Though alpha-synuclein, the dysfunctional protein in Parkinson’s disease that can be found in skin nerve fibers, has been shown to be a reliable biomarker of the condition that could lead to early treatment, more research is needed to standardize diagnostic techniques using biopsies, according to recent study perspective published in …
A large genome-wide study discovered a strong association between essential tremor, commonly misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, and a specific gene, and less strong associations with two other genes. This is an important finding for a movement disorder that causes postural and kinetic tremor of the upper extremities,…
New research by the Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) aims to make possible the early detection of Parkinson’s disease (PD) by using strongly magnetized xenon gas to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The project, funded by a nearly $350,000 three-year award from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, was,…
Researchers have discovered a factor that controls the accumulation of both alpha-synuclein and tau, two proteins that drive neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The findings bring not only a new understanding of how the two conditions may be linked, but also offer possibilities for the development of new treatment…
The rare lysosomal storage disorder Krabbe’s disease is caused by an enzyme deficiency and has been found to have surprising similarities with neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Establishing this connection can be a valuable tool for developing novel therapeutic targets and new biomarkers for identifying patients at risk for developing Parkinson’s.
A biomedical engineering professor from the University of Rhode Island (URI) is advancing the field of smart textiles to make Parkinson’s disease patients healthier and improve their quality of life. Kunal Mankodiya, who directs URI’s Wearable Biosensing Laboratory, is conducting research on ways to transform gloves, socks,…
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and Nike have so far raised $6.75 million for Parkinson’s disease research though their Nike Mag sneakers drawing and auctions this fall. The drawing and sales featured a limited-edition release of 88 pairs of the iconic Nike Mag self-lacing shoe. A final 89…
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) were awarded a five-year $7.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate new technology that could potentially improve outcomes from deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson’s disease patients. The research grant is part of the…
A new technology to deliver stem cell therapy to patients with neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s was developed by San Antonio scientists, according to a new study. The study, “MRI Guided Delivery of Neural Stem Cells into the Basal Ganglia of Nonhuman Primates Reveals a Pulsatile Mode of Cell…
CVT-301, an inhalable drug under development by Acorda Therapeutics to treat Parkinson’s symptoms during “off” periods when currently available drugs don’t adequately work, showed promising results in preclinical Phase 1 and 2 studies. Since the late 1960s, levodopa has been the most common and efficient oral drug used for managing Parkinson’s motor…
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