News

Parkinson’s disease patients have “significantly elevated” levels of c-reactive protein, an acute-phase biomarker for inflammation in the body, according to a recent literature review. It remains to be understood, however, if c-reactive protein is a risk factor for this neurodegenerative disorder, or if the disease itself triggers an inflammatory…

A Parkinson’s disease subtype characterized by postural instability and gait disturbance, usually referred to as PIGD, is associated with small amounts of bleeding in the brain, called cerebral microbleeds, a study reports. The study, “Cerebral Microbleeds are Associated with Postural Instability and Gait Disturbance Subtype in People with Parkinson’s Disease,” was…

Virtual reality gaming may improve the ability of Parkinson’s disease patients to perceive time, a skill that is often impaired in these individuals, a study suggests. Playing these virtual reality games may also benefit people with autism, schizophrenia, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conditions that can also affect time perception, according…

Tracer compounds with high affinity and selectivity to alpha-synuclein deposits have been identified that could be used to detect and track Parkinson’s disease progression, AC Immune announced. Findings were recently presented in the study, “Identification and Characterization of Selective and High Affinity Small Molecules for Positron Emission…

In partnership with the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinson’s Research has announced five academic centers chosen for the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders to train the Class of 2022. Each year, the five-year-old fellowship provides funding to five research centers…

An investigational gene therapy being developed for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease was well-  tolerated and eased patients’ motor fluctuations in a dose-dependent manner after a one-time administration, according to interim results. The study, “Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Phase 1 Trial of Putaminal AADC Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease,” was…

A new Phase 1/2a clinical trial will investigate resTORbio’s therapy candidate RTB101, alone or in combination with sirolimus, as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers plan to enroll 45 patients with mild Parkinson’s disease, both with and without mutations in the GBA gene, and who are being treated…

Crystals of the LRRK2 protein grown aboard the International Space Station could improve the understanding of Parkinson’s disease and help develop more effective therapies for this disease, according to researchers. Mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson’s and result in…

A fear of the potential side effects of Parkinson’s disease treatments, dubbed “levodopa phobia,” can cause patients and their doctors to delay the use of these therapies, a neurologist says. However, evidence suggests that starting adequate levodopa therapy early is safe, particularly for patients with increased functional disability, according…

Abbott has announced promising preliminary results from the PROGRESS trial (NCT02989610) evaluating its Infinity Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) System for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The initial results, detailed in a press release, suggest that the DBS system achieved its primary goal of broadening the “therapeutic window” — the…