News

Some experimental therapies for Parkinson’s disease designed to improve the function of mitochondria may inadvertently damage them instead. That’s according to the study, “Putative PINK1/Parkin activators lower the threshold for mitophagy by sensitizing cells to mitochondrial stress,” which was published in Science Advances. Researchers said…

The Parkinson’s Foundation invites U.S. medical centers offering outstanding Parkinson’s disease clinical care and resources to join its Global Care Network as Centers of Excellence. Applications from academic medical centers in Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Washington will be given priority. Special consideration…

Brain damage in Parkinson’s disease may be driven in part by certain nerve cells working too hard, causing them to accrue damage and die. This suggests that treatments that reduce the activity of these cells may help slow the brain damage that drives the condition. That’s according to the…

Hemoglobin — a protein best known for carrying oxygen in the bloodstream — has an under-recognized role in protecting brain cells from damage, researchers found. Data from animal experiments showed that a treatment designed to boost the protective effects of hemoglobin in the brain may be an effective strategy for…

A roundtable in the U.S. capital, hosted by the Parkinson’s Foundation, is aiming to find new ways to improve access to healthcare providers and treatment, define inroads for innovation, and align stronger policies in Parkinson’s disease care by centering patient and caregiver voices in a nationwide planning session. The…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has awarded a $697,000 grant to a research project using preclinical models to study early Parkinson’s disease linked to mutations in the PINK1 gene. Cynthia Kelm-Nelson, PhD, a department of surgery senior scientist, will lead the three-year project…

A new study suggests that simple, targeted strategies, from using telehealth to standardizing patient referrals, could help more people with Parkinson’s disease get the specialized care they urgently need. With U.S. cases expected to double by 2040, researchers warn that existing healthcare inequities will worsen without immediate action. “Research…

People with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolism-related abnormalities — like a larger waist circumference, high blood sugar, and abnormal blood levels of fatty molecules — may have a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to the findings of a new study by an international team of researchers. Having…

Parkinson’s disease patients who receive donor-derived brain stem cell therapy may be able to avoid potent immunosuppressant drugs without showing signs of rejection, a study in Japan suggested. The Phase 1/2 trial (jRCT2090220384) tested transplants of dopamine-producing precursor cells made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — stem…

Noninvasively stimulating a nerve in the leg using Stimvia‘s URIS device is feasible, safe, and may help reduce motor symptoms and improve quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to new data from a pilot study. Indeed, among the small number of patients with tremor in…