Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Researchers at Michigan Technological University are developing a “smart” deep brain stimulation (DBS) system to treat Parkinson’s disease that’s automatically activated only when needed, making it more effective and energy-efficient. The researchers are using neuromorphic computing — an approach inspired by the structure and function of the human…

Inflammatory biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Parkinson’s disease patients with and without mutations in the GBA gene are at similar levels, and across all patients, higher levels of these markers associate with poorer cognition over time, a study found. TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory molecule, showed particular potential as a predictive…

Symbyx Neuro, Symbyx Biome’s red/infrared light therapy helmet, improves motor function in Parkinson’s disease, according to data from a small sham-controlled clinical trial. Parkinson’s “has historically been an intractable, neurodegenerative condition that typically declines with no improvements possible,” Wayne Markman, Symbyx‘s CEO, said in a company…

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $400,000 to an Augusta University (AU) neuroscientist to research a possible brain-gut connection in Parkinson’s disease. Danielle Mor, PhD, from the Medical College of Georgia at AU, will use the two-year Early-Investigator Research Award to explore whether Parkinson’s starts in the gut. Specifically,…

The Black and African American Connections to Parkinson’s Disease (BLAAC PD) study, a research effort to understand the genetic complexities of Parkinson’s disease among traditionally underrepresented people, has now expanded to six clinical sites. A better understanding of genetic variants associated with the neurological condition specific to this…

A mutation in the SH3GL2 gene that’s associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease contributes to a buildup of cellular debris in brain cells, a study discovered. According to researchers, that mutation was found to impair autophagy, an essential process by which cells recycle or breakdown components that…

Aptinyx’s investigational therapy NYX-458 failed to be superior to a placebo at improving cognitive function in people with dementia due to Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia in a Phase 2 clinical trial. These findings prompted the company to stop development work on NYX-458. “We are very disappointed…

People living in areas with high levels of an air pollutant called fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — whose sources include power plants, motorized vehicles, and fires — are at greater risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a U.S. study. “We found a nationwide association between Parkinson’s disease and air pollution…

Using a roundworm animal model, researchers identified a crucial mechanism for how signals from the environment can be combined with genetic susceptibility to influence the development of Parkinson’s disease. Mutations in the TNK2 gene, which have been reported in people with familial Parkinson’s, were found to lead to…

Certain regulators of protein balance are suppressed in people with sporadic Parkinson’s disease and in those with familial disease linked to G2019S, the most common disease-causing LRRK2 gene variant, according to a study of patient-derived skin cells. These findings suggest shared underlying mechanisms between both types of Parkinson’s,…