News

When choosing on-demand treatments for “off” episodes, individuals with Parkinson’s disease prefer those with lower out-of-pocket cost and an under-the-tongue (sublingual) mode of administration, according to a survey of 300 patients living in the U.S. Next in preferred features was faster onset, followed by longer duration of “on” periods. These…

Funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) will support four projects investigating possible connections between toxic environmental factors and Parkinson’s disease, including those encountered in military service and daily life exposure to pesticides and air pollution. Although Parkinson’s is a complex disorder and unlikely to have a single…

Workplace exposure to the herbicide paraquat during its manufacture does not lead to a greater risk of dying of Parkinson’s disease or of developing the disorder, an analysis of death certificates in the U.K. found. Certificates, examined through December 2017, covered more than 950 people who had worked at four sites…

Structural changes — caused by a rare genetic mutation — to a protein called a dopamine transporter, which conveys dopamine into cells, may contribute to Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, a study in fruit flies has found. Increasing the number of functional, or properly working, dopamine transporters in fruit flies…

Scientists have discovered how misfolded proteins in brain cells — those carrying mutations associated with Parkinson’s disease — spread to nearby healthy cells, a study reported.  These findings support the development of therapies that may prevent Parkinson’s progression, the researchers noted.

The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, known as the VA, has added atypical Parkinsonism to the list of conditions presumptively associated with Agent Orange exposure during military service. That will make U.S. military veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange eligible for the VA’s disability compensation benefits. Atypical Parkinsonism…

People with Parkinson’s disease made accurate self-reported diagnoses and expressed interest in virtually participating in research studies, according to a recent analysis from the ongoing Fox Insight study. That analysis was published in the journal Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, as a study called “Video-based Parkinson’s disease assessments…

Known to ease motor fluctuations due to “off periods” in Parkinson’s disease, daily use of Xadago (safinamide) at low dose also appears to significantly decrease such non-motor symptoms as apathy, while improving patients’ sense of motivation and interest over six months, a real-life study reported. The…

A new biobank in Sweden, containing blood samples from patients with Parkinson’s disease and age- and sex-matched healthy people — along with data regarding the individuals’ lifestyles and medical histories — may help researchers investigate the underlying mechanisms of the neurodegenerative disorder and find new treatments. The biobank is…

New exercise recommendations have been released by the Parkinson’s Foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to provide effective and safe guidelines about physical activity for people with Parkinson’s disease and…