News

A Phase 2 clinical trial testing the safety and effectiveness of the gene therapy VY-AADC02 in people with advanced Parkinson’s disease is recruiting patients at select sites across the U.S., according to a release by one such site. Hackensack University Medical Center is among the 17 institutions across…

People with Parkinson’s disease who have a specific mutation in the LRRK2 gene may be 10 times more likely to develop leukemia, and twice as likely to have colon cancer, researchers report. The researchers say this particular patient population should be closely monitored and screened for the early…

People taking Hytrin (terazosin) or similar medications to treat high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia may be less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, an early study suggests. Parkinson’s patients who use these medications may also see their disease progress more slowly and with fewer complications, its researchers report.

Use of Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder) helps to effectively manage off episodes in Parkinson’s disease without an increase in troublesome dyskinesia, or involuntary muscle movement, according to data being presented by Acorda Therapeutics at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. Results from…

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, of the National Institute of Health (NIH), has awarded a large grant to researchers who are seeking to understand the molecular structure of toxic proteins that drive brain disorders. Irregular clumps of certain proteins are thought to be the…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a University of Rhode Island (URI) professor nearly $250,000 to help commercialize a “smart glove” for Parkinson’s disease patients. Kunal Mankodiya, PhD, an associate professor of engineering, is developing the glove that can capture wearers’ movement data. Designed for those with PD…

Exercising at home with a stationary bicycle — using a motivational app and remote supervision to increase compliance — eases motor complications in patients with mild Parkinson’s disease and improves their cardiovascular health, according to results from a clinical trial. Findings from the study, “Effectiveness of…

The Parkinson’s Foundation and the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) have announced a combined $5.9 million in research grants. For its part, the Foundation is investing $4.2 million in 46 grants to advance promising Parkinson’s disease investigations into new therapies and how the disease works. It also…

In a recent review, scientists highlight the potential of gene editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 to not only understand the molecular mechanisms behind Parkinson’s disease, but also identify new targets for treatment. The review study, “Interrogating Parkinson’s disease associated redox targets: Potential application of CRISPR editing,” was published in…

Dopaminergic therapy may ease difficulties with gesturing and using tools in people with Parkinson’s disease by improving brain connectivity between the cognitive and motor regions, a study has found. The study results, “Dopaminergic modulation of the praxis network in Parkinson’s disease,” were published in NeuroImage: Clinical.