News

Researchers propose prescribing exercise as medicine in Parkinson’s

Physical exercise may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, as well as effectively control patients’ symptoms, according to a review analysis by researchers in Europe. Moreover, some studies suggest that exercise might be a potential disease-modifying treatment, working to slow disease progression and stabilizing, or even reducing, the…

Scientists develop human model of blood-brain barrier

In a first-of-its-kind development, a team of scientists created a lab model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) surrounding the brain. The new model represents “a game-changing technology with broad implications for neuroscience, drug discovery, and personalized medicine,” Ziyuan Guo, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati department of pediatrics…

4 biomarkers may point to early Parkinson’s disease: Study

A diagnostic panel of four biomarkers that combines the blood levels of a molecule called N-acetylputrescine (NAP) with three clinical features often present in Parkinson’s disease — loss of smell, depression, and acting out dreams — may help identify the disease at its earlier stages, a study found. The…

Companies partner on wearable apomorphine injection system

Serina Therapeutics has partnered with Enable Injections to advance SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine), Serina’s lead treatment candidate for advanced Parkinson’s disease, in combination with the enFuse wearable delivery system. EnFuse is designed to allow patients to self-administer SER-252 subcutaneously (under the skin) in a faster, simpler, and more…

Apomorphine oral spray safe, efficient in Parkinson’s, study finds

An oral spray was safe and efficient at delivering apomorphine to people with Parkinson’s disease, a study found. A subcutaneous injection formulation of apomorphine, sold as Apokyn, is approved in the U.S. to treat off episodes — periods in which symptoms return between doses of levodopa treatment — in…

Targeting specific alpha-synuclein region may thwart toxic aggregation

A region in the alpha-synuclein protein has been identified as a possible target for inhibiting the conversion of oligomers — early aggregates, or clumps, of the protein — into toxic fibrils, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. Mutations in this region are also associated with…

Aspen wins $8M to advance Parkinson’s stem cell therapy

Aspen Neuroscience has been awarded an $8 million grant to advance the clinical development of ANPD001, its investigational stem cell therapy that’s designed to replace dopamine-producing nerve cells lost in Parkinson’s disease. The grant, funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), will support the ongoing Phase…