The antidepressant drug nortriptyline — approved more than 50 years ago for depression and nerve pain — may also slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease by halting the formation of toxic alpha-synuclein aggregates, say researchers at Michigan State University (MSU). Their study, “Nortriptyline inhibits aggregation and neurotoxicity of alpha-synuclein…
Researchers at Australia’s RMIT University have developed the first tool capable of diagnosing early signs of Parkinson’s disease even before symptoms are visible — offering new prospects for more effective treatments. Their study, Distinguishing Different Stages of Parkinson’s Disease Using Composite Index of Speed and Pen-Pressure of Sketching a Spiral,” appeared…
GeneFo, an internet resource on genetic diseases, is offering a free online lecture featuring humorist and author Yvonne deSousa, who has a neurodegenerative illness. The topic of the Sept. 27 discussion is how humor and laughter can help you to improve well-being and quality of life and to better manage…
An ongoing Phase 1b trial of VY-AADC01, a gene therapy for the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), is showing positive results, including improvement of motor function and activities of daily living, durable clinical effects, and good tolerability. The announcement was made by Voyager Therapeutics, the gene therapy company specialized…
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma has asked Japanese authorities to approve its Trerief (zonisamide) as a new therapy for parkinsonism in dementia patients with Lewy bodies, the company announced in a press release. Trerief went on sale in Japan in March 2009 as a treatment for Parkinson’s patients who saw insufficient…
Oral health is essential for everyone, but people living with Parkinson’s disease need to pay particular attention to their mouth, teeth and gums to limit any problems. MORE: Three causes of psychosis in Parkinson’s disease According to the National Parkinsons Foundation, Parkinson’s disease can affect oral health in a number of…
In an unexpected finding, researchers demonstrated that certain asthma drugs might protect from developing Parkinson’s disease by lowering the production of the disease-linked protein alpha-synuclein. But researchers caution against attempting to medicate with such drugs before clinical trials establish they are safe in this patient group, and that they really…
AstraZeneca has partnered with Takeda Pharmaceutical to develop and commercialize the alpha-synuclein antibody MEDI1341 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. MEDI1341 is expected to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial later this year. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will supervise…
Researchers in Japan are preparing for a first human trial of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in patients with Parkinson’s disease, after obtaining promising data from a study in monkeys. The study, which appeared in the journal Nature, demonstrated that transplanting human iPSCs into the brains of the primate…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given a green light to Titan Pharmaceuticals to begin a first-in-human clinical trial testing an implant that provides continuous release of ropinirole to treat Parkinson’s signs and symptoms. In the open-label Phase 1/2 trial (NCT03250117), which is now recruiting, roughly 20 Parkinson’s…
Get regular updates to your inbox.