A survey of people with Parkinson’s disease in Iran found significantly higher levels of anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic among them compared with the general population, a study reported. Patients’ anxiety was primarily driven by fears of contracting the virus as well as not having…
An oxygen-free (anaerobic) formulation of dopamine infused directly into the brain of monkeys with induced Parkinson’s safely improved both their motor and cognitive symptoms, according to a new study. These findings support a proof-of-concept clinical trial of this treatment approach, adapted to people with the disease.
Delivering a gene therapy directly to the substantia nigra, an area of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease, led to sustained protein production for up to eight years, a post-mortem of analysis of two patients revealed. The therapy’s use failed to show…
An important signaling pathway that helps protect brain cells from neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease is also required for sleep in fruit flies and zebrafish, according to a study. The findings support a link between sleep loss and neurodegenerative diseases.
Placing electrodes directly in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease revealed a “hyperdirect” pathway between two regions of the brain responsible for movement and cognition, a study reported. This pathway was shown to be important in being able to stop…
More than one-third of older people with Parkinson’s disease in long-term care who experienced therapy-related psychosis were prescribed antipsychotic medications considered inappropriate under current guidelines, a study found. Those with dementia or using antidepressants were more likely to be given these…
A blood test may be able to predict early cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’s disease by measuring the length of chromosomal telomeres (the “tips” of chromosomes) in immune cells and the presence of inflammatory markers, a study shows. The study, “…
A new potential target for treating Parkinson’s, a protein named Drp1, has been identified using a rat model of the disease, a study reported. The target was found to play a central role in the underlying cause of the degeneration and inflammation of nerve cells…
People with Parkinson’s disease reported a need for increased planning in their lives due to limited mobility and restrictions in everyday life caused by a decrease in their balance control, a study shows. Study participants described using specific movement and cognitive strategies as a consequence of…
Palliative care — focusing on physical, psychosocial and spiritual treatment — for people with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders (PDRD) led to a significantly better quality of life (QoL) than standard care alone, a study finds. Easing of both non-motor and motor symptom…
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