News

A point mutation in a gene involved in dopamine synthesis is linked to Parkinson’s disease characteristics but only in younger patients, suggesting that age modifies the impact of the gene. This finding may provide new leads in the search for mechanisms causing Parkinson’s disease, particularly in patients who fall ill at…

Researchers identified a gene that makes cognitive problems much more likely in people with Parkinson’s disease. The findings not only help to explain why some patients develop memory problems, but may also support trials leading to a more personalized treatment approaches. The study, “Specifically neuropathic Gaucher’s mutations accelerate cognitive…

Patients with Parkinson’s disease who also have postural hypotension — a drop in blood pressure when standing — experience difficulty thinking when upright, but not when lying down. So while a patient may seem to have normal mental function during an examination — which is often performed seated or lying…

Scientists using fat-coated microbubbles have possibly developed away of carrying therapies for Parkinson’s disease directly to areas of the brain where they are needed, without affecting other organs. The study, “Lipid microbubbles as a vehicle for targeted drug delivery using focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening,” was published in the…

The hallmark of Parkinson’s disease is the formation of aggregates of the protein alpha-synuclein, which are toxic to neurons and promote the loss of brain function. A new animal study suggests these aggregates can form in the gut and, in the course of months, spread to the brain. These findings were…

New research helps to explain how alpha-synuclein — the defective protein causing Parkinson’s disease — achieves its structure in neurons. These findings may help understand how aggregates of alpha-synuclein form in the brain of a Parkinson’s patient. The study, “Structural Basis For The Dissociation Of Α-Synuclein Fibrils Triggered By…

Researchers have found a link between neuronal activity and the strength of gripping force created during a physical action, according to a new study. This discovery may help understanding of what mechanisms contribute to abnormal movement in patients with Parkinson’s disease, and provide new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of…

A defect in the GCH1 gene, which encodes an essential protein for dopamine production in the brain, may accelerate the development of Parkinson’s disease, especially in people younger than 50, according to new research. The study, “Aging Modifies The Effect Of GCH1 RS11158026 On DAT Uptake And Parkinson’s Disease…

Once thought to be merely a cap holding the brain in place, scientists have now discovered that the membranes covering the precious organ contain stem cells, offering news ways of thinking about brain regeneration. While the discovery may open up new research into therapeutic applications of these stem cells for Parkinson’s disease and…

The National Institutes for Health (NIH) will grant Emory University more $1 million annually for the next five years to renew its support for Emory’s Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, aiming to fund the development of more effective Parkinson’s disease treatments that have…