Steve Bryson, PhD, science writer —

Alterations in gut microorganisms found in the appendix of people with Parkinson’s disease were associated with elevated digestive bile acids that may play a role in disease development, a study has revealed. The discovery suggests targeting microbial-derived bile acids as a…

An extract from three plant species reduced signs of motor disturbances in rodent models of Parkinson’s disease and lessened the associated molecular defects of the cellular recycling process known as autophagy, a study showed.  Further research is needed to confirm that…

People with Parkinson’s disease with symptoms affecting one side of the body, who were treated with focused ultrasound targeting the affected brain region, showed an improvement in motor features after four months, a small study reported.  Side effects included involuntary movements, muscle weakness, speech problems,…

Later age at Parkinson’s disease onset is associated with high adherence to the MIND diet and benefits women more than three times as much as it does men, a study has shown.  In contrast, adherence to the Greek Mediterranean diet significantly correlates…

A smartphone application designed to measure and monitor the walking mobility of people with Parkinson’s disease captured a 44% decrease in daily activities during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, a study assessing the app reported. The lack of movement was due to confinement, not worsening disability, the…

Treatment with the antioxidant metal-alloy nanozyme reduced the build-up (aggregation) and transmission of disease-causing alpha-synuclein protein in the nerve cells and brains of a Parkinson’s disease mouse model, a study reported. Investigators believe these findings support further research to evaluate nanozymes as a Parkinson’s treatment.

Changes in how brainwaves synchronize, known to occur in people with Parkinson’s disease, originate from distinct nerve cell networks in multiple brain regions involved in motor control, a study found.  Applying electrical stimulation to correct the abnormally coupled brainwaves may benefit…

Visual hallucinations in people with Parkinson’s disease are associated with a thinning of the inner layers of the eye’s retina, an exploratory study reported.  Published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, the study was titled “…

Production of the protein TOM20 rescued nerve cells that are damaged in people with Parkinson’s disease due to the toxic buildup of alpha-synuclein protein, a study in rats revealed. According to researchers, the interaction between TOM20 and alpha-synuclein represents a potential…

Scientists have created a tomato enriched in levodopa, or L-DOPA, a standard therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease.  These tomatoes could represent a scalable, low-cost alternative L-DOPA source for Parkinson’s patients, particularly those in developing nations where treatment cost is prohibitive.