The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted a Michigan State University scientist $5 million to study a possible link between pesticides, a diminished sense of smell, and early symptoms of diseases such as Parkinson’s among older farmers. The investigator is Honglei Chen, MD, PhD, a professor of…
Antiparkinsonian medicines may allow patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease to experience freedom of movement, which could be confused with balance issues if measured by traditional postural stability testing, researchers suggest. Their findings were published in the study, “The influence of dopaminergic medication on…
New preclinical data have shown for the first time the underlying mechanisms mediating the therapeutic activity of Anavex 2-73, an investigational therapy being evaluated for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Anavex Life Sciences’ investigational activator of the sigma-1 receptor…
A protein called osteonectin may be implicated in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to a computer-based analysis. The study, “In silico method for identification of novel copper and iron metabolism proteins in various neurodegenerative disorders,” was published in the journal NeuroToxicology. Excessive production of copper and…
Antiparkinsonian medicines may cause Parkinson’s patients to develop abnormal sensitivity to temperature, touch and pain, according to a recent study. The study, “Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) in Drug-Naïve Patients with Parkinson’s Disease” was published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. The somatosensory system is composed of neurons that…
Exercise has the potential to improve cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s disease, and has positive effects on motor symptoms, according to a recent literature review study. “The potential of exercise to improve motor and non-motor symptoms is promising and may help to decelerate disease progression in individuals affected by…
Symptoms of apathy and depression are more frequent and severe in Parkinson’s patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) than in patients without this disorder, according to a study. Findings also showed that women with Parkinson’s and RBD are more likely to experience apathy than men.
In Parkinson’s disease patients, fatigue is linked to specific patterns of brain degeneration that are not present in individuals of the same age who do not have the condition, a study reports. Findings of the study, “Structural brain correlates of fatigue in older adults with and without Parkinson’s…
A compound called emapunil prevented the characteristic loss of nerve cells associated with Parkinson’s disease, lowered levels of dopamine, brain inflammation, and motor deficits in a mouse model of the disease. Researchers suggest that treatment with emapunil, already proven safe in humans as a therapy for anxiety disorders, may…
Infusion of a naturally occurring protein, GDNF, into a motor control area of the brain may restore cells damaged by Parkinson’s disease and ease patients’ symptoms, results from a European clinical trial suggest. The study, “Extended Treatment with Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Parkinson’s Disease” was published…
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