News

The COVID-19 pandemic likely limited access to Parkinson’s disease medication globally, causing a worsening of patients’ symptoms, according to a recent study. Also, poorer countries appear to have been affected more than wealthier ones, according to the study, “The impact of COVID‐19 on access to Parkinson’s…

A group of brain-derived small molecule RNAs that can be measured in the blood may serve as biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a recent study suggests. The processes by which these molecules influence brain functions also were uncovered, providing additional information about the molecular players…

The severity of small vessel disease in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients is significantly associated with apathy, and may serves as a marker to predict its progression in these people, a recent study found. It might also be useful in distinguishing apathy from depression, which have…

Scientists have created a new drug delivery system that can be used to allow compounds to cross the blood-brain barrier — the semi-permeable barrier that protects the brain and spinal cord from the blood circulating in the rest of the body. With this system, the team successfully delivered…

A potential Parkinson’s treatment called cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) continues to be safe and well tolerated by patients with moderate disease using it for up to one year in a Phase 1/2 trial, and shows a promising potential to ease motor symptoms and slow disease progression, Herantis Pharma,…

Neupro patches placed on the shin caused significantly less skin irritation and itching in people with Parkinson’s’ disease who previously had site reactions when these transdermal patches were applied elsewhere, a new study has found. The patch’s effectiveness as a…

Scientists at two Australia universities are developing a program that will study the effects of exercise on movement and balance in people with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers at James Cook University (JCU) and La Trobe University are seeking ambulatory patients who are able to perform twice-weekly…

In a real-world clinical setting, Neupro Patches (rotigotine) eased the clinical signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, with more than 70% of patients reporting mild improvement or better, including those 80 years and older, a real-world study shows. …

The Parkinson’s Foundation is expanding its virtual programming to support the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community during the global COVID-19 outbreak. As part of its efforts, the organization is moving its signature fundraising walk event — Parkinson’s Moving Day — online, and adding or enhancing other online…

Levodopa improved handwriting and dexterity tasks among people living with Parkinson’s disease, a recent study found. The results, “Levodopa improves handwriting and instrumental tasks in previously treated patients with Parkinson’s disease,” were published in the Journal of Neural Transmission. Neurological examinations of Parkinson’s patients that seek…