News

An initiative called Live Well. Do Tell is trying to help Parkinson’s patients do a better job of letting others know about the manifestations of their disease, particularly the return of movement problems during periods when standard treatments wear off. In addition to these off periods, many people are unaware…

Brain training can improve the mobility and reduce the risk of falls among older people with dementia and cognitive impairment, a study reports. Another finding was that medication that improves cognition can decrease the risk of Parkinson’s patients falling. The research, “Falls in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: Implications…

The Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance, a U.S. non-profit organization, is presenting its first  Learn. Live. Connect. Parkinson’s Conference on April 27 in Boston, Massachusetts, to give those living with Parkinson’s disease an opportunity to hear from experts about symptoms, therapies and research. PMDAlliance works to improve the everyday…

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin a regulatory review of its below-the-tongue formulation of apomorphine for Parkinson’s off periods. The request is in the form of a New Drug Application for the formulation as a treatment for the periods when standard Parkinson’s drugs have worn off. Off…

Six Parkinson’s community leaders have received 2018 Advocacy Awards for their efforts to push policies that benefit patients, families, caregivers and others. Two of the winners were recognized for their role in establishing the Accelerating Medicines Partnership Program, which in January 2018 announced a new Parkinson’s disease focus. Representatives…

Researchers have validated a software that evaluates typing patterns with keyboards to detect Parkinson’s disease-specific motor impairment. This approach, done in an at-home setting, may allow early detection of the disease, as well as monitor disease progression. The study, “Detecting Motor Impairment in Early Parkinson’s Disease via Natural…

A new smartphone application can be used to remotely assess Parkinson’s disease symptoms in a rapid and objective way, with the potential to transform how a range of neurological diseases are evaluated, the research team that created it report. The study, “Using Smartphones and Machine Learning to Quantify Parkinson…

Two PatientsLikeMe studies have led to a checklist designed to help those with Parkinson’s and other debilitative diseaes find providers who can meet criteria for delivering good care. The questionnaire-based research also showed that patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s are among those who are more satisfied with…

A simple bedside test measuring heart rate and blood pressure after a patient stands may help doctors come up with an early diagnosis of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, a study suggests. Besides Parkinson’s, the test could help diagnose other synucleinopathies, such as Lewy Body dementia and multiple system atrophy. These are…

AbbVie’s Duopa can reduce impulse control disorders in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease and mild-to-moderate neuropsychiatric problems, a study shows. The research, “Improvement of impulse control disorders associated with levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel treatment in advanced Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the Journal of Neurology. Parkinson’s disease is…