News

A person’s genetic makeup may shape whether coffee consumption raises or lowers the risk of Parkinson’s disease, a study found. Drinking no more than four cups of coffee a day appeared to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s in people who carry a specific genetic version of the CYP1A2 gene, the…

A compound found in the psychedelic plant brew ayahuasca — originating from the Amazon rainforest — was shown to protect dopamine-producing nerve cells and ease movement problems in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. A new study by researchers in Spain found that the compound, called N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT),…

Bezisterim, an experimental oral small molecule that Biovie is developing for people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, is moving toward Phase 3 clinical testing, with the company requesting a meeting with U.S. regulators. The main goal of the end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to…

A new smartphone monitoring tool for people with Parkinson’s disease — designed for those who use an Apple Watch — can continuously measure tremor and involuntary movements, known as dyskinesia, which may help provide doctors with a more complete picture of a patient’s symptoms between clinic visits. The…

Dance-based programs for people with Parkinson’s disease have primarily focused on the effects of such interventions on motor problems, with nonmotor symptoms and cognitive changes receiving considerably less attention. That’s according to a new review of more than three dozen studies on dance in Parkinson’s, culled from a trio…

Veteran actors Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford are teaming up to help people better understand how to support a friend with Parkinson’s disease in a new awareness campaign from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). In a nearly two-minute video, the friends/coworkers —…

Disease-causing mutations in the LRRK2 gene may disrupt iron regulation and promote cell damage, potentially contributing to the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease, a study found. The findings suggest that abnormal LRRK2 protein activity may contribute to iron accumulation inside cells and promote oxidative stress and…

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has launched a Spanish-language microsite aimed at expanding access to information and support for Spanish-speaking people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. The new resource builds on existing website content on Parkinson’s symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, while…

A team of U.S. scientists has compiled a large data set of remotely collected data from people with and without Parkinson’s disease, which the scientists hope will serve as an important tool for developing strategies to diagnose the disorder remotely using artificial intelligence (AI). “By pairing task-derived behavioral features…

Hopledo (IPX203), an extended-release formulation of levodopa and carbidopa sold as Crexont in the U.S., has now won approval in the European Union as a treatment for adults with Parkinson’s disease who experience motor fluctuations despite medications. The decision, by the European Commission, was based in large part…