News

Parkin protein deficiency — which is associated with early onset Parkinson’s disease — is only detrimental when dopamine-producing neurons undergo a metabolic switch as they mature, a new study reported. Under such conditions, nerve cells lacking in parkin cannot effectively recycle damaged mitochondria (the cells’ powerhouses, or energy sources), significantly…

People with young onset Parkinson’s disease have unique features that should be taken into account when providing care and conducting research, a recent review article highlights. The paper, “Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease: A Modern and Tailored Approach,” was published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s usually…

Two small clinical trials are assessing MRI-guided focused ultrasound as a nonsurgical alternative for targeting the striatum — a brain region involved in voluntary movement control — to better treat Parkinson’s patients and possibly stop disease progression. Both trials, in Spain and Canada, are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of MRI-guided…

The first patients have been dosed in three Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the safety and effectiveness of tavapadon, Cerevel Therapeutics’ lead investigational oral therapy, in people with Parkinson’s disease. The studies, which were paused temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will test tavapadon as a…

Stem cells transplanted into the facial tissue of two people with Parkinson’s disease led to sustained reductions in motor and non-motor symptoms, lower medication doses, and a better quality of life, a case study reported.  Its authors recommended further investigation into…

Starting treatment earlier does not appear to worsen the course of Parkinson’s disease or be associated with more severe treatment side effects, an observational study reports. The study, “Estimating the Effect of Early Treatment Initiation in Parkinson’s Disease Using Observational Data,” was published in the journal…

The most common mutation associated with Parkinson’s disease — called LRRK2-G2019S — results in abnormal global protein production that increases the levels of calcium within dopamine-producing neurons, likely making them more vulnerable to degeneration, a study suggests. “Mapping out this progression of events is an important advancement in…

Women who adhere closely to a Mediterranean diet in their 30s and 40s have a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease later in life, particularly once they reach their mid-60s, a large population-based Swedish study found. The study, “Mediterranean Dietary Pattern at Middle Age and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: A…

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has given a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant totaling $2.4 million to Cutaneous NeuroDiagnostics (CND) to advance development of its Syn-One Test for diagnosing Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The SBIR grant (R44NS117214), which…

People who are infected with SARS-CoV2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — may be at greater risk of later developing Parkinson’s disease, researchers suggest in a commentary. In their commentary, “Is COVID-19 a perfect storm for Parkinson’s disease?” published in  Trends in Neurosciences,…