News

Medical cannabis is a safe and effective way for older people to alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s, cancer and other diseases, particularly pain, a study shows. The study in the European Journal of Internal Medicine also reported that after six months more than 18 percent of patients surveyed had either reduced…

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals investigational EHP-102 (previously known as VCE-003.2), a patented compound derived from the non-psychotrophic cannabinoid called cannabigerol, has shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. The study “Benefits of VCE-003.2, a cannabigerol quinone derivative, against inflammation-driven neuronal deterioration in experimental Parkinson’s…

Parkinson Voice Project, a nonprofit focused on speech therapy, is accepting applications for its National Grant Program that aims to assist nonprofit Parkinson’s groups and patient clinics in bringing its speech therapy approach to patients in their communities. The program will award a total $650,000 in grants to speech therapy clinics…

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have developed an accurate test for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s. The new NIH test is a refinement of one that detects protein clumping involved in these disorders. It diagnosed Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies from 60 cerebral spinal…

The neurotransmitter dopamine sparks movement, but does not sustain it, according to a Portuguese and American study with implications for the development of Parkinson’s therapies. A feature of Parkinson’s disease is the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a…

Israel’s Pharma Two B has dosed the first patients in a Phase 3 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidate P2B001 to treat early-stage Parkinson’s disease. P2B001 combines low-dose pramipexole and rasagiline, sold under the brand names Mirapex and Azilect. This…

Administering a naturally occurring protein directly to the brains of rats increased the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine going to the animals’ nerve cells, suggesting it could be a way to treat Parkinson’s, a study reports. The findings further demonstrate the MANF protein’s potential to treat Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, according…

Cognitive behavioral group therapy reduced Parkinson’s patients’ depression and anxiety, an Italian study reports. Parkinson’s patients experience both movement and non-movement symptoms, including depression, anxiety, apathy, fatigue, pain, and impulse control disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a well-established strategy for reducing depression and apathy. But evidence supporting its…

Stephen Bittel, founder and chairman of Terranova, has donated $450,000 to the Miami-based Parkinson’s Foundation to fund the expansion of its Centers of Excellence network. Bittel also pledged to use his personal and professional networks to raise an additional $1 million for ongoing fellowship grants to encourage young scientists,…

Techniques that analyze speech and vocal patterns might be effective tools to diagnose Parkinson’s disease, and possibly at earlier stages than is now possible, according to a new study. There are no laboratory biomarkers that can detect Parkinson’s, and brain imaging scans do not allow for a definitive diagnosis. The clinical…