News

NYU Langone Health Joins Parkinson’s Progression Initiative

New York University Langone Health is collaborating with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, a research program aiming to contribute to disease diagnosis and treatment. Launched in 2010 by the Michael J. Fox Foundation and a group of academic researchers…

Trial of Stem Cell-derived Therapy for Parkinson’s to Open in Sweden

A request to launch a first Phase 1/2 clinical trial of a stem cell-based therapy in people with Parkinson’s disease has been approved by the Swedish Medical Products Agency. The therapy, called STEM-PD, consists of stem cell-derived dopamine-producing, or dopaminergic, neurons that are expected to replace the dopaminergic neurons that are…

Swallowing Difficulties Linked to Autonomic Nerve Dysfunction

Swallowing difficulties in people with Parkinson’s disease are associated with the dysfunction of nerves that supply the heart muscle as part of the autonomic, or involuntary, nervous system, a study revealed. The noninvasive method to measure this dysfunction, called cardiac MIBG scintigraphy, could help identify Parkinson’s patients who may…

Robotic Device Helps Diagnose, Treat Brain Diseases

Scientists in the United Kingdom have developed a robotic device to aid the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s. The device — a soft, flexible catheter and an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled robotic arm — could help neurosurgeons see deep brain structures and deliver treatments without damaging…

Gut Inflammation Helps Drive Disease, Mouse Study Indicates

In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease animals show signs of inflammation in the gut, and treatment with cell therapies that reduce this inflammation help to ease symptoms of Parkinson’s, according to a new study. These results suggest that inflammatory conditions in the gut may contribute to the development…