News

A high-resolution 3D model of the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) protein provides some hints as to how this molecule participates in Parkinson’s disease — and suggests ways to sidestep its abnormal behavior, a new study reported. In its active form, LRRK2 binds to structures of the cell’s…

In the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction, nerve cells (neurons) switch to an alternative metabolic program to resist neurodegeneration, according to a recent study in mice. Interestingly, the data suggested that such a metabolic program is not a one-way road to neurodegeneration, but rather a compensatory mechanism that can be reversed…

PointClickCare has developed a new software tool to aid in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease psychosis. The tool, developed in partnership with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), is programmed to ask patients a series of questions regarding hallucinations and/or delusions. Based on the responses, senior care…

Impaired recycling of mitochondria — the powerhouses of the cell — may drive the loss of the neurons at the heart of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. Boosting the cell’s ability to remove old mitochondria and produce new ones then may prove an effective way to prevent…

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has awarded $1.4 million toward research into Parkinson’s disease for 2020–2021, including the first-ever Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Grant. Following the first APDA Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Conference held in May 2019, at which experts discussed the impact…

The total amount of alpha-synuclein in certain fluids and tissues failed to accurately distinguish between people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy individuals, and cannot be used to help diagnose the disease earlier, a large study has now shown. According to the study, levels of this protein in the…

The first three patients have been dosed in a Phase 2a clinical trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of ANVS401, Annovis Bio’s lead compound designed as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The launch of the Phase 2a trial (NCT04524351) marks the second such…

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…