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Flexilev microtablets containing both levodopa/carbidopa, used with an automatic dose dispenser, seemed to improve self-reported symptom control in some patients with Parkinson’s disease, according to a first report of the treatment’s real-life use. The study, “First clinical experience with levodopa/carbidopa microtablets in Parkinson’s disease,” also noted that most patients…

Contrary to current scientific thought, tracking the activity of a protein called dopamine transporter (DAT) may not reflect the loss of dopamine neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra (one of the most affected regions in patients with Parkinson’s disease). These findings were published in the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xadago (safinamide) as an add-on therapy to increase the effectiveness of levodopa/carbidopa in Parkinson’s disease. Xadago limits the number of  “off” episodes, or increases in symptoms, among patients on levodopa/carbidopa, clinical trials have shown. “Parkinson’s is a relentless disease without a cure,” Eric Bastings,…

The Vancouver-based Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at McGill University (MNI) and Merck Canada have jointly established an innovative platform to develop and advance new drugs for Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological illnesses. The initiative, dubbed NeuroCDRD, initially…

Even brief exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological diseases, concludes a Korean study. The study, “Short-term air pollution exposure aggravates Parkinson’s disease in a population-based cohort,” appeared in the journal Scientific Reports. Various environmental factors contribute to the pathology of Parkinson’s, but air…

The 23rd Parkinson’s Unity Walk will take place on April 22 in New York City’s Central Park, according to The Parkinson Alliance. The walk is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease research in the U.S. Thousands of patients, caregivers, family, and friends will gather for the walk (or participate from home) to raise money for the…

Parkinson’s disease patients are known to be at a higher risk of falling, due to the changes in the brain caused by the disease. Recently, a study found that exercise may help prevent these falls. Researchers found that 25% of recently-diagnosed Parkinson’s patients suffer a fall in their first…

Folinic acid, an adjuvant medication for bowel cancer, also may become a potential treatment for early-onset Parkinson’s disease, according to results of a preclinical study that used fruit flies. The study “Folinic Acid Is Neuroprotective In A Fly Model Of Parkinson’s Disease Associated With pink1 Mutations” was published in…

3-D images of 11 mutant versions of a protein connected with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are helping scientists understand how the mutations changed the structure of the protein and damaged its functioning. The study, “Structural insights into human angiogenin (ANG) variants implicated in Parkinson’s disease…

Long forgotten by his own country, 18th-century English-born physician James Parkinson was honored at a global conference March 10-11 to mark two centuries of progress in understanding the disease that today bears his name. Organized by the International Parkinson and Movement Disease Society (MDS), the event paid homage to…