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PIAS2, a protein that suppresses the immune interferon (IFN)-beta signaling, is found at higher-than-normal levels in neurons of sporadic Parkinson’s patients, particularly in those with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), a study shows. Overproduction of this protein was sufficient to cause PDD-like motor and cognitive symptoms in mice, while…

Treatment with melatonin — a hormone best known for its role in sleep regulation — lessened neurodegeneration and motor symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. These benefits were associated with the suppression of a death-inducing inflammatory pathway called NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia, the immune…

A potential mechanism by which Hc-TeTx — a fragment of the tetanus toxin previously shown to have neuroprotective effects — enters the central nervous system (CNS) has been unraveled by researchers in Spain. Hc-TeTx appears to mimic a neurotrophin called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Neurotrophins are proteins that promote the…

Training to dance to music on a weekly basis may slow the progression of both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a three-year study has found. Results from this pilot study suggest that dance training could be used as a strategy to slow the progression of Parkinson’s in…

Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco may reduce a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study that found evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship. “It is crucial to be aware that smoking and drinking pose serious health risks to individuals,” the researchers wrote, noting there was “no…

SLS-004, Seelos Therapeutics’ experimental epigenetic editing therapy for Parkinson’s disease, effectively reduced the production of alpha-synuclein — the protein that accumulates in toxic clumps in Parkinson’s — in the brains of healthy mice. Epigenetic modifications refer to the addition of chemical marks to DNA by a group of specialized…

Probiotic supplements could prove a useful add-on therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease, a recent study suggests. The study, “Influence of probiotic bacteria on gut microbiota composition and gut wall function in an in-vitro model in patients with Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the International Journal…

Mirapex (pramipexole), an approved medication to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, reduced levels of immune proteins in the brain that are associated with inflammation, a rat model study reveals. The study, “Effect of Pramipexole on Inflammatory Response in Central Nervous System of Parkinson’s Disease…

Therapeutic Solutions International has filed a patent for the use of a type of immune cell, called a dendritic cell, to potentially treat Parkinson’s disease. The patent application includes data, obtained in an animal model, showing that dendritic cells obtained from umbilical cord blood have the potential to…

People with mild Parkinson’s disease sleep less, are less active, and show more sedentary behavior than their healthy peers, a small study showed. Poorer sleep also significantly associated with more sedentary time in both populations. While further research is needed to confirm these early findings, they suggest that screening for…