News

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, almost doubles the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in people of Han Chinese descent living in Singapore, a case-controlled study found. In contrast, a comparison of similar studies conducted in the U.S. and the U.K. found that hypertension was associated with a reduced risk…

An upcoming Australian study will investigate the potential benefits of pool walking — walking in a swimming pool versus on land — to ease the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The study’s main goal, according to its researcher, is to determine whether such aquatic walking can ease the sudden…

The Parkinson’s Foundation has awarded over $2.2 million in community health grants to 143 programs that will benefit Parkinson’s disease patients across 42 U.S. states, as well as efforts in Australia and Taiwan. This year’s grants, which mark the program’s 10th year, range from $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000 and aim…

A committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is recommending the refusal of marketing authorization for Nouryant (istradefylline) — approved as Nourianz in the U.S. — as a medication for treating off episodes in Parkinson’s disease in the EU. In its opinion, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human…

Blood levels of various fat molecules — known as the lipid profile — in people with familial Parkinson’s disease caused by mutations in the GBA gene differ from those seen in people with sporadic Parkinson’s and healthy individuals, a study reported. These findings suggested that problems with lipid metabolism…

Digital health technology, which spans phone apps to telemedicine, is advancing Parkinson’s disease research and clinical care, according to different review studies. “Digital health technology is an important and promising field that is beginning to make a real tangible impact on persons with [Parkinson’s disease],” Anat Mirelman, PhD, a…

Virtual reality video gaming was helpful and useable as an exercise tool, and demonstrated positive patient satisfaction with no adverse effects among four people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, a case study reported. While previous studies have found limitations with using video games among “more fragile groups,” such…

Forest Hills Lab announced that it has U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permission to open a Phase 2 trial into the tolerability and potential efficacy of FHL-301 in people in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. The double-blinded trial will randomly assign patients to the investigative treatment or to a…

The Parkinson’s Foundation is making an effort to put patients at the center of clinical research, both through its Research Advocates program and more recently, patient advisory boards, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Since 2008, the foundation’s advocacy program has trained more than 300…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given fast track designation to the investigational cell therapy DA01, now in a clinical trial in people with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Developed by BlueRock Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer, DA01 is made up of dopamine-producing nerve cells derived from…