News

Trial data advance understanding of adaptive DBS in Parkinson’s

Nearly all people with Parkinson’s disease taking part in Medtronic‘s ADAPT-PD trial had symptom-related brain signals strong enough to trigger adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS), known for short as aDBS, according to early data. Among the findings: that results were similar regardless of disease severity or the location…

New method may identify younger people at risk for Parkinson’s

A new method for detecting toxic protein clumps of alpha-synuclein in skin cells may help diagnose Parkinson’s disease up to two decades before motor symptoms appear, according to a recent study. The novel technology combines super-resolution microscopy and advanced computational analysis to precisely map the protein clumps’ molecules…

Researchers discover how patients can get addicted to levodopa

Researchers have identified a mechanism underlying an addiction-like psychiatric complication of levodopa treatment known as dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) in people with Parkinson’s disease in a recent preclinical study. In a mouse model, a DDS-like state was associated with abnormal activation of a certain population of nerve cells…

COYA 302 combination therapy tames brain inflammation in mice

Subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, injections of COYA 302, a combination therapy in development by Coya Therapeutics, were found to reduce excessive inflammation and immune cell activation in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. These beneficial effects were observed in the nigrostriatal pathway, a brain circuit responsible for motor control,…

Large study: 1 in 5 patients have a family history of Parkinson’s

About 1 in 5 people with Parkinson’s disease in Italy have a family history of the disorder when the analysis extends beyond first-degree relatives to second- and third-degree relatives, a large-scale study has shown. First-degree relatives are comprise parents, siblings, and children. Second-degree relatives are aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren,…

Patients, families differ on views of Parkinson’s: Symptom survey

People with Parkinson’s disease see movement-related symptoms like walking, balance, and tremor as the most bothersome aspects of their disease, while family members are more concerned about physical impacts like mobility and psychosocial aspects like interpersonal interactions and independence, according to a large-scale international survey. At later stages…

Healthcare costs factor high in Parkinson’s economic burden

Healthcare services contribute to nearly half the total expenses associated with Parkinson’s disease, but the loss of productivity and the financial burden on patients and their families also have a substantial impact, a study shows. The study estimated the average annual cost per patient with Parkinson’s disease is about…

Study review highlights limits of levodopa effectiveness

Note: This story was updated Sept. 16, 2024, to correct that A-dopamine is a form of dopamine. Levodopa, a mainstay in treating Parkinson’s disease, isn’t always well absorbed by the brain or digestive tract, doesn’t last long in the body, and often loses effectiveness with age and disease…