News

Long-term use of blood pressure medication Dynacirc (isradipine) does not slow disease progression in people with early Parkinson’s disease, according to findings from a Phase 3 clinical trial. These results contrast with what was previously observed in mice, in which the medication eased damage to dopaminergic…

Genetic differences influence the physical properties of the brain’s cerebral cortex and likely play a key role in cognition and risk of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, a new study has found. Titled “The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex,” the study was published in the…

The Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) has opened a new online education program that seeks to help exercise professionals provide safe and effective classes for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Called Grant’s Army, the program features a compilation of cutting-edge PD exercise research, case studies of exercise programs…

Genetic elements that are able to “copy and paste” themselves into different sections of DNA help to control the development of neurons, a new study suggests. Understanding this process could have important implications for designing therapies for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The study, “Transdifferentiation of…

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…