Lower levels of dopamine transporter protein in the striatum — a brain region affected significantly in Parkinson’s — may predict the development of the neurodegenerative disease up to eight years earlier in older adults carrying the most common genetic risk factor, a small study suggests. However, the observed variability…
A non-invasive test that measures signals from the olfactory bulb — the part of the brain responsible for scent-perception — may aid in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The test, called an electrobulbogram, also also can inform about disease duration, severity, and the…
Electrical stimulation given through the scalp to a brain region called the supplementary motor area may ease certain aspects of upper limb bradykinesia in people with Parkinson’s disease, a small study suggests. The study, “Transcranial direct current stimulation of supplementary motor area improves upper limb kinematics…
A medicine approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), called atomoxetine, could help to improve thinking and impulse control in certain people with Parkinson’s disease, a small study suggests. Patients with the greatest loss of integrity in a part of the brainstem called locus coeruleus, evident on a brain scan,…
Telehealth, together with wearable sensors that accurately monitor symptoms like tremor, may help to improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease, a small, single-center study suggests. Patients in the study also expressed comfort with online health checkups and the sensory device used, but many still preferred in-person care.
Higher-than-normal levels of alpha-synuclein — the protein that accumulates in toxic clumps in Parkinson’s disease — affect the shape, dynamics, and health of mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the body’s cells, according to a study in a fruit fly model. “When fruit fly larvae expressed alpha-synuclein at elevated…
Periodontitis, or gum disease, may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a large population-based study conducted in South Korea. The highest risk was found for individuals with both periodontitis and metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2…
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, investment and interest in clinical trials of potential new treatments for Parkinson’s disease remains strong, according to a report. The study suggests that the landscape of developmental Parkinson’s treatments has changed little over the last year, with researchers noting a slight increase…
A new technique allowed researchers to label with specificity proteins inside neurons of the striatum — a brain region involved in voluntary movement control — within a living mouse. These findings may help scientists better understand the millions of distinct proteins in the brain and their interactions within neurons (nerve…
Worse gastrointestinal symptoms predict more severe anxiety and depression, and vice-versa, within the same year and in the following year in people with Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. This bidirectional link between gut and mental health suggests a potential cyclical relationship, in which gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms increase the risk…
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