News

Oxidative stress may be a trigger for Parkinson’s and can promote its progression by facilitating the spread of toxic alpha-synuclein protein across cells, researchers report. Their study, “Oxidative stress in vagal neurons promotes parkinsonian pathology and intercellular α-synuclein transfer,” was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Parkinson’s is…

Impax Laboratories‘ investigational carbidopa-levodopa extended-release capsules, IPX203, are better than immediate-release tablets at maintaining steady levels of levodopa in the blood, and prolonging the alleviation of motor symptoms, in people with advanced Parkinson’s disease, according to clinical data.

Considerable evidence has been published concerning the benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques in chronic pain, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic fatigue, psoriasis, arthritis, and individuals with multiple depressive episodes. This research has led to the hypothesis that MBSR may also be helpful for those…

An oral combination that includes Aricept (donepezil) — an Alzheimer’s therapy — and Ginkgo biloba improved cognitive abilities and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) treated for six months, a study from China reports. The study, “The efficacy of a ‘cocktail therapy’ on…

Parkinson’s disease patients with either depression or psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, confusion, or illusion may have higher levels of the mineral zinc in their hair, researchers report. Their study, “Higher zinc concentrations in hair of Parkinson’s disease are associated with psychotic complications and depression,” was published in…

People with generalized pain related to their Parkinson’s are prone to disturbed nighttime sleep, a reason these two disease symptoms — central parkinsonian pain and poor sleep — are common together and may imply shared mechanisms, a study reports. The study, “Sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s disease are associated with…

Twice daily treatment with ThermoNeuroModulation (TNM), a non-invasive device for at-home use, provided sustained motor and non-motor benefits and was associated with high satisfaction in a small group of Parkinson’s patients on standard medications, a clinical trial reports. The study based on its findings,“Caloric vestibular stimulation for the…

Early atrophy of a speech-related brain area called temporal lobe and progressive degeneration of a cognitive one (frontal lobe) might be warning signs for Parkinson’s mild cognitive impairment later on, researchers report. Their study, “Progressive brain atrophy in Parkinson’s disease patients who convert to mild cognitive impairment,” was…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Neurocrine Biosciences’ new drug application for opicapone as a potential add-on therapy to levodopa/carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease. The FDA has set a 12-month review process, with a decision expected by April 26, 2020. If approved, the FDA will…

Patients in Canada with diagnosed Parkinson’s disease can now receive Onstryv (safinamide) to help manage their symptoms and their “off” episodes. This follows the approval of Onstryv by Health Canada in January 2019 as an add-on treatment to improve motor function in Parkinson’s patients who experience…