News

Degeneration of a specific class of nerve cells leads to loss of the sense of smell, a symptom often associated with Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. The research, “Inhibition of oxidative stress in cholinergic projection neurons fully rescues aging-associated olfactory circuit degeneration in Drosophila,” was published in the journal…

The antipsychotics Nuplazid (pimavanserin) and Clozaril (clozapine) are the only therapies shown to improve Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) symptoms without impairing motor function, in double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, according to a review. The study, “Pharmacological interventions for psychosis in Parkinson’s disease patients,” was published in the journal Expert…

Unexpected external stimulus, such as a sound or visual cue, can act as an alarm for the brain to detect a dangerous situation, according to a study that has implications for Parkinson’s disease. These sensory triggers were found to promote an inhibitory signal from the brain to quickly stop muscles…

Non-dopaminergic treatments might be beneficial for Parkinson’s disease patients whose tremor is associated with a dysfunction of the serotonergic system, an area of the brain directly connected to serotonin interactions. A study with that finding, “Progression of tremor in early stages of Parkinson’s disease: a clinical and neuroimaging study,”…

Lower levels of two proteins in the spinal fluid of Parkinson’s disease patients were found to be related to specific symptoms, suggesting they could be used as biomarkers for the disease, according to an observational study. Parkinson’s patients with postural instability and gait difficulty were found to have significantly lower…

University of Pennsylvania researchers used a new technology that mimics the way animated movies capture a person’s movement to show the different shapes of alpha-synuclein protein, which, when badly arranged, become toxic to neurons and trigger Parkinson’s disease. The results advance researchers’ knowledge of the mechanisms leading to…

People with Parkinson’s disease are being recruited for a new clinical trial testing nilotinib, an FDA-approved leukemia treatment, in a range of patients. The two-part Phase 2 trial (NCT03205488), called NILO-PD, is a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study taking place at 25 sites across the U.S. Part one will evaluate the…

New technology that uses MRI-guided focused ultrasound to target areas of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease and improve motor symptoms will be further tested in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. Led by the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and the University of Maryland School…

A new way to measure levels of a critical protein in Parkinson’s disease could lead to improved diagnosis and treatments. Using a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging camera, Swedish researchers were able to measure  levels of a protein called dopamine transporter (DAT) as a way to investigate the dopamine system in…

Cardiolipin, a molecule inside nerve cells, may be a key player behind nerve cell death in Parkinson’s disease, a study suggests. Researchers found that cardiolipin, a lipid inside mitochondria — the cell’s energy source — ensures the correct 3-D arrangement (folding) of the alpha-synuclein protein. Misfolding of this protein…