News

Multiple sleep difficulties common in people with early Parkinson’s

Most people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease have sleep disturbances, with many having more than one at the same time, a study in France suggests. Sleep disorders were mainly associated with body changes, including motor symptoms and problems regulating involuntary bodily functions, rather than depression or anxiety. “The timely…

Home care agency named Parkinson’s community care partner

Angels on Call, a home care services provider, has been recognized as a Community Partner in Parkinson’s Care by the Parkinson’s Foundation. The Community Partner in Parkinson’s Care membership program educates and trains staff to deliver care plans specifically focused on Parkinson’s patient’s symptoms and…

1st look at PINK1 structure reveals Parkinson’s clues

Researchers for the first time visualized how PINK1, a protein linked to early-onset Parkinson’s disease, binds to mitochondria and how it’s switched on to protect these energy-producing structures when they’re damaged. Using a high-resolution microscope to map the structure of the human version of PINK1 bound to damaged mitochondria,…

Funding secured for environmental toxins project in Parkinson’s

A researcher at the University of Wollongong in Australia has received funding of nearly 400,000 Australian dollars (about $250,000) to investigate the links between environmental toxins, such as pesticides and nanoplastics, and Parkinson’s disease. The funding, from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the…

Perceived changes in speech due to Parkinson’s, not aging: Study

Age-related declines in speech processes do not appear to contribute to the voice disturbances perceived by people with Parkinson’s disease, and are more likely due to disease processes themselves, a study reports. “Reduced self-voice perception in [Parkinson’s] is likely due to [Parkinson’s]-specific sensory feedback deficits, rather than age per…

Blood test may predict dementia risk in people with REM sleep disorder

Among people with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, blood biomarkers associated with dementia may help identify those at risk of developing Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), a condition that shares symptoms with Parkinson’s disease. Particularly, blood levels of two proteins — amyloid-beta 42/40 ratio and p-tau…

Genetic disease offers insights for Parkinson’s treatment 

A rare nerve disorder may offer clues to potential Parkinson’s disease treatment targets, a mouse study showed. In giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), buildup of neurofilament proteins trap several cellular organelles and proteins, preventing nerve cells from clearing and recycling waste, the study found. Because neurofilament proteins have also been…