News

Genetic variations in the gene apolipoprotein E (APOE) alter the dynamics of alpha-synuclein protein buildup in the brains of mice with Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a new study. This suggests suggests that alterations in APOE could affect the occurrence of dementia in humans with the neurodegenerative…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation to nQ Medical’s neuroQUERTY software, which is designed to monitor brain health and Parkinson’s disease progression. Breakthrough device status is given to medical devices that have the potential to be an effective treatment or…

Assessing the shape of alpha-synuclein aggregates in the brain helps to distinguish between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and another progressive neurodegenerative disorder known as multiple system atrophy (MSA), a study suggests. The study, “Discriminating α-synuclein strains in Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy,” was published in Nature. Parkinson’s…

Spinal anesthesia may be safer than general anesthesia for people with Parkinson’s disease undergoing surgery, causing fewer post-operative complications, including a risk of death, a small study suggests. The study, “Spinal versus General Anesthesia for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease,” was published in the International Journal of General…

Two Louisiana Tech University biomedical engineering students designed a wearable medical device that can track and classify Parkinson’s disease tremors and their severity.  Julie Gaudin and Elizabeth Hummel created the Tremor Tracker, a smart watch-like device that captures and immediately conveys information about body…

A three-year project in Europe seeks to develop nanodevices that could be used as brain implants to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. The European Commission is funding the 3-million euro ($3.3-million) project, called Ion Neuromodulation for Epilepsy Treatment (IN-FET), which aims to create new implantable…

Alkahest announced the dosing of a first patient in the Phase 2 trial for its Parkinson’s therapy AKST4290, an oral tablet aiming to ease the inflammation that can aggravate disease symptoms. The efficacy and safety trial, called AKST4290-211 or TEAL (2019-001657-42), will measure AKST4290’s benefits in motor function and…

A collaborative effort between Fuzionaire Diagnostics, McGill University and The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) will foster the development of a new class of radioactive molecules — called radiochemicals — for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. Radiochemicals are compounds prepared with…

Aptinyx‘s investigational oral compound NYX-458 was able to ease cognitive difficulties in a non-human primate model of Parkinson’s disease, including attention, working memory and executive thinking, a study reports. Its findings also suggest that NYX-458 — now in a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04148391) enrolling patients across…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance to Qynapse‘s QyScore, a software that aids in analyzing brain scans taken by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The software, which is compatible with routine imaging workflows, includes an advanced user interface and automatically-generated patient reports.