News

Weight loss within the first years of a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is linked to a faster decline in global cognitive function over time, a new study found. Conversely, early weight gain was associated with slower deterioration of attention and processing speed in these patients. The study results add to…

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 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…

With a $1.5 million grant, the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) continues to support Amydis in developing a non-invasive eye tracer that can be used to diagnose Parkinson’s disease in retinal tissue. The MJFF grant — the third given to the pharmaceutical company for this work — is being applied…

New scientific evidence supports a link between exposure to toxic environmental factors — pesticides, air pollutants, man-made materials, and more — to an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s. The evidence, which has spearheaded a new research area in neuroscience, was presented at the 147th Annual…

Using simulated images, researchers have developed a method that may allow them to quantify how much dopamine transporter — a protein that pumps the chemical messenger dopamine into cells — there is in brain regions linked to Parkinson’s disease. The method can glean information from a single-photon emission…

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…

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…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted NeuroOne Medical Technologies clearance to market its Evo stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) electrode technology for temporary use of less than 30 days. The device — previously cleared by the FDA for use of less than one day — is used to measure…

People with Parkinson’s disease have generally positive attitudes toward using therapies derived from human embryos, according to a new study based on interviews with patients in Sweden. The study, “Patients’ views on using human embryonic stem cells to treat Parkinson’s disease: an interview study,” was published in BMC Medical Ethics.