News

The anti-inflammatory molecule interleukin (IL)-4 contributes to the neurodegeneration observed in Parkinson’s disease, a study in rats reports. The research, “Interleukin-4 Contributes to Degeneration of Dopamine Neurons in the Lipopolysaccharide-treated Substantia Nigra in vivo,” was published in the journal Experimental Neurobiology. Parkinson’s is characterized by the progressive…

A well-known monkey model for Parkinson’s disease — used mainly for its ability to mimic human motor symptoms — can also reflect the disease’s non-motor symptoms, including sleep disturbances, changes in the body’s natural clock, and cognitive impairment, a study shows. These results highlight the usefulness of…

Specific microRNAs that are contained in tiny, cell-derived vesicles called exosomes may be biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease, according to a study. The study, “Circulating exosomal miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the journal European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. MicroRNAs (miRNAs)…

A modified form of a protein called Nurr1 that is able to protect against nerve cell death and restore dopamine production in a preclinical setting may pave the way for a possible new Parkinson’s therapy, a study reports. The study, “Lethal Factor Domain-Mediated Delivery of Nurr1 Transcription…

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Offering specialized teams of health-care professionals, and the latest treatments, three centers have been added to the Centers of Excellence in Parkinson’s Care, increasing the number of facilities globally to 45, the Parkinson’s Foundation announced. The new centers include the Cleveland Clinic, the Medical University of South…

Tiny fatty vesicles that naturally circulate in the blood can effectively carry medications into the central nervous system, including into the brain, an early study in mice suggests. These blood vesicles, called exosomes, were able to successfully deliver dopamine directly to specific areas of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease. The…

Long-lived macrophages in the mouse gut are crucial for the survival of nerve cells in the gastrointestinal tract and for proper digestion, a finding that sheds new light not only on neurodegenerative conditions of the intestine, but also of the brain, researchers believe. The study, “Self-Maintaining Gut Macrophages Are…

Antibody fragments, known as nanobodies, may be an efficient strategy to reduce abnormal alpha-synuclein protein aggregates and preserve motor function in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, a rat study suggests. The study, “Proteasome-targeted nanobodies alleviate pathology and functional decline in an α-synuclein-based Parkinson’s disease model,”…

Treatment with Xadago (safinamide) or cannabinoids and opioids may the best therapeutic options to effectively manage pain in patients with Parkinson’s disease, researchers suggest. The study, “Comprehensive Examination of Therapies for Pain in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” was published in the journal…