News

Treatment with Aricept (donepezil) for six weeks does not seem to improve balance, either while standing or walking, for Parkinson’s patients with a minimal history of falls, according to results from a single-site Phase 2 trial. The study, “Effects of augmenting cholinergic neurotransmission on balance in Parkinson’s…

CNM-Au8, an investigational therapy by Clene Nanomedicine, improved the survival of dopaminergic neurons, helped prevent loss of mitochondria, and rescued motor function in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. The effects of CNM-Au8 will now be assessed in an open-label (no placebo group) Phase 2…

People with type 2 diabetes being treated with thiazolidinedione compounds, such as Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone), may be at lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, a pilot study suggests. However, more work is needed to confirm a potential to prevent Parkinson’s in an at-risk patient population. The…

A newly developed compound called CM101 helps to clear toxic proteins in the brains of mice, and could be a viable avenue for the treatment of some neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, researchers say. This finding was recently presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience,…

Cannabinoid compounds — particularly cannabidiol (CBD) — show potential to ease symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), according to a review study. Data also suggests that their therapeutic effects likely involve the direct modulation of critical messenger molecules in the brain and indirect reduction of…

To help Parkinson’s patients identify and discuss their “off episodes” — the return of disease symptoms — with healthcare providers, Acorda Therapeutics is offering a new online tool. Called the “Do Tell” Your Doctor Tool, the questionnaire is used to record such episodes, which can…

People with Parkinson’s disease are more likely to develop a disabling postural deformity known as Pisa syndrome if they have more severe axial symptoms — such as difficulty with speech or freezing of gait — and a sleep disorder known as rapid eye movement sleep behavior, a study suggests.

A form of repetitive transcranial brain stimulation known as intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) failed to improve cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The study, “Impact of Prefrontal Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation on Working Memory and Executive Function in Parkinson’s Disease: A Double-Blind…

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…