Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

A modified form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide riboside (NR), taken as an oral supplement, increased levels of an energy production molecule in the brain and altered brain metabolism over one month in a small group of newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease patients, according to results of a Phase 1…

Finger tapping data from Parkinson’s patients using smartphone screens were linked with disease severity in a large-scale analysis that used standard assessment methods. Given that current Parkinson’s severity measurements are based on clinical observations by trained movement disorder specialists, these findings suggest that approaches such as finger tapping analyses…

In a final report on the Phase 2 AMBLED trial, scientists detailed the failure of Foliglurax (PTX002331) — once an investigational therapy for Parkinson’s disease — to significantly reduce some of the side effects associated with the long-term use of levodopa. “There was no evidence in this study…

A low daily dose of aripiprazole, an antipsychotic therapy, significantly eased hallucinations and delusions in people with Parkinson’s disease and psychosis treated in a small, open-label study. Because one-third of the trial’s participants discontinued treatment due to a worsening of disease symptoms, patients using aripiprazole should be monitored closely for tolerability,…

In an anonymous online survey, 11.3% of Norwegian adults with Parkinson’s disease revealed current or previous use of cannabis or a related product, with a high percentage reporting symptom relief. According to researchers, patients who use the medicinal drug from the marijuana plant — and those interested in trying…

Collecting finger tapping, voice, and walking data on a smartphone to be digitally processed by deep machine learning tools can accurately distinguish between people with and without Parkinson’s disease, a study of more than 7,000 people reported. This approach, known integrative digital biomarkers, may help to diagnose the disease…

The presence of levodopa-metabolizing bacteria in the intestines of adults using Duodopa (Duopa in the U.S.) to treat their Parkinson’s disease did not affect their blood levels of levodopa, a small study in Japan suggested. Rather, people on this levodopa-carbidopa formulation, administered directly into the small intestine, “can maintain a constant…

Although safe and fairly well tolerated, treatment with the over-the-counter supplement mannitol did not lessen symptoms in adults with Parkinson’s disease over 36 weeks, a small Phase 2a clinical trial concluded. Its researchers noted, however, that the study had too few patients to show a statistically significant impact on…

Sio Gene Therapies (Sio), formerly known as Axovant, intends to stop  development of AXO-Lenti-PD, an investigational gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Sio will return the global rights to develop and market the therapy to Oxford Biomedica, which licensed the treatment to Sio in 2018. The…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) encouraged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to expand healthcare access for veterans exposed to hazardous chemicals, and to better support research into service-connected Parkinson’s disease. Recently, the committee hosted a roundtable discussion about healthcare costs for veterans exposed…