News

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Ineffective for Depression in Parkinson’s, Study Reports

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) does not appear to treat depressive symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease, although it may improve motor symptoms, an analysis of nine clinical trials found. But the study included relatively few patients, so the researchers, with Guangxi University of Science and Technology in China, said that their conclusions warrant further exploration…

Mitochondria Defects in Brains of Parkinson’s Patients Might Play Protective Role

Defects in mitochondria, the cell’s microscopic powerhouses, might actually protect Parkinson’s disease patients, a Norwegian study suggests. The findings show that, contrary to all current theories, deficiencies in complex I — a key component of mitochondria — exist randomly throughout the brains of Parkinson’s patients, not only in affected regions. In…

Levodopa May Not Be the Best Option for Parkinson’s Treatment, Study by Students Contends

Levodopa improves Parkinson’s patients’ symptoms by binding with two types of receptors for dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate movement and emotional response. Although it is considered the gold standard in Parkinson’s treatment, a study from Binghamton University students contends that levodopa’s interaction with the dopamine receptor D2 may cause involuntary…

Axovant’s Parkinson’s Therapy Shows Promise but Alzheimer’s Candidate Falls Short, Phase 2 Trials Show

An Axovant Sciences therapy for Parkinson’s disease showed signs of effectiveness, but an Alzheimer’s treatment did not, according to separate Phase 2 clinical trials. Nelotanserin, the therapy candidate for Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) associated with hallucinations and for Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), appeared safe as well as displaying signs of effectiveness,…