News

The hallmark of Parkinson’s disease is the formation of aggregates of the protein alpha-synuclein, which are toxic to neurons and promote the loss of brain function. A new animal study suggests these aggregates can form in the gut and, in the course of months, spread to the brain. These findings were…

New research helps to explain how alpha-synuclein — the defective protein causing Parkinson’s disease — achieves its structure in neurons. These findings may help understand how aggregates of alpha-synuclein form in the brain of a Parkinson’s patient. The study, “Structural Basis For The Dissociation Of Α-Synuclein Fibrils Triggered By…

Researchers have found a link between neuronal activity and the strength of gripping force created during a physical action, according to a new study. This discovery may help understanding of what mechanisms contribute to abnormal movement in patients with Parkinson’s disease, and provide new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of…

A defect in the GCH1 gene, which encodes an essential protein for dopamine production in the brain, may accelerate the development of Parkinson’s disease, especially in people younger than 50, according to new research. The study, “Aging Modifies The Effect Of GCH1 RS11158026 On DAT Uptake And Parkinson’s Disease…

Once thought to be merely a cap holding the brain in place, scientists have now discovered that the membranes covering the precious organ contain stem cells, offering news ways of thinking about brain regeneration. While the discovery may open up new research into therapeutic applications of these stem cells for Parkinson’s disease and…

The National Institutes for Health (NIH) will grant Emory University more $1 million annually for the next five years to renew its support for Emory’s Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, aiming to fund the development of more effective Parkinson’s disease treatments that have…

Visual hallucinations are frequent among Parkinson’s disease patients, confirms a study published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences. In addition, it shows that visual hallucinations are associated with the duration of the disease, the use of dopamine agonist drugs, the quality of sleep, and the patients’ ability to think. According to the authors, these results “should trigger further inquiry by neurologists”.

Researchers at Wenzhou Medical University in China recently reviewed literature related to iron levels in the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and confirmed elevated levels in several regions of the brain. The review paper, “Meta-analysis of brain iron levels of Parkinson’s disease patients determined by postmortem and…

Researchers in Ireland are reporting that people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are being admitted to hospitals at increasing rates for serious but often preventable conditions — most often, urinary and respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, and fractures of the femur. The study, “Acute Hospital Admissions of Individuals with a Known …

Mutations in the LRRK2 gene, which have been associated with a high risk of Parkinson’s disease, may affect neurons by promoting cell death through the activation of a protein called PIG3, according to results of a study presented at the recent Society for Neuroscience 2016 meeting in San Diego. The study’s…