News

An active form of vitamin B12 can reduce the effects of dopamine loss in Parkinson’s disease caused by genetic mutations in the LRRK2 gene, a study suggests. These finding means that this form of vitamin B12 could be used as the basis for developing new therapies for…

Evaluation of two specific proteins circulating in the blood, called alpha- and beta-globin, may help monitor treatment efficacy and risk of side effects among patients with Parkinson’s disease, a study suggests. The study, “2D-DIGE as a strategy to identify serum protein biomarkers to monitor pharmacological efficacy in dopamine-dictated…

In support of local health, wellness and educational programs, the Parkinson’s Foundation is granting $1.5 million to Parkinson’s community programs in 38 states. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000, and focus on programs that either help underserved Parkinson’s disease communities, target newly diagnosed patients, or advocate for clinical trial…

Understanding and identifying epigenetic changes may become a potential strategy for early Parkinson’s diagnosis, when patients still lack the characteristic symptoms of the disease, according to a recent study. The study, “DNA methylation changes associated with Parkinson’s disease progression: outcomes from the first longitudinal genome-wide methylation analysis in blood,” was…

Felodipine, an approved therapy for high blood pressure, is able to promote the clearance of toxic protein aggregates in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s, according to a study. The study, “Felodipine induces autophagy in mouse brains with pharmacokinetics amenable to repurposing,” was published in the journal…

Trace amines, the product of the metabolism of specific amino acids, could indicate changes that occur early during Parkinson’s disease and may serve as early-stage and disease progression biomarkers, a study suggests. The study, “Different Circulating Trace Amine Profiles in De Novo and Treated Parkinson’s Disease Patients,”…

An initiative led by the Parkinson’s Foundation has culminated with a report that aims to make sure women in the U.S. receive the same attention as men in studies and treatments for the physical and mental effects of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The landmark 56-page report — “Women and Parkinson’s: Closing…

Samantha Elandary has been dreaming for years of making the Parkinson’s speech and swallowing therapy program she developed in her Dallas, Texas, living room available worldwide. If she sounds excited these days, it’s because the pace of progress at her nonprofit group, Parkinson Voice Project has shifted from a trot to…

For years, Israeli neurologist Tamar Flash has had a fascination with the octopus, and the way the invertebrate’s eight arms propel it effortlessly through the water. She’s convinced this has major implications for diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s disease — and possible other disorders as well. “My major interest is…

Wearable motion sensors can allow doctors to objectively assess medication states in Parkinson’s disease patients being treated with levodopa, a new study shows. The study, “Assessment of response to medication in individuals with Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the journal Medical Engineering & Physics. Levodopa is the most…