Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

People with physical frailty have a nearly twofold higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than those who aren’t frail, according to an analysis of 12-year data from a U.K. study. Being frail and carrying several genetic variants linked to Parkinson’s further enhanced the chances of developing the neurodegenerative disease…

Cure Parkinson’s and the Van Andel Institute (VAI) will continue to support a global program that seeks to develop disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson’s — to which the two donated $4.5 million in 2020. Now, the U.K. charity and the Michigan-based research institute have renewed their previous funding agreement…

Eating a tailored prebiotic fiber bar — meant to help nourish good bacteria in the gut — for 10 days boosted the abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria in the microbiome of people with Parkinson’s disease, a proof-of-concept clinical trial reported. These effects were associated with better intestinal health and protection…

Parkinson’s UK is continuing to support work into a wearable device — called Cue Band — aiming to lessen chronic sialorrhea, the excessive drooling that often accompanies Parkinson’s disease. Having helped with Cue Band’s early development, the nonprofit is funding a planned test of the device’s at-home use in up to…

Jotrol, Jupiter Neuroscience’s oral formulation of resveratrol, significantly improved muscle strength, motor coordination, and behavior in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, the company reported. “This research demonstrates the neuroprotectant abilities of Jotrol as a potential treatment to prevent onset and progression of PD [Parkinson’s] symptoms,” said Alison…

Insightec’s incision-free brain “surgery” technology — Exablate Neuro — leads to significant and sustained reductions in tremors, mobility problems, and other motor symptoms in advanced Parkinson’s disease patients with a fluctuating response to standard medications. That’s according to one-year data from a pivotal trial (NCT03319485) that tested the…

Women using a specific type of blood cholesterol-lowering medication, called lipophilic statins, for at least five years may have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to data from more than 70,000 women followed for 15 years in France. The results showed a dose-dependent effect, with lower Parkinson’s…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has awarded a second $500,000 grant to NRG Therapeutics supporting more research into its potential disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The new funding comes after the successful completion of a previous MJFF-funded project that set out to investigate how NRG’s small…

LisCure Biosciences is teaming up with Celltrion to identify and develop oral therapies targeting the gut microbiome — the population of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract —for people with Parkinson’s disease, the company announced. Under the collaboration, the South Korean companies aim to develop orally available live biotherapeutic…

IntelGenx has teamed up with a renowned neurologist at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden to conduct a clinical trial on Montelukast VersaFilm, its proprietary oral thin film formulation, in people with Parkinson’s disease. The multicenter trial, expected to start between July and September, will be led by Per Svenningsson,…