Blood levels of various fat molecules — known as the lipid profile — in people with familial Parkinson’s disease caused by mutations in the GBA gene differ from those seen in people with sporadic Parkinson’s and healthy individuals, a study reported. These findings suggested that problems with lipid metabolism…
Digital health technology, which spans phone apps to telemedicine, is advancing Parkinson’s disease research and clinical care, according to different review studies. “Digital health technology is an important and promising field that is beginning to make a real tangible impact on persons with [Parkinson’s disease],” Anat Mirelman, PhD, a…
Virtual reality video gaming was helpful and useable as an exercise tool, and demonstrated positive patient satisfaction with no adverse effects among four people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, a case study reported. While previous studies have found limitations with using video games among “more fragile groups,” such…
Mirapex (pramipexole), an approved medication to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, reduced levels of immune proteins in the brain that are associated with inflammation, a rat model study reveals. The study, “Effect of Pramipexole on Inflammatory Response in Central Nervous System of Parkinson’s Disease…
People with Parkinson’s disease experienced significantly more pain during periods without levodopa therapy, a small study concluded. This finding suggests that the presence, or worsening, of pain could might alert doctors to the need to adjust or review current medication use in this patient population. The study, “…
Ineffective stimulation was the primary complaint among people with Parkinson’s disease who use a pacemaker-like device for deep brain stimulation (DBS), according to a 10-year analysis of a federal database that tracks reports of adverse events involving medical devices in the U.S. Battery-related problems, impedance issues, and infections…
A protein secreted by stem cells, known as pentraxin 3 (PTX3), promoted the repair of nerve cells damaged as a consequence of Parkinson’s disease in a mouse model, a study reported. These findings support further work into PTX3 as a potential therapy to slow or halt disease progression, its researchers noted.
Middle-aged and older autistic adults with no intellectual disabilities reported more prevalent Parkinson’s disease-like features — referred to as parkinsonism — compared with the general population, a study found. These findings provide important knowledge about aging disorders such as Parkinson’s among older people with autism spectrum disorder…
People who are gay, bisexual, or transgender with Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders can be reluctant to disclose their sexual or gender identities for fear of being denied treatment or enrollment in clinical trials, a study found. Research is limited into this growing patient group, and best practice guidelines…
The formation of toxic clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, was not affected by reducing levels of tau, a protein that also forms aggregates in both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, a mouse study suggested. These results imply that the role of tau in…
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