News

Mutations in ITSN1 gene linked with higher risk of Parkinson’s

Mutations that inactivate a gene called ITSN1 are associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, particularly at younger ages, a large-scale database study reports. Its researchers speculated that the protein encoded by the ITSN1 gene or related proteins might be viable targets to treat Parkinson’s. The study, “…

Smart shoes designed to ‘walk with confidence’ available in EU, US

Sensor-equipped shoes — called NUSHU smart shoes — that are designed to support people with walking difficulties due to Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions have received the CE mark of approval in the Europe Union (EU). The shoes perform clinical-grade gait analysis in real time, with biofeedback given…

Researchers find predictors of cognitive impairments over time

Cognitive function in adults with Parkinson’s disease either remains stable or progressively declines over time, according to a four-year follow-up study that also found that early problems with several tasks related to visual processing and spatial reasoning were among predictors of eventual cognitive impairments. Among Parkinson’s patients with cognitive…

FDA approves fully asleep DBS surgical procedure by Medtronic

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Medtronic’s Asleep Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery for people with Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. “This is a significant advancement in our surgical offering, providing another safe and effective option for patients considering DBS,” Amaza Reitmeier, a vice…