News

Researchers have developed a way to closely study the function of a cell’s transportation network, made up of structures called microtubules, that appears to be impaired in people with Parkinson’s disease. This technique, called “microstretcher,” may help to better understand microtubules’ deficits and their underlying causes in Parkinson’s,…

An oxygen-free (anaerobic) formulation of dopamine infused directly into the brain of monkeys with induced Parkinson’s safely improved both their motor and cognitive symptoms, according to a new study. These findings support a proof-of-concept clinical trial of this treatment approach, adapted to people with the disease.

Compounds extracted from chia seeds could lower the inflammatory activity of brain immune cells, a study suggests. Although additional research is needed, these findings could have implications for patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. The study, “Neuroprotective effect from Salvia hispanica peptide fractions on…

People who have higher levels of vitamin B12 in their blood when they’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease may be less likely to develop dementia, a study suggests. The study, “Higher vitamin B12 level at Parkinson’s disease diagnosis is associated with lower risk of future dementia,” was…

While there’s no evidence that people with Parkinson’s disease are more susceptible to contracting illness, COVID-19 tends to be more severe in the elderly and those with chronic diseases. Because of this, patients should take extra precautions to avoid contracting the disease, experts say. In response to the…

Delivering a gene therapy directly to the substantia nigra, an area of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease, led to sustained protein production for up to eight years, a post-mortem of analysis of two patients revealed. The therapy’s use failed to show…

Treatment with IRLAB Therapeutics‘ small molecule IRL752 is safe and well-tolerated by Parkinson’s disease patients with dementia, and may help manage symptoms that are unresponsive to levodopa, results from a Phase 2a trial show. In particular, the treatment was found to reduce apathy, improve balance, and…

A clinical study will test the potential of a specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to diagnose Parkinson’s disease at early stages. The 18-month project, supported by a grant from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science in the U.K., will take place at the University…

The Goalkeeper Game, a video game in which people assume the role of a goalkeeper in a soccer penalty shootout, may be a novel tool to detect early decline in gait performance in Parkinson’s disease patients, helping them receive treatment sooner, a study suggests. The test is designed…

A variant of the apolipoprotein (APOE) protein, called APOE4, has been shown to directly affect Lewy body dementias, such as Parkinson’s disease. Two separate studies, published simultaneously, found that APOE4 directly regulates levels of alpha-synuclein, which clumps  to form the nerve-damaging Lewy…