Marta Figueiredo, PhD, managing science editor —

Oral doses of silibinin — a plant compound sold as a dietary supplement — were found to lessen cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. It worked, according to researchers, by preventing neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, a brain region associated with cognitive function. These neuroprotective effects…

When choosing on-demand treatments for “off” episodes, individuals with Parkinson’s disease prefer those with lower out-of-pocket cost and an under-the-tongue (sublingual) mode of administration, according to a survey of 300 patients living in the U.S. Next in preferred features was faster onset, followed by longer duration of “on” periods. These…

The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, known as the VA, has added atypical Parkinsonism to the list of conditions presumptively associated with Agent Orange exposure during military service. That will make U.S. military veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange eligible for the VA’s disability compensation benefits. Atypical Parkinsonism…

The production of tau — a protein that forms toxic aggregates in Parkinson’s disease — in the brain is tightly regulated by a small, regulatory RNA molecule called MAPT-AS1, a study reports. Notably, increasing MAPT-AS1 production in the brains of mice significantly reduced tau levels, suggesting that similar approaches…

A mutant form of the alpha-synuclein protein — associated with early onset, severe familial Parkinson’s disease — recruits its normal version to propagate the toxic clumps that lead to neurodegeneration, a study in mice has found. The data, specific for the E46K mutant version of alpha-synuclein, suggest that…

Levels of a protein involved in the transport of brain signaling molecules in dopamine-producing neurons appear to be sex specific — higher in female than in male animal models and human cells — and to protect against age-related neurodegeneration, a study reported. Given that older age and male sex are risk factors for …

An experimental deep brain stimulation (DBS) system can continuously monitor brain activity in Parkinson’s disease patients as they go about their daily activities, with the information it produces used to adjust stimulation delivered by an implant device, the research team that developed it reported. “This is really the first…

Editor’s note: The Parkinson’s News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference.   UCB’s experimental oral therapy UCB0599 was generally well tolerated in people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease…

Editor’s note: The Parkinson’s News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the 2021 Virtual AAN Annual Meeting, April 17–22. Go here to read the latest stories from the conference. Long-term treatment with Duodopa (levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel) safely and effectively lessens motor and non-motor symptoms and improves quality of life…

An enzyme called AMPK drives the clearance of damaged mitochondria, each cell’s energy source, by rapidly promoting the initial activation of the parkin protein — whose deficiency is linked to early onset, hereditary Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. Parkin, which targets defective mitochondria for degradation, a process key to maintaining…