Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

A Phase 1 trial will test the potential of ketamine — an analgesic medicine used for depression and pain — at reducing the uncontrollable, jerky movements that arise in Parkinson’s disease patients after long-term treatment with levopoda. Levodopa, probably the most common treatment for Parkinson’s disease, is effective at improving the stiffness…

A new chemical probe that binds to a protein called DJ-1 — a sensor of oxidative stress and a potential biomarker of Parkinson’s disease — may help researchers understand how the protein participates in disease progression, a study suggests. The study, “A chemical probe to monitor the parkinsonism-…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) recently held a summit to discuss the unmet needs and challenges for advancing therapies to slow down or halt Parkinson’s disease. The event, which took place in New York, was attended by representatives from 20 companies, a number of academic centers and research organizations, and…

A new tool called cardiopulmonary coupling could be used to effectively evaluate sleep quality in Parkinson’s disease patients, who often experience sleep disorders, according to a study. The study, “Assessment of sleep quality using cardiopulmonary coupling analysis in patients with Parkinson’s disease,” was published in Brain and Behavior.

The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center (PICC) and Axial Biotherapeutics have launched a partnership to develop interventions targeting gastrointestinal metabolites that may fuel the development of Parkinson’s disease. Previous work by Axial’s scientific co-founder Sarkis Mazmanian, PhD, has shown that the human gut microbiome — the natural collection of…

The majority of patients — eight of 10 — diagnosed with a brain disease for which there are available therapies remain untreated, according to data from the Value of Treatment study of the European Brain Council (EBC). That finding and more were shared and discussed recently at the 4th…

A new robotic system, called OSCANN Desk, uses eye movement to help diagnose Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. This non-invasive technology, developed by researchers at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain, and AURA Innovative Robotics Company, is in the phase of clinical trial authorized by the Spanish Agency of…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review its request to approve apomorphine sublingual film (APL-130277) as a quick-acting, oral treatment of the motor fluctuations, or off episodes, associated with Parkinson’s disease. Sunovion, which is developing the potential therapy, submitted a new drug application, or…

Psychosis and cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease may be linked to structural changes in the brain, namely a decrease in volume of an area that controls memory formation, a study suggests. The study, “Hippocampal subfield atrophy in patients with Parkinson’s disease and psychosis,” was published…

People who take certain immunosuppressants — medicines that dampen the immune system’s response — appear to have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, new research shows. These findings support a role for the immune system in Parkinson’s, potentially raise the possibility of developing treatments to alter disease progression, at…