Author Archives: Steve Bryson PhD

Transplanting human nerve cells into the brains of mice in a model of Parkinson’s disease to replace dopamine-producing cells — those lost in patients — improved the animals’ motor function over one year, a study demonstrated. But longer studies into the grafted cells and their ability to mature are…

Concentrated cranberry juice eased signs associated with Parkinson’s disease in a chemically induced rat model, but its long-term use at high dose may affect the survival of brain cells, a study suggests. Further research is needed to determine an optimal dose of a cranberry juice concentrate with neuroprotective properties,…

People with Parkinson’s disease recognized food odors in a test called Sniffin’ Sticks better than they recognize the smell of natural spices used in food, a study showed. They were less able to recognize smells than healthy individuals, but the work demonstrated that patients could identify selected scents. These…

No causal relationship was identified between Parkinson’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or its major subtypes, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, in a large-scale European genetic analysis. More research is needed to determine whether other types of intestinal inflammation or unknown inflammatory mediators contribute to developing Parkinson’s,…

Hand movements induced eyeblinks in a 70-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease, a case study reported for the first time. Although more studies are necessary, researchers suggest that eyeblink bursts induced by hand movements may be regarded as a potential hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The case study, “…

Variations in the gene that encodes for the vitamin D receptor were associated with the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease — and with side effects from common dopamine-related treatments, a Slovenian study showed. These findings may help identify people at risk of Parkinson’s as well as those at…

Damage to certain nerve fibers in the extremities, known as peripheral neuropathy, was evident in some people with Parkinson’s disease, including those at early disease stages, a study reported. Findings in this work, which used a sensitive electrophysiological device to examine nerves, also suggested that peripheral neuropathy was related…

Enrollment is complete in the Phase 2 study evaluating Neuraly‘s NLY01, an investigational disease-modifying agent designed to slow or stop Parkinson’s disease progression by protecting nerve cells and limiting neuroinflammation. Top-line results from the trial, which enrolled 255 people with early Parkinson’s at 60 sites in the U.S. and Canada,…

Telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic was perceived to be a good alternative to in-person healthcare appointments among people with Parkinson’s disease, according to an anonymous survey. Respondents said telehealth reduced travel, was more convenient, was suitable for follow-up appointments, and was preferred for speech-language pathology and mental health…

The QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has launched the Australian Parkinson’s Genetics Study (APGS), a large-scale research endeavor to identify genetic factors that influence the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. APGS aims to enroll 10,000 Australian residents, men or women ages 30 and older, who have been diagnosed…