain stimulation frequency reverses cognitive interference during gait initiation in…
Communication difficulties are caused by motor and/or cognitive impairment in people with Parkinson’s disease, a review study highlights. An interdisciplinary approach to assess changes in patients’ daily communications may help detect and monitor motor and cognitive symptoms in this population. The review, “Communication impairment in Parkinson’s disease: Impact…
Nerve cell damage in a specific area of the brain impairs motor function and slows thought, both of which are symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a mouse study finds. The study, “Loss of glutamate signaling from the thalamus to dorsal striatum impairs motor function and slows the execution…
Neuropsychiatric symptoms, combined with levels of alpha-synuclein, can be used to distinguish dementia with Lewy bodies from Parkinson’s disease dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a study shows. The study, “Neuropsychiatric symptoms and α-Synuclein profile of patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s…
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