News

In contrast to what was observed in mice, a hypertension medicine called Dynacirc (isradipine) failed to slow Parkinson’s disease progression in humans, according to Phase 3 clinical trial results. However, “the study did not fail,” according to Tanya Simuni, MD, who presented “A Phase 3 study of…

Low levels in saliva of a molecule called substance P may help predict the development of swallowing problems in people with Parkinson’s disease, a small pilot study in Germany found. Since this molecule works as communication signal between nerve cells in the body, this discovery suggests that impaired substance…

Impel NeuroPharma has developed an inhaler to administrate a powder formulation of levodopa (L-DOPA) so people with Parkinson’s disease can more easily manage their symptoms. Evidence of the potential of this new treatment strategy was presented at the 2019 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in Philadelphia,…

Mindfulness-based interventions can improve mental health status, including reduction of stress and anxiety levels, in family caregivers of veterans with Parkinson’s disease and other health issues, a study shows. The study, “A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Caregivers of Veterans,” was published in the…

The last Parkinson’s patient enrolled in Intec Pharma’s Phase 3 ACCORDANCE clinical trial has completed the final required visit, the company announced. Taking place at approximately 90 clinical sites throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel, the trial (NCT02605434) was designed to test the safety and efficacy of…

A single-dose infusion of VY-AADC01, an investigational gene therapy, improves motor function and reduces the need for antiparkinsonian medications in advanced Parkinson’s disease patients, results from the Phase 1 PD-1102 clinical trial show. Trial findings were presented in a scientific poster, titled “PD-1102: A Phase 1 study of…

Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — adult stem cells with regenerative effects — is safe and well-tolerated, and improves motor function in people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, according to early findings from an ongoing small study. The research, “Preliminary Report on the…

Once-daily opicapone can prolong the time during which treatment with levopoda, a standard therapy, effectively prevents motor symptom fluctuations in people with Parkinson’s disease, results from two international Phase 3 studies show. The findings, “Once-Daily Opicapone Increases ON-Time in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Results from Two Phase…

The first time the batteries for his deep brain stimulation (DBS) device were activated, Jim McNasby had the feeling a load burdening his body had been removed. “It felt like a very gentle posture improvement; I just sat up straighter,” McNasby said in a phone interview, as he described…

Ballet practice may not improve balance and gait in people with Parkinson’s disease — at least not over the long term, a small study in patients engaged in dance for at least a year suggests, possibly contradicting earlier research reporting evidence of such benefits. But the work did find probable…