News

Levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) — a protein found in blood plasma — may be a useful biomarker of disease progression for Parkinson’s, a study says. The study, “Blood NfL: A biomarker for disease severity and progression in Parkinson disease,” was published in the journal…

Backward walking is significantly impaired and associated with motor symptoms and fear of falling in newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients, a small Korean study suggests. These results point to backward walking parameters as potential biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease progression. The researchers called for future studies investigating the dynamics of backward walking in…

Apart from physical health-related quality of life — which seemed to improve to a greater extent in males — the benefits of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on motor, cognitive, and mental function are similar in men and women with Parkinson’s disease, a study has found. The…

The more years of formal education that people with Parkinson’s disease have, the better they seem to respond to deep-brain stimulation — as seen in a greater ability to “dual-task,” or engage in higher-level thought while walking, a study suggests. “Education level affects dual-task gait after deep…

A newly created model helps to clarify the processes by which cells grow old and die, and which are known to be involved in the onset of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The study describing this model, “Proteostasis collapse is a driver of cell aging and…

Researchers have developed a new compound, called S-181, that can improve nerve cell function and decrease the build-up of disease-related harmful molecules by boosting the activity levels of the enzyme beta-glucocerebrosidase. That enzyme’s function is known to be compromised in Parkinson’s disease. The findings, “A modulator of…

The levels of calprotectin — a protein whose levels increase in response to tissue inflammation — in the stool may be used as a marker of bowel inflammation in patients with Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The results, “Fecal Calprotectin as a Marker of the Gut…

To provide new patients with the information, tools and resources they need to best manage their health, the Parkinson’s Foundation has launched a campaign to close the gap between learning of an illness and knowing how and where to find help. Called “Newly Diagnosed: Building a Better Life with Parkinson’s…

People with bipolar disorder have a significantly increased risk — more than three times that of the general population — of later developing Parkinson’s disease, a study has found. Although use of medications for bipolar disorder could overestimate this risk, the researchers believe that a Parkinson’s diagnosis should…

Kyowa Kirin’s Nourianz (istradefylline) tablets are now available in the United States as an add-on treatment for off periods in Parkinson’s disease patients on a carbidopa/levodopa regimen. Off periods — when the effects of a medication wear off before a new dose can be taken — are characterized…