News

A mutation common to familial Parkinson’s was seen in a study focused on tuberculosis to prevent immune cells of the brain from working properly, allowing protein to accumulate in nerve cells — and, potentially, to this specific disease’s development. The study, “LRRK2 is a negative regulator of Mycobacterium tuberculosis…

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) recently awarded Alkahest a grant to support the development of ALK4290 as a new therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The immune system plays an important role in the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease. New therapies targeting the recruitment…

Increased body mass and sedentary behavior do not increase the risk of having Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. To date it is still not fully understood what causes Parkinson’s disease, but several environmental and lifestyle factors have been suggested as contributors to this disease. In the study, “Body mass…

Non-motor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson’s disease are significantly more frequent and differ between men and women, a new study shows. The study, “Frequency of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease presenting to tertiary care centre in Pakistan: an observational, cross-sectional study,” was published in the journal BMJ Open.

Brain training reduces the severity and duration of freezing of gait and improves cognition and daytime sleepiness in Parkinson’s patients, a study shows. The study, “Cognitive training for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: a randomized controlled trial,” appeared in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease.

The findings of a Harvard University study are furthering understanding of the mechanisms involved in movement disorders and may open new therapeutic opportunities to treat Parkinson’s disease. The mouse study, “The Striatum Organizes 3D Behavior via Moment-to-Moment Action Selection,” was published in the journal Cell. The brain relies…

Microglial cells in the brain play an essential protective role against prion diseases, a new study shows. The findings could have implications for diseases characterized by protein aggregation, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The study, “Microglia are critical in host defense against prion disease,” was published…

Early sleep-related and autonomic symptoms — related to automatic or involuntary body functions — are associated with an increased risk of future psychotic symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients, according to a recent study. These symptoms are also associated with a reduction of specific nerve cells in a region of the brain…

Parkinson’s disease is linked to impaired response of eyes to blue light, a finding that may provide new insights into the mechanisms involved in non-motor symptoms of the disease. The study, “Melanopsin-mediated pupil function is impaired in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Parkinson’s…

The inability to remember proper sequences of information, such as numbers or events, occurs before cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s patients who have mild motor symptoms, a Chinese study shows. The research “Impaired serial ordering in nondemented patients with mild Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the journal PLOS ONE.