News

Excessive levels of calcium in the brain may trigger the formation of toxic protein clumps that typify Parkinson’s disease. This finding could be a new treatment target for researchers working to understand how and why people develop the neurodegenerative disease. The research, “C-terminal calcium binding of α-synuclein modulates synaptic vesicle…

Parkinson’s patients have lower blood levels of caffeine and its byproducts after consuming the stimulant, suggesting that caffeine could be used as a biomarker for diagnosing the disease. The findings appeared in the study “Serum caffeine and metabolites are reliable biomarkers of early Parkinson disease,” published in the…

Mutations in mitochondria, which result in a shortage of energy, may be an underlying cause of movement difficulties associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), a study suggests. The study, “PINK1 Phosphorylates MIC60/Mitofilin to Control Structural Plasticity of Mitochondrial Crista Junctions,” was published in the journal Molecular Cell. Parkinson’s…

A new personalized medical strategy that can replicate human biological systems in a small chip may help predict patients’ response to certain treatments based on their genetic makeup. Called Patient-on-a-Chip, the joint initiative by Cedars-Sinai and Emulate combines Cedars scientists’ expertise in stem cell technology with Emulate’s Human Emulation System,…

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is accepting funding applications from researchers who want to do basic science projects on neurodegeneration. The goal is to increase scientists’ understanding of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and attract new talent and ideas. Grant recipients will become part of the CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge Network, an…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Acorda Therapeutics’ New Drug Application for Inbrija (CVT-301) as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Accepting the application means the agency is ready to start its regulatory review of the therapy. It expects to decide whether to approve Inbrija by Oct.

The venom of the emerald cockroach wasp is capable of triggering Parkinson’s-like features, particularly problems controlling movement, a California study reports. Researchers said the findings on the venom’s toxins could lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s and new therapies. Their study, “Ampulexins: A New Family…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Osmolex ER (amantadine, extended release) to treat both Parkinson’s disease and therapy-induced extrapyramidal reactions in adults, or the movement and muscle-control problems that typify this disease and can be side effects of common medications. Osmodex ER, developed and marketed by Osmotica Pharmaceutical,…

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective in improving several neuropsychiatric symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, but can lead to increased apathy in patients, research based on an observational clinical trial in patients suggests. The study, “Subthalamic stimulation and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: results from a long-term follow-up cohort…

Neurocrine Biosciences will ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in early 2019 to begin the  regulatory review process that could lead to the approval of its Parkinson’s therapy Ongentys (opicapone). It confirmed the timetable after meeting with FDA officials on its plan to file a New Drug Application for Ongentys,…