News

Production of the protein TOM20 rescued nerve cells that are damaged in people with Parkinson’s disease due to the toxic buildup of alpha-synuclein protein, a study in rats revealed. According to researchers, the interaction between TOM20 and alpha-synuclein represents a potential…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has received the Advocacy/Policy Award from the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in recognition of its role in Parkinson’s disease research and in shaping public health policy. The MJFF is only the second organization to receive this award. “This…

A multiyear McCamish Foundation funding commitment is expected to enhance the scope and reach of Parkinson’s disease research at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. It also could help make the state of Georgia a hub for collaborative research on neurological diseases. The McCamish pledge — an unspecified amount…

Scientists have created a tomato enriched in levodopa, or L-DOPA, a standard therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease.  These tomatoes could represent a scalable, low-cost alternative L-DOPA source for Parkinson’s patients, particularly those in developing nations where treatment cost is prohibitive.

Using non-invasive, dry-electroencephalography (EEG) and machine-learning computer algorithms, researchers were able to distinguish between Parkinson’s disease patients with and without mild cognitive impairments with 80% accuracy, early results of a study found.  Follow-up assessments will be…

Teva has discontinued Spiroco (ropinirole) 4mg XL prolonged-release tablets due to factors out of the company’s control, according to an announcement from Parkinson’s UK. The company — which outside the U.S. manufactures ropinirole XL as a generic formulation in three concentrations — is still marketing Spiroco…

Metabolic pathways involving uric acid and homocysteine may play a role in the onset of peripheral neuropathy in patients with Parkinson’s disease, a study suggests. The study, “Peripheral Neuropathy in de novo Patients with Parkinson’s Disease,” was published in the Yonsei Medical Journal. Peripheral…

A poor performance, due to cognitive impairments, on the Rookwood Driving Battery (RDB) — a set of tests aiming to evaluate specific neuropsychological skills that are important for safe vehicle operation — is the best predictor of poor driving among patients with Parkinson’s disease, a study has found.

MapLight Therapeutics will use an $8.1 million three-year grant to tackle the common symptoms of anxiety and depression in Parkinson’s disease. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) grant will enable the biopharmaceutical company to open an expansive, systematic exploration of brain circuits and…

An upcoming clinical trial, known as the AZA-PD study, will test whether limiting the activity of the immune system through the use of an immunosuppressant can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The Phase 2 trial (ISRCTN14616801) — officially Azathioprine immunosuppression and disease modification in Parkinson’s disease…